A lot of youth believe it takes someone older, with more life experience, or inherently bold to advocate for a cause or become a leader. They are scared of rejection, failure, judgment, or standing out in a crowd. The truth is, advocacy doesn’t have to be coordinating a huge public demonstration or going on a hunger strike – it can be small and most often is. You can advocate for a cause you want to support, no matter who or how old you are, but there are a few steps you should take when launching your advocacy journey.
Know your cause
Being knowledgeable about your cause is an excellent way to gain confidence, better develop your end goal, enable yourself to answer questions effectively, counter arguments, and get more people involved and on board. You don’t need to know every single detail spanning hundreds of years, but it is wise to do a bit of research on current updates and the historical significance of the issue, so you are in the know and will have a better chance of success in your endeavours. You can do this by seeking out documentaries, articles, or having conversations with well-informed people.
Be aware of your rights
It’s always a good idea to get to know what your boundaries are when considering contributing to or starting a movement.
Section 2- b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association are fundamental rights for all in Canada. Therefore, you are entitled to protest and express your opinion verbally and in writing at any age. However, it is also important to know about Section 7- 7: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. This means that you are not allowed to harm anyone in the process of advocating for a cause, and beyond that, you should obviously obey the laws and bylaws in your area.
With that out of the way, here are some safe, meaningful and youth-friendly approaches to advocating for your chosen cause:
School walkout
Based on my experience, conducting or participating in a school walkout is generally allowed as long as it does not interfere with the learning of non-participants. Gathering a group of people who care about the issue as much as you do to create posters and walk around the grounds is a great way to peacefully protest something and raise awareness around the school, as well as in a more widespread fashion, considering events like these often attract public and media attention. It is very impactful to see a group of students who have taken time out of their day to show the world something they want to change and why it is meaningful.
“There are a lot of reasons [we did the walkout],” said Elliot H., a local junior high student who participated in a walkout on October 3rd, 2025, protesting Alberta’s new laws affecting trans kids. “There are many issues with change rooms and sports teams not allowing trans kids in, and there is also a lot of bullying. It’s a big problem. I wanted to participate to show support for my friends who are trans. What the government is doing isn’t fair for those kids.”
Elliot says an older student let everyone know there would be a walkout for trans kids’ rights and to pass it on to others. “Everyone participating went to the far end of the field, near the road. A lot of people had signs and slogans they were shouting.” Elliot’s parents got a notification for unexcused absence, but nobody got in trouble with the school. “The principal said he wasn’t allowed to encourage or discourage it, and the grade nines made sure it was okay before they did it.” They got many cars to honk, and a news truck came over to record the walkout.
Art / Media
Representation and messages in forms such as podcasts, visual art, writing, and even dance can convey your idea by touching people’s emotions, inspiring them or making them reflect.
For example, social commentary graffiti artist Banksy is known for their profound and satirical public art style, anonymity and antiauthoritarian messages. They often protest against the suppression of free speech, mainly in the United Kingdom. While I don’t condone illegal behaviour such as graffiti, these art pieces have influenced some of my opinions and encouraged me to discover how we can exercise our right to free speech through the arts.
Participating in peaceful rallies and protests
Participating in the teachers’ rally shows support and solidarity, letting our educators know they are not alone and motivating them to keep going. Protests get attention and drive social and political change. They stir community engagement and unify people.
Events and celebrations
Your participation is support. Just by showing up to Truth and Reconciliation, Pride and Black History month events, you are fostering empathy, understanding and connection.
Write a letter or create a petition
Something that is important to me is the protection of transgender youth in schools, so I have been composing a letter with signatures to the provincial government regarding the new imposed regulations. One letter won’t get the intended result, but many can – just like how one brick can’t build a wall on its own.
Most kinds of petitions in Alberta require you to be at least 18 years of age and a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, but gathering signatures from youth who have something to say is also valuable and can spark change.
Start conversations and walk the talk
One of the most powerful things you can do is live your life according to your values and support your cause through actions, not just words. Advocacy doesn’t have to be a highly organized and planned event; we can advocate in our everyday interactions by helping those around us learn about how microaggressions and misapprehensions can be harmful to marginalized communities, even just by politely correcting someone when they say something inaccurate and harmful. Using your voice when you aren’t okay with what is being said or done is leadership, not sensitivity.
Behind the scenes, a lot of people are working towards change. Nowadays, it is extremely offensive and out of line if someone uses the R-slur because it devalues and dehumanizes individuals in our society. What many don’t realize is that it used to be used casually, demonstrating our society’s normalization of derogatory language. Continued action is still required, but changes have been made thanks to the hard work and activism of the disability community and the choices individuals make to no longer use this harmful word.
Be a leader within your community
Advocate for (or better yet, with) those who do not have the platform or resources to speak out for themselves. A couple of ways you can do this are by becoming a student representative or seeking out leadership programs in your city. That being said, your role is to amplify and support marginalized voices, not eclipse them. It is important to actively listen to these voices, as they give valuable insight and are the ones being affected. Keep in mind that leadership can be quiet, too. Leading by example and thoughtful actions reflects an individual’s capacity for empathy, resilience and awareness.
Although advocating is generally pretty serious work, it doesn’t always have to be about large societal issues – you can even advocate for things you want to see more (or less) of around your communities, like music, art, or a chicken sandwich in the cafeteria.
Think about what is happening around you that you want to change and how you can be the first to take a step towards your goal. You don’t need to wait, because the youth are the ones who decide the culture for the future, and you have the influence to co-shape the adult identities of the young people around you: the bosses, lawyers and voters of tomorrow.
Sources:
Calgary students stage widespread school walkout to protest Alberta’s transgender laws | CBC News
Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Canada.ca
How to Advocate for Marginalised Voices Without Speaking Over Them – Unity for Integration Project
Quiet Leadership: The Superpower the World Needs Right Now | Psychology Today