VEGGIE CHICK!
A veggie on a mission...
Getting Started
Welcome to the 'Campaigning' page! I have created this page because I know that campaigning can be a bit daunting however you decide to go about it. The best way to start is to join (or start) a group, perhaps at your school or youth club so that you have like-minded people to work with. If you can't join a group though, it's not impossible to work by yourself. Either way, join the organisations you want to help and register yourself as a contact so that you get help with your campaigning and the work you do is recognised. Now you're ready for action!
First Steps
The first step is to choose one issue to focus your first campaign on. Simply campaigning for 'animal rights' is too vague and you'll never get anything done. Perhaps pick a very broad subject to start with- like vivisection. Once you've picked your issue, get yourself informed because it will make your campaign more successful.
Start by checking my Issues page for the relevant issue and my Links section for sites you could visit. Viva!, Animal Aid, PETA and other such organisations will happily provide you with all the information you need but specialist organisations (like the BUAV) are also worth looking at if they deal with the issue you've chosen.
There are also many monthly and weekly e-newsletters you can subscribe to which will keep you updated. It's worth stating at this point that if you don't have an email address, it's a good idea to create one as they're very helpful. You might want to consider having two, one which you make public and one which you use only for personal emails. Anyway, what's next?
What You Can Do
If your campaigns are not well received by other pupils, enlist the help of a sympathetic teacher or organise something more fun. (See fundraising below). Videos are available from all of the organisations in my Links section and they're often offered at a discount or even free to contacts. Why not hire one for a food technology or RE lesson or even better invite a speaker in! Speakers are offered by all of these organisations- they're free, they can tailor their talks to a particular subject and time allowance and all you need to do is give them some notice! Contact your chosen organisation to find out more.
If you'd prefer a quieter approach at school, why not create a display for the library, entrance hall or food technology classroom? Put up some eye-catching posters and information and leave petitions out for people to sign. Leave out leaflets for people to take too and perhaps ask for anyone interested in starting a veggie group to write their name down etcetera.... You don't have to spend all your break times at the display, just make sure there's always plenty of leaflets available and pens and the petition sheets are changed over.
Fundraising
Fundraising events can be great fun to organise and are usually very successful as long as they're well run, well publicised and not too expensive. If you want to organise a fundraiser, get permission from a teacher or a parent then choose an event. Make it something fun but consider the cost of any equipment or food you need and the cost of hiring the venue if there is one. There's also the law to consider if your event is going to be open to the public. Fundraisers at my school (for various charities) have included: throwing wet sponges and custard pies at teachers, teacher karaoke, teacher sumo wrestling, hair shaving, a disco, cricket (teachers versus pupils) and an X factor style competition. Be imaginative!
Prepare for your event by hiring the equpment (eg. sumo suits, a karaoke machine) and the venue if necessary and recruiting people to take part. Make some colourful posters to advertise it and make some tickets to sell. Make some (vegan) buns and cakes if you've decided to sell them and perhaps sell soya milk or give out samples. If it is a success, well done! If it's not, consider why and make some improvements next time.
If you're home taught or you've left school, why not do a sponsored event instead? Design a sponsorship form and have some copies printed then get yourself sponsored! You could do almost anything; walk, dance, grow a sunflower, read books, learn poems etcetera.. Why not try a sponsored fast or silence? Try both at once if you think you can handle it?
Finally, don't forget to tell the organisation you're raising money for what you're doing! You need to if you're going to collect money on their behalf but it helps anyway. You might get some publicity, a certificate or even your name in print which is a real buzz!
Final Words
At the end of the day, how successful your campaigns and fundraisers are depends on other people. Their response to your campaigns and their generosity at your fundraisers are beyond your control. I would suggest that you organise no more than four fundraisers a year because people don't like being constantly asked for money and it could affect your campaigns.
Remember that you're bound to be met with some hostility especially at first. You must ignore the sarcasm and the teasing so as not to ruin your campaigns but do not allow things to get out of hand and become bullying. It's wise to have the support of at least one teacher or parent who you can turn to if things go wrong. It may also feel like nobody is listening at times. Perhaps your website hasn't had any hits, your leaflets have not been picked up or nobody's turned up to your veggie group meeting. Be persistant!
Many people feel incredibly guilty about contributing to animal cruelty but they do nothing about it. They put it to the back of their minds. Having somebody reminding them that they're responsible for thousands of animals suffering makes the guilt worse so they react badly to campaigners or try and ignore them. Even if you find this happening to you, it means your campaigns are at least making them think!
