SAVERS OF THE WORLD

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

When we think about modern-day heroes to teach in class, it’s often people who made a difference when they were well into their adult years. But young people can—and often do—make a serious impact on the world. Teaching your students about young heroes can remind them that they have the power to change the world, too, even one person or community at a time.

We’ve put together a list of 10 modern-day heroes who have made a difference in their communities from a young age. If your students ever ask you, “Can young people change the world?” the stories of these children and young adults answer a resounding “yes!”

1. Malala Yousafzai

As a child, Malala Yousafzai attended her father’s school—one of the few in Pakistan that educated young girls. After surviving a shot to the head by a Taliban gunman while riding to school, she became a passionate advocate for a woman’s right to education.

July 12th is Malala Day in commemoration of when Malala spoke at the UN to present education as an international human right. If you work with students over the summer, this can be a great opportunity to teach your students how just one person can make a difference for many.

You can learn more about Malala’s story and her current projects on her website.

2. Greta Thunberg

17-year-old Greta Thunberg is an inspirational person for students who want to reduce the effects of climate change. When Greta began protesting the Swedish government’s limited action against climate change at her school, she received worldwide attention for her desire to help save the planet in any way she could.

In 2019, Greta was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine in recognition of her work as a climate change activist. In an interview with the magazine, she said concerning the importance of environmentalism, “We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.”

Her speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, which you can access on YouTube, is a great way to show students that everyone—even young people—can do their part to take care of our planet.

3. Jaylen Arnold

Jaylen Arnold is another young person who has changed the world by advocating for bullying prevention. As a child, Jaylen was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Asperger’s syndrome. Because of his differences, he was often bullied by other students at his school.

Jaylen decided that instead of fighting back, he could stand up for other children who are bullied because they are different. He started the Jaylen’s Challenge Foundation, a nonprofit that educates children across the United States about how they can prevent bullying. In 2014, Jaylen was named a World of Children award honoree for his work as an anti-bullying advocate.

To teach your students about Jaylen’s mission, check out the videos and resources available on the Jaylen’s Challenge Foundation website.

4. Marley Dias

At 11 years old, Marley Dias was frustrated that most children’s books she saw didn’t represent the cultural diversity of herself or her peers. That’s why she decided to launch the #1000BlackGirlBooks Twitter campaign to collect and donate books that would help black girls feel seen.

Marley was able to donate more than 9,000 books through the program, and at the 2017 Forbes’ Women Summit, she said of her experience, “I’m working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine black girls and make black girls like me the main characters of our lives.”

To spread the word about Marley’s vision for children’s literature, you can read her book Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! as a class.

5. Isra Hirsi

Isra Hirsi, daughter of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, is another young person making a difference through environmental and racial activism. Inspired by the belief that every person deserves a safe and liveable future, she co-created the U.S. Youth Climate Strike.

This organization has chapters all over the country to help youth get involved in the fight against climate change. In addition to informing students about your local chapter, share this speech Isra gave at TedxWakeForestU on climate advocacy, racial justice, and intersectionality.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking