What is Activism? - in collaboration with NCS
Our piece for the National Citizen's Service Blog
When you think about activism your first thought might be public acts like protests. When you think about activism your first thought might be public acts like protests. Protests are one way to draw attention to an issue, but you don’t always have to be the loudest in the room to make an impact.
Activism isn’t one size fits all. It takes many forms, and our Vavengers are a testament to this. We’re made up of creatives, journalists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, academics (and more). All using our individual skills and strengths to help end gender-based violence for good.
In the past year alone we’ve pioneered award-winning pop-up support hubs, advised on a new law that protects 16 and 17 year olds from being forcibly married, and ensured that survivors of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria have access to period products. We’ve done all this and much more with the help of five part-time staff members and some brilliant volunteers.
Still, being an activist can seem like a scary and serious commitment, it might prompt worries like, do I have to dedicate my whole life to this? Do I have to speak out online even though it makes me feel unsafe?
The answer is no, you don’t need to have an all or nothing mentality to be an activist. Instead, think about where you can best focus your time and energy — based on the knowledge, skills, and interests you already have! Whether that be film, music, science, or maths, there’s a place here in activism for everybody.
Check out our piece for the National Citizen’s Service (NCS) Blog for three examples of activism that you might never have even heard of…
If you want to do some good and are looking for some added purpose in your life, then activism might just be the thing. Having a greater cause to care about can really help you achieve a well-rounded and fulfilling lifestyle. All of our Vavengers have a life outside of activism, and you can too. They are parents, spouses, carers and homemakers, poets, cyclists, bakers and even robotics engineers!
Really, the key to activism is in the word itself: taking action. Wherever you are in your activism journey, you can help us put an end to FGM/C and violence against women and girls by becoming a Vavenger today.
If you found any part of this blog distressing or triggering, please visit our wellness page.
Credit
Author: Ellie Melvin
Producers: NCS team
Brand and Creative Director: Megan Barclay