The aim of the Make Poverty History project was to engage a group of mixed faith young people in a global campaign. We wanted to test the power of global development issues to engage, motivate and unite the group.

Originally we planned six sessions, learning about the issues, working with a performance poet to create a message for G8 leaders, and then supporting the young people to produce their own video. In the end, the young campaigners were so motivated that they came up to Edinburgh to take part in the Make Poverty History rally on 2 July 2005 and their video was screened in the Gener8ion zone at the Meadows.

Project Process

The project involved a group of young people aged 14-17, who were already involved in a youth project at Island House.

We ran five sessions with the participants, running activities and discussions to get them thinking and learning more about the issues surrounding the Make Poverty History campaign:

• Make Poverty History and what makes a good campaign
• Poverty here and abroad
• Trade
• Debt
• Aid

They then worked with performance poet, Lennox, in a poetry workshop. They wrote their own poems about global poverty and the campaign and then worked together to combine these words into one message for the G8 leaders. The group thought about how best to present this message in a video format, learnt how to use the video equipment and directed and produced their own mini-film.

The group travelled up to Edinburgh where they interviewed people attending the rally, watched their film being screened and played their part in the Make Poverty History campaign.

Participants' Comments

"In Edinburgh we could see what other people are doing to campaign on poverty, and tell other people what we were doing. It was fun."

"I liked the discussion that we had during the evenings on things like colonialism and religion."

"The project made me care about things I didn't even see before like condition of people in other countries and fair trade."

The project had a great impact on the young people involved, opening their eyes to many issues that they had never engaged with before. It gave them confidence that they could play a part in changing the world and gave them a chance join a global movement. The participants got to know each other much better during the project and developed strong friendships. The project united them in campaigning for a common cause ø ending world poverty.

Project type

• Interfaith

Region

• London