AGENDA youth activism toolkit launches in the USA

AGENDA, a youth activism toolkit developed by Professor Emma Renold, has been launched in the USA in conjunction with SPARK Movement.

The online resource, which supports young people to challenge intersectional gender-based sexual inequalities, violence and oppression, was launched on October 9th 2017 as part of the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl 2017 11 Days of Action.

The free interactive toolkit provides ideas, guidance, and instructions for activist projects and support for young people looking to engage with these issues safely, creatively and effectively.

Professor Renold has collaborated with Professor Lyn Mikel Brown of Colby College, co-founder of SPARK movement, and Dana Edell, Ph.D., SPARK’s founding Executive Director, to bring AGENDA to the USA.

Together, they have expanded AGENDA’s change-making ideas tool-kit with support for intergenerational partnerships, extended tactics and examples, and additional information and resources specific to sexual violence prevention.

The AGENDA / SPARK youth activist toolkit now offers 20 different ways young people can take action in their schools and communities.

SPARK is an intergenerational activist organization, describing themselves as ‘working to ignite and foster an antiracist gender justice movement to end violence against women and girls and promote girls’ healthy sexuality, self-empowerment and well-being’.

Professor Lyn Mikel Brown explains the origins of the transcontinental collaboration, saying: “We planned to build an online toolkit for young activists from scratch until we saw Emma’s brilliantly designed guide. Why not combine efforts? The three of us began to imagine an online version of AGENDA infused with what we’ve learned about intergenerational work with our SPARK team of girl activists and our history of youth-fuelled campaigns. The result is a free online AGENDA that young activists, anywhere in the world, can use to create positive change in their schools and communities."

AGENDA, released in November 2016, was originally created in partnership with the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, NSPCC Cymru, Welsh Government and Welsh Women’s Aid.

AGENDA / SPARK’s toolkit is free to view online.