The 2018-2019 school year was huge for Save the Children Action Network’s (SCAN) Student Ambassador Program. More than 125 passionate high school and college students across 13 states worked diligently to engage their classmates, communities, candidates running for office and elected officials around making change for kids. Not only were they strong voices for kids themselves, but they also recruited club members and new Student Ambassadors from within their ranks to grow our movement of grassroots advocates.
I’m thrilled to celebrate another year of our Student Ambassadors and everything they’ve done to make the world a better place for kids. Check out some highlights from the past year!
Recruiting New Voices for Kids
Student Ambassadors came back from summer break and hit the ground running by participating in student activities fairs and other outreach events to recruit activists to further our mission for kids. The beginning of the school year is typically the busiest time for enlisting new Student Ambassadors and club members!
Club members from SCAN at the University of New Hampshire helped enlist new students at their school’s club fair.
Students Ambassadors at Illinois State University set up a booth at their club fair to recruit new club members.
Getting Out the Vote for Kids
Student Ambassadors led on SCAN’s first foray into National Voter Registration Day in September, registering hundreds of their peers to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. Some used the help of tasty treats like muffins and custom cupcakes to draw students to their table to learn about the importance of voting and why we need to keep kids in mind at the ballot box.
Student Ambassadors and club members at Illinois Math & Science Academy participated in an advocacy training and then delivered postcards to their teachers reminding them to vote.
Student Ambassadors at Furman University in South Carolina handed out cupcakes on campus and registered new voters.
Student Ambassadors at Drake University in Iowa hosted a “Midterms and Muffins” event on campus, handing out muffins and registering voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Student Ambassadors Have a Heart
To kick off the spring 2019 semester, Student Ambassadors made Valentine’s Day cards to deliver to their elected officials urging them to “Have a Heart, Invest in Kids.”
Student Ambassadors at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga got creative, combining crayons and stickers for their Valentine’s Day cards.
Student Ambassador at the University of Chicago Lab School and Loyola Chicago University met with staff from Senator Richard Durbin’s Chicago office to talk about why they care about our issues impacting kids.
Student Ambassadors at Benedict College in South Carolina collected postcards to their elected officials at a community event.
Engaging 2020 Candidates on the Campaign Trail
Candidates for the 2020 presidential election are hitting the campaign trail in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and our Student Ambassadors are there to meet them! Students are asking important questions about how each candidate plans to invest in kids’ issues.
A Student Ambassador at Urbandale High School in Iowa asked Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about her plan to invest in kids in the U.S. and around the world.
Student Ambassadors at the University of New Hampshire heard what Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) has to say about early childhood education at an event on campus.
Student Ambassadors at Bedford High School in New Hampshire had the chance to ask Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma) about her stance on different issues affecting children.
Student Ambassadors at Iowa State University met with several candidates, including Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), at a community event.
Stop the War on Children
Student Ambassadors across the country played a pivotal role in the launch of Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network’s newest campaign: Stop the War on Children. This campaign aims to protect children living in war and conflict zones around the world and ensure they have access to a safe education.
Student Ambassadors at the University of Denver in Colorado set up a table on campus to collect postcards to their members of Congress in support of a House resolution around safe schools in conflict zones.
Student Ambassadors at Hume-Fogg High School in Tennessee stood in solidarity with children living in conflict zones whose education and childhood are threatened.
Student Ambassadors at Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts stood in solidarity with children living in conflict zones.
Just because school is out doesn’t mean that these students take a break! Our Student Ambassadors continue to be a voice for kids during the summer by leading outreach activities at music festivals and farmers’ markets, engaging candidates at town halls and debates, making phone calls to their members of Congress and more. They’ll be ready to hit the ground running come fall to recruit new students at their schools and start the semester off strong.
Email Morgan Moran, Manager of the Student Ambassador Program, to learn how you can raise your voice at your school for kids in the U.S. and around the world.