Advocacy Archives - Youth Are Awesome https://youthareawesome.com/category/advocacy/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:35:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 New Butterfly Species in Waterton National Park https://youthareawesome.com/new-butterfly-species-in-waterton-national-park/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-butterfly-species-in-waterton-national-park https://youthareawesome.com/new-butterfly-species-in-waterton-national-park/#respond Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:35:01 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=117305 In April 2025, a new, geographically isolated species of butterfly, known as the Curiously Isolated Hairstreak butterfly, was identified in Waterton Lakes National Park. This butterfly species was found in a grassland area called the Blakiston Fan. Physical Characteristics:  This small butterfly has brown wings with black spots surrounded by white rings on the inside. […]

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]]> https://youthareawesome.com/new-butterfly-species-in-waterton-national-park/feed/ 0 Advice from the Seven Sins: What Temptation Can Teach Us https://youthareawesome.com/advice-from-the-seven-sins-what-temptation-can-teach-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advice-from-the-seven-sins-what-temptation-can-teach-us Sun, 08 Jun 2025 17:09:19 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=117083 We’re often told to avoid the Seven Deadly Sins at all costs—as if simply naming them will keep us safe from their grip. Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth: these aren’t just old religious warnings—they’re timeless reflections of human nature. But instead of just treating them like red flags, maybe we can learn […]

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]]> Looking Good while Doing Bad: The fabrication of fast fashion https://youthareawesome.com/looking-good-while-doing-bad-the-fabrication-of-fast-fashion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=looking-good-while-doing-bad-the-fabrication-of-fast-fashion Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:48:30 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=117074 Let’s be honest – cheap stuff is awesome. As long as it tastes/looks good, the lower the prices, the more our faces light up. In today’s world, companies like Shein and Temu are profiting off of this mindset insanely – but what’s the catch? Sure the quality may not be amazing, but we can’t spend […]

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]]> Politics Needs Women. https://youthareawesome.com/politics-needs-women/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=politics-needs-women Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:15:00 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=117063 For centuries, politics has remained a field dominated by men. However, today, we see women around the world fighting against all odds to make their voices heard and stepping into leadership roles, reshaping our political landscape.   Road to representation Nevertheless, there is a long road towards reaching political representation, and it hasn’t been easy. […]

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]]> Pope Leo XIV – His Story https://youthareawesome.com/pope-leo-xiv-his-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pope-leo-xiv-his-story Wed, 21 May 2025 00:06:08 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116832   White Smoke Rises! On Thursday, May 8th, white smoke had risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new Pope had been elected. As a Pope, his responsibility is to preserve, interpret, and teach the faith of Christianity, acting as the leader of around 2.35 billion Christians worldwide today.   How […]

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]]> Why Do Students Protest? An Examination of the Rhodes Must Fall Movement https://youthareawesome.com/why-do-students-protest-an-examination-of-the-rhodes-must-fall-movement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-do-students-protest-an-examination-of-the-rhodes-must-fall-movement Wed, 14 May 2025 16:23:57 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116627 What drives students to take to the streets, or in this case, their own campuses, to protest? Around the world, student activism has been a powerful force for change, from resisting tuition fees to climate policy. In understanding the origin of these protests, the Rhodes Must Fall Movement is an essential movement that must be […]

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]]> Breaking Barriers: Advocating for Accessibility in High Fashion Through the Met Gala https://youthareawesome.com/breaking-barriers-advocating-for-accessibility-in-high-fashion-through-the-met-gala/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=breaking-barriers-advocating-for-accessibility-in-high-fashion-through-the-met-gala Wed, 14 May 2025 15:12:49 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116817 Introduction Fashion has long been a space for creativity, self-expression, and cultural storytelling, yet it remains largely inaccessible to those with disabilities and financial limitations. The Met Gala, often regarded as fashion’s biggest night, is a platform that showcases extravagant designs and avant-garde trends. However, despite its influence in shaping public perceptions of fashion, discussions […]

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]]> Rethinking immigration for Canada’s youngest voices https://youthareawesome.com/rethinking-immigration-for-canadas-youngest-voices/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rethinking-immigration-for-canadas-youngest-voices Thu, 01 May 2025 02:10:45 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116755         When youth immigrate, they don’t just traverse borders instead, they approach a new world of expectations, languages, and identities. In Canada, immigration policy not only defines who gets in but also how it can shape immigrant youth belonging, cultural connection, and how they see themselves reflected in society.      It […]

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]]> Vancouver Filipino Festival Tragedy https://youthareawesome.com/vancouver-filipino-festival-tragedy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vancouver-filipino-festival-tragedy Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:12:29 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116720 An exciting festival in Vancouver ended in tragedy last Saturday. It was an annual Filipino event called the Lapu-Lapu Day Block party, attended by up to 100 000 people. However, after 8pm local time, an SUV plowed through the site, driving through the crowd. Police described this event as the “darkest day in the city’s […]

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]]> Mental Health Week 2025: The Power of Community https://youthareawesome.com/mental-health-week-2025-the-power-of-community/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mental-health-week-2025-the-power-of-community Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:18:27 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116737 Every year, Mental Health Week gives us space to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with ourselves and with others.  It takes place from May 12- 18 this year, and the theme is simple yet profound: Community This theme invites us to think about where we belong, who we lean on, and how we support one another in […]

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]]> USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge https://youthareawesome.com/usc-speak-your-mind-ice-bucket-challenge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=usc-speak-your-mind-ice-bucket-challenge Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:34 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116617 Sound Familiar? Deja vu is sweeping across social media users as the new face of the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge has arisen, this time with a focus on mental health. Students from the University of South Carolina’s Mind (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) club have revamped the challenge nearly a decade later in hopes of raising […]

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]]> It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Ending the Stigma Around Mental Health https://youthareawesome.com/its-okay-to-not-be-okay-ending-the-stigma-around-mental-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-okay-to-not-be-okay-ending-the-stigma-around-mental-health Sat, 12 Apr 2025 17:40:33 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116476 Let’s be real: Life gets messy. There are days when you wake up feeling heavy for no reason. Or maybe there is a reason–school, stress, family stuff, friend drama, burnout–but you still don’t feel like you can say anything out loud. We’ve all heard “Just stay positive!” or “Others have it worse than you.” But […]

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]]> The Myanmar Earthquake: How Calgarians Can Help https://youthareawesome.com/the-myanmar-earthquake-how-calgarians-can-help/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-myanmar-earthquake-how-calgarians-can-help Sat, 12 Apr 2025 03:22:14 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116418 News of the devastating earthquake that hit Myanmar and neighboring countries is prominent all over social media. Videos of nurses in a maternity ward in China clinging to newborn babies in their arms and falling to the floor as the hospital shook are viral online. With the death toll reaching over 3,000, this earthquake is […]

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]]> Literature & Censorship: 5 Controversial Books To Read ASAP https://youthareawesome.com/literature-censorship-5-controversial-books-to-read-asap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=literature-censorship-5-controversial-books-to-read-asap https://youthareawesome.com/literature-censorship-5-controversial-books-to-read-asap/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:29:55 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116099 Censorship and book banning are highly controversial topics in the world of literature. The media challenges many esteemed novels for the themes they present to impressionable youth and the language they use. People are bringing books and their political impacts to light, with many realizing the political power classical literature wields. Various libraries and schools […]

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]]> https://youthareawesome.com/literature-censorship-5-controversial-books-to-read-asap/feed/ 2 The Power of Youth Advocacy in Education https://youthareawesome.com/the-power-of-youth-advocacy-in-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-power-of-youth-advocacy-in-education Wed, 09 Apr 2025 02:35:35 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116431 Education is the foundation of a thriving society, yet many young people across the world face barriers to accessing quality learning opportunities. According to UNESCO, approximately 258 million children and youth were out of school globally in 2018, highlighting significant gaps in educational access. From outdated curricula and unequal resources to rising student debt and […]

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]]> Meet the First Woman to be Mayor! https://youthareawesome.com/meet-the-first-woman-to-be-mayor/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-the-first-woman-to-be-mayor Sat, 29 Mar 2025 19:17:44 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116185 Susanna M. Salter, born March 2, 1860, was the first ever woman to be a mayor — and perhaps one of the only people to have accidentally become a mayor! Born in Lamira, Ohio, USA, she moved to Kansas at the age of twelve. There, she attended university and met her husband, Lewis Allison Salter. […]

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]]> Advocating for Mental Health Awareness for Elderly https://youthareawesome.com/advocating-for-mental-health-awareness-for-elderly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advocating-for-mental-health-awareness-for-elderly Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:25:02 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=116008 “In 2020, 1 billion people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. That figure will rise to 1.4 billion by 2030, representing one in six people globally.” (World Health Organisation, 2023) What can we, as adolescents, youth, and adults, collectively do to support those before us? Mental health advocacy has been a […]

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]]> What is Neurodiversity? https://youthareawesome.com/what-is-neurodiversity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-neurodiversity Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:35:18 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115703   All of us have encountered a question or problem either situational, emotional, or academic that has perplexed us. But have you ever come down to a concrete solution? Are you always able to navigate you’re way out of the problem with a step-by-step process that leads you to the right answer? Perhaps this may […]

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]]> The Trap of Consumerism: A Boxing Day Lesson https://youthareawesome.com/the-trap-of-consumerism-a-boxing-day-lesson/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-trap-of-consumerism-a-boxing-day-lesson https://youthareawesome.com/the-trap-of-consumerism-a-boxing-day-lesson/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:12:55 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115373 I was walking with my mom at Canadian Tire on Boxing Day—everyone’s favorite day of the year because it’s filled with the best deals. We were looking for a shower caddy when something caught my eye: a three-pack of pink pans marked down to $59.99. I was convinced my mom would buy them for me, […]

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]]> https://youthareawesome.com/the-trap-of-consumerism-a-boxing-day-lesson/feed/ 1 Guided and Unguided meditation https://youthareawesome.com/guided-and-unguided-meditation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guided-and-unguided-meditation Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:08:53 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=113893 If you decide you want to pursue a habit of meditation it is important to know the difference between misguided and guided meditation. They may both follow different strategies and techniques but fall under the same umbrella to ensure you follow the journey that comes with these two forms either the journey is independent, or […]

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]]> Reconciliation or Resistance: The Urgent Need to Rename John A. MacDonald Junior High https://youthareawesome.com/reconciliation-or-resistance-the-urgent-need-to-rename-john-a-macdonald-junior-high/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reconciliation-or-resistance-the-urgent-need-to-rename-john-a-macdonald-junior-high Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:02:19 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115607 When a country is impacted by colonialism, remnants and reminders of the colonial power will remain until full priority and dedication are given to eradicating them. Each year, the Canadian government claims fault for a past event in history that caused further deterioration to the identity and well-being of the Indigenous community. Locally, our school […]

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]]> Advocacy Against Bullying: Real Stories and the Fight for Change https://youthareawesome.com/advocacy-against-bullying-real-stories-and-the-fight-for-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advocacy-against-bullying-real-stories-and-the-fight-for-change Wed, 26 Feb 2025 01:24:17 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115634 Bullying is a widespread issue that affects millions of individuals—youth, teenagers, and even adults. It can take various forms—physical, verbal, emotional, and, with the rise of the internet, cyberbullying—each equally powerful in creating lasting harm to victims. Advocacy against bullying is crucial in raising awareness, shaping policies, and encouraging respect and empathy.  Perhaps one of […]

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]]> Crisis Beneath Our Nose: Violence in Manipur, India https://youthareawesome.com/crisis-beneath-our-nose-violence-in-manipur-india/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=crisis-beneath-our-nose-violence-in-manipur-india Sun, 23 Feb 2025 03:35:30 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115517 For the 11th time in Indian History, President’s Rule has been enacted in Manipur in hopes of quelling the ethnic violence that has devastated this Indian state for the past 2 years. The polarity between the people of Manipur has been brewing through the region for decades, but in May 2023, it erupted into a […]

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]]> Revolution in Robotics: The Journey of “Rule Breakers” https://youthareawesome.com/revolution-in-robotics-the-journey-of-rule-breakers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=revolution-in-robotics-the-journey-of-rule-breakers Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:28:30 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115119 No matter where it is, women have always been a minority in STEM, especially in countries where women have been restricted from the fundamental opportunities to develop and inspire others. This article is a glimpse into the story of young women who raced to victory in a setting where making one move was life-threatening. About […]

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]]> 6 Habits That Can Boost Your Mental Health and Well-Being https://youthareawesome.com/6-habits-that-can-boost-your-mental-health-and-well-being/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-habits-that-can-boost-your-mental-health-and-well-being Sun, 16 Feb 2025 03:42:08 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115286 The Science Behind Happiness: How Your Brain Reacts to Joy  Before we explore specific habits, it’s important to understand the science behind happiness. Happiness is more than just a fleeting emotion; it involves a physiological reaction to our brains. When we feel joy, our brains release chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which enhance […]

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]]> The Case for School Uniforms: A Step Towards Equality and Focus https://youthareawesome.com/the-case-for-school-uniforms-a-step-towards-equality-and-focus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-case-for-school-uniforms-a-step-towards-equality-and-focus Fri, 31 Jan 2025 07:27:26 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=114955 Does it ever feel like your kids take forever to get ready in the morning for school, only because they can’t pick what to wear? I know for a fact that my parents have felt this way before, and this led me to wonder, would I still be spending this much time getting ready for […]

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]]> Spotlight on Underrepresented Voice- “Crying in H-Mart” https://youthareawesome.com/spotlight-on-underrepresented-voice-crying-in-h-mart/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spotlight-on-underrepresented-voice-crying-in-h-mart Fri, 31 Jan 2025 03:23:08 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=115040 As media becomes an increasingly dominant form of communication between individuals, communities and the world; it is safe to say that It is taking over our lives. With such great influence, there is much responsibility, for individuals to have a voice it means to be represented in media therefore, it is essential that we represent […]

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]]> 4 Helpful Tips to Appreciate Yourself https://youthareawesome.com/4-helpful-tips-to-appreciate-yourself/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=4-helpful-tips-to-appreciate-yourself Sun, 26 Jan 2025 04:39:03 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=114946 Interviews, public speaking, debates, speeches, presentations: these are all examples of nerve-wracking situations for some people. Many people blame their personality type, or whether they are an introvert or an extrovert, for their vulnerability to stage fright and nervousness that accompany public speaking. While your personality can definitely play a major role in affecting your […]

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]]> Defending Love: Reflections on LGBTQ+ Rights Protests in Russia https://youthareawesome.com/defending-love-reflections-on-lgbtq-rights-protests-in-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defending-love-reflections-on-lgbtq-rights-protests-in-russia Thu, 23 Jan 2025 22:45:52 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=114961 In past years of Russia’s history, LGBTQ+ rights and the protests advocating for them have become an excellent example of how advocacy is able to shape and influence social change and empower marginalized minority communities.  Under the illiberal regime of the Russian government, interest groups and social movements have relatively limited freedom to initiate impactful […]

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]]> Universal Healthcare: A Right, not a Privilege https://youthareawesome.com/universal-healthcare-a-right-not-a-privilege/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=universal-healthcare-a-right-not-a-privilege Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:58:55 +0000 https://youthareawesome.com/?p=114957 Imagine a world where getting sick doesn’t mean choosing between your health and your financial stability. This is the idea behind universal healthcare—a system where everyone has access to necessary medical services, regardless of their income, job, or background. It’s a topic that has sparked debates worldwide, but its importance is undeniable. Let’s dive into […]

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