Advocacy 101

At the heart of SCCS's campaign is advocacy, and Advocacy 101 will give you tools that you need to become an effective advocate for child survival.

To read our guides on advocating effectively, including how to contact congress, write editorials, and how to use media and phone banks effectively, check out click our advocacy guide.

For SCCS's most useful resources, petitions and letters, check out our resource archive.

To find out what SCCS is currently advocating for, check our our current issues

Youth are at the forefront of every social movement because they have energy, the creativity, and idealism to drive social change. In a world where voice and money are recognized as legitimate forms of power, it is up to those who have access to both to work for universal equity on behalf of those who do not. Unless people speak up for children worldwide to indicate the urgency of their situations and compel political will to change existing conditions, the needs of children cannot and will not be heard in any real way.

SCCS seeks to affect policy change by convincing elected officials to improve policies and contribute greater resources to child survival programs. SCCS members have the unique advantage of participating in a nationwide network of students who care about the issues of child survival and becoming active in them. As organizers know, there is power in numbers and SCCSers are organized to shed light on the silent tsunami taking place daily, practically without mention in the media. The energy and organization of students has been the missing voice amongst policy-makers and child survival advocates.

In 1990, the Millennium Development Goals were created to ensure a framework for the accountability of world leaders. It is up to engaged citizens to hold governmental leaders accountable to the promises they have made to their nations and the world. These goals were created at the onset of this new millennium during which current student leaders will become global political leaders. Let us take care in learning and advocating about the issues that affect the majority of the world’s population so we can fully participate in shaping a more just and equitable society for the children who will succeed us.

Feel free to contact the SCCS Advocacy Co-Coordinators, Diane Tran and Molly Lewis with any questions.