UN International Peace Day Flag Raising - Paula E. Kirman
Many educational institutions have clubs for student activists to join. If your school doesn't already have a peace group, here is how to start one.
Most schools, colleges and universities have a procedure by which clubs and groups are formed. This information can usually be found through your school's office or student's union. Here are some ideas on how to get such a group off the ground once you've done the initial legwork.
Promotion
- Post a notice in your school's newspaper about the group. Include contact information. You might want to get a separate e-mail address through a webmail service so that you don't have to give out any of your personal information.
- Hang posters in designated areas, with information and meetings dates and times.
- Create a website - many schools offer internet accounts with some web space. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; just something that gives the information anyone would need in order to know what you are all about, and how to find you.
Organize
- Have a clear division of leadership.
- Decide in advance how decisions will be made.
- Likewise, decide how meetings will be run.
- Develop a consistent and fair conflict resolution procedure.
Connect
- Get in touch with other peace making groups in your area, if you are not already. They may have lots of ideas and resources.
- Attend peace making events of the larger community, wherever and whenever possible.
- Have a membership list and keep in contact with members in between meetings, through phone or e-mail.
Act
- Have a few events during the school year open to the wider school community, such as a rally.
- At such events, pass around a clipboard for people to sign up.
- Make sure your meetings are in an accessible location (central, accessible to the differently-abled) and at a convenient time.
Respond
- Always be open to feedback and suggestions.
- Contribute articles or write Letters to the Editor to your school's newspaper.
Respect
- If you have a teacher or faculty member as an advisor or supervisor to your group, don't be afraid to involve them in what you're doing. It is unlikely that someone not interested in peace would supervise a peace group, If that turns out to be the case, try to get a different supervisor.
If at first you don't succeed . . .
- If your application is turned down; if you can't get enough people involved; if things just don't go as you had imagined: don't give up. Try again later in the year or the following semester. Don't force something to happen if it is not the right time.
Running any sort of organization is a lot of hard work, but worth it in the end if it furthers the causes for which you advocate. Good luck!
Copyright Paula Kirman. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Paula Kirman - Paula E. Kirman is a freelance writer and editor. Her book reviews and author interviews appear regularly in a variety of print and online ...
