What Is it All About?
Organize an event with an expert from your community to share key knowledge and research about growth and development topics relevant to your peers, younger students, or community. This can be done through workshops, presentations, information posters, etc. It could be as small as sharing ideas by word-of-mouth or as large as an assembly.
Why Do It?
You’ve got a powerful voice; this can be a way to be heard and make others think about the issue. It can also help to connect your school with local experts on sexual violence, healthy relationships, body image, and consent.
How Do We Do It?
Determine which topics are of interest to your group.
Research a local expert to share relevant and local information related to your topic.
Determine how you want the expert to share the information (e.g., presentation, video, guest blog post, booth, assembly).
Determine the audience with whom you want to share the information (e.g., your peers, younger grades, community members, parents and caregivers).
Work with an adult ally to invite your community expert (e.g., from public health or a local community organization). Meet with them to talk about what content or messages would work well for your audience.
Figure out everyone’s role: some may help to write a script, create a presentation, or promote the event, while others may volunteer to speak/act/present.
Work with the school to get permission for the presentation and to book a space for the presentation.
Share the knowledge!
Ensure supports are available (e.g., other peers, counsellors, adult allies, resources) if anything is triggered through this activity.
What Else Do We Need?
- Paper, pens, markers, glue, scissors
- Video camera/cell phone
- Optional: Computer, projector, speakers
How Do We Get Creative?
Host the presentation as part of a larger event or other activity, on a day of significance to the community, or related to a cause or topic that has an assigned day (e.g., Pink Shirt day).
Add a pledge so that people can take action after hearing what you have to say.
Invite the media.
Record and share the presentation (be sure to get consent from everyone in the video before sharing!)
Adapted from exposé: A smoke-free youth initiative by Ottawa Public Health.