Oxfam at a glance: CHANGE Initiative

The CHANGE Initiative is a highly competitive national program that trains college students to become actively engaged with Oxfam America’s work. Its goals: to broaden perspectives, inspire action, and shape a new generation of global citizens.

THE POWER OF YOUTH Selecting the best • After the training, CHANGE Leaders return to their campuses energized and Youth is a time of transformation, op- • Students must be entering their sopho- ready to work on social justice. Oxfam timism, and energy—and college and more or junior year at a US-based staff work with them throughout the university campuses create an environ- college or university to be eligible for the year, providing ongoing guidance and ment where young people can learn about, CHANGE Initiative. Interested students keeping in touch through a shared and act on, the issues that are important go through a competitive application and online community. to them. Since 1974, Oxfam’s Fast for a selection process. World Harvest campaign has attracted • From among these applicants, Oxfam Campaigns on campus tens of thousands of students to the cause selects 50 students annually who best of fighting hunger and poverty. Inspired • Each CHANGE Leader implements at demonstrate strong ideals and a commit- by this success, Oxfam developed the least one Oxfam-specific public advocacy ment to positive change. These students, CHANGE Initiative in 2000 to harness the campaign on campus. Recent campaigns known as CHANGE Leaders, come from power of young people toward promoting include promoting fair trade; creating diverse backgrounds, as well as a mix of global citizenship. equitable solutions to the climate crisis; public, private, urban, and rural campuses. and protecting the rights of communities affected by oil, gas, and mining. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not • CHANGE Leaders support Oxfam cam- accept the old order if the world is to move on. paigns by building networks, organizing “ their peers to take political action, and —William Allen White, American journalist and author hosting campus events like teach-ins, ” panel discussions, and speakers’ tours. HOW IT WORKS Intense training A group of 2007 CHANGE Leaders share a fun Each year, Oxfam’s CHANGE Initiative • Oxfam brings the CHANGE Leaders to moment while “tabling” at an Oxfam outreach event. uses leadership and advocacy training Boston for a rigorous week long training As part of their training, the CHANGE Leaders learn to teach a select group of US college that combines group activities, expert how to reach out to people by hosting informational tables about Oxfam’s public advocacy campaigns. students about the issues behind the panels, and workshops with a multimedia Nikki Eads / Oxfam America global fight against poverty, hunger, and teaching curriculum. The training builds injustice. Students then transform this students’ leadership skills, advocacy skills, knowledge into action on campus and in and familiarity with Oxfam’s mission— their communities. and introduces them to sophisticated and powerful models for social change. What is Oxfam? Oxfam America is an international relief and development We are a member of Oxfam International—a confedera- organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, tion of 13 Oxfam affiliates—working in more than 120 and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups countries with up to 3,000 local organizations. With many around the world, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome of the causes of poverty global in nature, the members of poverty, and fights for social justice. To join our efforts or learn Oxfam International believe that we can achieve greater more, go to www.oxfamamerica.org. impact through our collective efforts.

Leaders for today and tomorrow After CHANGE, I can’t imagine having a life that did not involve Past Oxfam CHANGE Leaders can “working for social justice. be found at a variety of organizations, Jennifer Wallin, 2006 CHANGE Leader including the following: ” • The ONE Campaign • In addition, many CHANGE Leaders A model for learning • Oxfam America work on our yearly Fast for a World • Inspired by the success of Oxfam Harvest campaign, organizing Oxfam • The UN Office for the Coordination of America’s program, affiliate Oxfams America Hunger Banquets, dining hall Humanitarian Affairs have since launched their own fasts, benefit concerts, and other events CHANGE Initiatives in Canada, • National Public Radio to raise awareness of the inequities of Australia, and Britain. • US House of Representatives hunger and poverty. (press officer) • The CHANGE Initiative collaborates Keeping up the momentum with other organizations, including Am- • California Environmental nesty International and Free the Planet!, Protection Agency • CHANGE Leaders’ commitment to social to share learning and strengthen our justice goes far beyond the one-year youth programs. program. CHANGE Leaders have at- IN THEIR OWN WORDS tended meetings of the World Trade • We are always looking for ways to “No matter where I was in the following Organization and the G8 leaders, spoken increase impact, conducting periodic years of working and studying abroad, at the UN Youth Assembly, and served assessments of the CHANGE Initiative Oxfam America supported me in as keynote speakers at national confer- and adapting the program based on our my efforts.” ences. They can be found working as findings. Future plans include increas- journalists in Khartoum, Sudan; taking ing the reach of CHANGE into our Chris Lamar, 2003 CHANGE Leader part in presidential campaigns; designing regional offices. prosthetic limbs for land mine victims; and working for Fair Trade companies. “After the CHANGE program, I had a Want to learn more about CHANGE? deeper appreciation of what I already • Oxfam CHANGE Leaders have founded Know someone who might be interested? had—and how much I had to give to two different independent national stu- Email [email protected] or call someone else.” dent organizations: United Students (800) 77-OXFAM, ext. 2464. for Fair Trade and the Student Trade Alicia Wilson, 2001 CHANGE Leader Justice Campaign. In both cases, CHANGE Leaders identified the need for a national-level organization to support students’ work on these specific issues.

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