Advocacy in action

Advocacy in action

What is advocacy?

  • Advocacy is making change.
  • An advocate is someone who helps to make this change.
  • Advocates start with clear and specific requests for what they want to change.
    For example, and advocate might say, “Mr. President, please support $5 billion in 2009 to help families in poverty.”

Activities unify our efforts
Students of all ages from around the world are encouraged to host one of these events to give Act! Speak! Build! Week a unified perspective.

Suggested activities and events
In order to advocate, you need to make a specific request to lawmakers and elected officials. At each event, ask participants to write letters or sign petitions in support of your request.

  • Advocate on behalf of Habitat for Humanity
    Host an event on your school campus or in your community.
  • Host a candlelight vigil
    This is a great way for groups to reflect on poverty and the impact it has on our lives, the community and the world.
  • Make it real!
    Create a visual representation of a current poverty statistic that illustrates the magnitude of poverty in your community, state, country or world. Display it in a high-traffic area, accompanied by an explanation.
  • Welcome Home housing simulation
    Use this during Act! Speak! Build! Week to raise awareness of the issues surrounding poverty housing. Each participant is assigned a role as a representative of a housing entity or as a homeless individual searching for housing.


Advocacy tools

  • Letter-writing campaigns and petitions
    Letter-writing campaigns     and petitions are great ways to involve your whole community. During Act! Speak! Build! Week 2009, we asked President Obama to make affordable housing a priority. Use this letter and petition at your community events to spread the word and make sure your voice is heard.
  • Handouts
    Looking for a way to explain important advocacy issues simply? Use the Secure Tenure 101 and Housing Trust Funds 101 handouts.
  • Government Relations and Advocacy
    You can learn more about Habitat’s mission by checking out the Government Relations and Advocacy Web site. GRA monitors policies related to housing, community and international development. They determine how to enhance or change these policies to increase access to affordable housing.
    Join thousands of other supporters and become an advocate for Habitat for Humanity.
  • Paper House campaign
    Children as young as 5 can advocate for an end to poverty housing using the Paper House campaign.
  • Panel discussions
    Panels are a great way to invite elected officials to your community. Learn how to organize a panel discussion.
  • ONE Campaign
    The ONE Campaign     raises public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger and disease in developing countries. Add your signature to the ONE Declaration.


Educational activities
You can find more activities in the Advocacy Toolkit.