Is Activism Just For The Rich?

Short answer? No. Some people may decide not to participate in politics and not to advocate for causes simply because they feel that they can't substantially affect anything. A lot of the times, the main things we see about activism are donations and protests. And of course, if there is a cause you believe in, or people that you think need help, it's a great idea to pitch in when you can and donate financially. But it would be a shame to think that's all you can or should do, and that if you can't donate a big sum of money or attend protests, you can't help at all.

There are many ways in which you can support the causes you believe in, and many ways in which you can make a difference where you see the need for it.

1. Vote - systemic changes, effective policy design, and designated budgets can help causes tremendously. Vote for people who will support the causes you believe in. That's the beauty of a democracy. You get to make your voice heard. Vote in every election you can - the presidential election, the parliamentary election, the local council election, even the student council election!

2. Talk to the people in charge - after voting, don't believe that your job is done. It has only just started. You voted in people you believe can improve things. So let them know what you want. Whether the people you support win or not, you should still reach out to the people representing you and are in charge at the time, because no matter who is leading the change, the point is to improve things. Write letters, send e-mails - voice your concerns and see them addressed. This refers to things on the scale of the government, and also on a smaller scale like at schools and workplaces. 

3. Sign petitions on websites such as Change.org and Amnesty International.

4. Lead by example - this is probably one of the most important ways in which you can change things. Don't discount the effect that your actions can have. By adopting the values you believe in, and by doing your part to make things better, you can at least try to make the lives of the people you meet a bit better. You can also inspire the people you know to do better themselves. 

5. Educate the people around you - Sometimes, people just need a nudge in the right direction. Sometimes they need someone to explain things so they understand the situation better. Sometimes, they are simply not even aware of it. So, raise awareness. Stand up for people if you see them being treated badly. Educate people when you see them acting ignorant. Start with your children, your families, your friends. If your child bullies someone, explain why it's wrong and teach them to be kinder. If your friends litter the streets when they are with you, ask them to stop and wait till they find a trash can. If you see your family members discriminate against people, stop them and tell them it's wrong. If you know about abuse against anyone - a child, a spouse, a domestic helper, an elderly person, whoever, stand with them and help them. 

6. Volunteer your time and your skills to help organizations that are helping these causes. 

7. If you work for a company that has corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, whereby they give back to society by supporting different social causes and charitable organizations, encourage them to advocate for, and to donate to causes you believe in. 

8. Donate your clothes and books to shelters or people whom you know would like these items

9. Shop responsibly - when you buy things from businesses, you send out a signal that their business model works, and that you as a consumer are happy with it. By buying from them, and allowing them to meet their main objective of profit, you encourage them to keep operating as they are. This can mean that they maintain the quality of goods and services, and also that they maintain their practices when it comes to their employees, the environment, and more. So when you go shopping, do some research, and support the businesses that value the things you do. You can also extend this to the type of goods you buy - you can choose to favor sustainable materials and try to avoid plastic and other common pollutants. 

11. Play Freerice -  test your knowledge and donate to the United Nation's World Food Programme, which helps feed people all around the world, at the same time. 

12. Donate what you can - there is no denying that money can help causes. It allows charitable organizations to fund the changes that you want to make. It can help organizations provide the necessary resources to the people who need them - depending on your cause it could mean providing food or medicine or shelter or therapy, or funding research or raising awareness. Donate what you can, even if it's only a small amount. It could still make a huge difference to someone. And a small donation by a lot of people can still add up to a lot.