Blog: how do actions, advocacy, and volunteering affect real change?

Have you ever wondered how actions, advocacy, and volunteering affect real change. Does this really create a movement against extreme poverty? How does the singular “I” become an integral part of the larger picture? These big questions can become overwhelming and paralyzing. However, there is hard evidence that this is possible, and not only is it possible, it’s happening.

Let’s meet Nina Tchangoue of Cameroon.

Nina, a renowned youth advocate and expert on environmental sustainability, youth development, and women and girl’s rights got her start with a simple passion for volunteering. In secondary school she served as the president of the UNESCO club and became involved in projects related to peace, human rights, the environment, and HIV/AIDS. She also began to strongly campaign for quality education. She saw education as transformational, a way to open doors to future opportunities, increase earnings, and empower youth, especially girls, to realize their potential and lift their families and communities out of poverty. For Nina, her experience as an advocate and volunteer was a source of fulfillment and she loved to see the visible impacts of her contributions on the development of her community.  She did face opposition from peers and family members who objected to working for no money, but Nina did not listen, and continued to focus on her passion to improve the lives of others.

Today she is a member of the UN Global Education First Youth Advocacy Group. She works with Synergies of Actions for Development and Education for All, providing equal rights and opportunities to disadvantaged communities. And as team leader of Youth Drive, an educational radio program, she organized a series of radio shows to inform and education young people on Rio 20 and critical issues for sustainable development, reaching over 5000 youth in Cameroon.

Nina shows us first hand that perseverance and passion is powerful. Join me in following Nina’s example. Let’s make our personal passions to see an end to extreme poverty and desire to see universal access to quality education a global reality. Sign GPE replenishment here.