IN THIS ARTICLE
Across the globe children, adolescents, and 20-somethings have been taking action by raising their voices and protesting for change. Whether it's advocating for the environment or the passing of gun control laws, young activists are taking matters into their own hands.
The world is noticing these young voices. "Youth, given the opportunity to work alongside adults who are willing to manage their own power, can lead activist communities and organizations," expressed Jessica Taft, associate professor of Latin American studies, to UC Santa Cruz Magazine. "To not include them is anti-democratic. They deserve to be listened to, to be seen as collaborators and treated as equals.“
Here are 10 young activists who prove that the kids you've been raising are on track to do great things.
Human rights: Young activists fight for change
Sometimes kids are aware of inequities more than adults are. With kids having access to social media platforms that can share news fast, youths are much more apt to respond. "I'm a full-time working mom," LaWanna Miller, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action, told Mashable. "I'm not always paying the closest attention to politics. [My kids] know way more about it than I do. They've done so much research. [My daughter] educates me."
Human rights are at the top of the list when it comes to kids taking action.
1. Thandiwe Abdullah
Thandiwe Abdullah grew up in a family of activists. Her activism began early on when, at 2 years old, her mother took her to a Jena Six rally. As one of the few child members of the Black Lives Matter movement, she decided to create the Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard. The BLM Youth Vanguard successfully filled an initiative to stop random searches in Los Angeles schools, and the vanguard continues to work on removing the presence of police in schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District.
2. Kenidra Woods
Kenidra Woods rose out of self-harm and sexual abuse to become a young woman who passionately helps pull people out of the dark phases of their lives. She began the CHEETAH Movement — Confidence, Harmony, Enlightenment, Encouragement, Tranquility, Awareness, and Hope — in order to bring hope to those in need. She has fought for mental health, female empowerment, and gun control.
3. Payal Jangid
Payal Jangid began fighting for children’s rights in her home country of India at an early age. She fled her own arranged child marriage and has fought against discriminatory and abusive acts directed at girls. Payal has helped form the Child Parliment, which she leads in order to help bring awareness to the hardships that her peers face in and out of school.
Climate change: Young activists saving the environment
There is no place in the world where change isn't needed, and that is why youths everywhere are bringing awareness to how we can better protect our environment.
4. Autumn Peltier
Fighting for clean water, Autumn Peltier has courageously rasied her voice to world leaders at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Being the head water commissioner of the Anishinabek Nation in Canada, she has made it her mission to ensure that all people have clean drinking water.
5. Greta Thunberg
Instead of attending school on Fridays, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg decided to protest in support of climate change, and people across the world soon joined in her fight. Those Friday protests are called Fridays for Future. After that grand statement, her fearlessness became well-known. Continually engaging in speaking events and leading protests, her environental activism remains at the forefront. In 2019 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
6. Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez
Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez is an activist and hip-hop artist. As a young boy, he began fighting for environmental rights by publically speaking to world leaders. Now, as an adult, he continues to share his messages in song and in speeches. For much of his adolescent years, he was the youth director of Earth Guardians, a nonprofit organization that empowers youths to be leaders and agents of change.
7. Melati and Isabel Wijsen
Sisters Melati and Isabel Wijsen fought for and successfully attained a plastic bag ban in Bali during their early teen years. While fighting courageously, the siblings rallied their community through their organization “Bye Bye Plastic Bags.” They have spread their message across the world and are using their experiences to help support other kids to become changemakers.
Young LGBTQ+ activists
Youths are strongly advocating for LGBTQ+ rights across the country. LGBTQ+ communities are rising up; however, discrimination is still present. With LGBTQ+ youth activists standing up for their communities, they are making changes to ensure that equitable rights are given to all people regardless of how they identify.
8. Desmond Napoles
Desmond Napoles has been a drag queen star since age 10. They are genderfluid and an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ youths. They have boldly taken the runway at major fashion shows and created Haus of Amazing, which established a safe space for transgender youths.
9. Ashton Mota
As a transgender Afro-American and Latinx high school senior, Ashton Mota has spoken at the White House with President Biden, written a book about inclusion, and has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights since childhood. He has worked on the "Yes on 3" campaign and continues to strive for equality for the LGBTQ+ community.
10. Sameer Jha
Sameer Jha has accomplished great feats in their teenage years. They began an Empathy Alliance nonprofit at age 14, and was later awarded The Silver Congressional Medal for their efforts to create safe environments at school for LGBTQ+ students. After being bullied as a young teenager, they changed the way that schools deal with and discuss LGBTQ+ topics.
