Overview

Welcome to level 2 of our activist development series. In these modules you will learn the most fundamental skills an activist needs to know. These are useful regardless of whether you are new to the movement or have been an activist for decades. We recommend that everyone learn these skills for a stronger foundation of knowledge.
 
We have designed these modules to learn at your own pace and in the order of your choosing. Each module contains learning activities that you can do at any time. These are to help you with retaining knowledge and to put these skills into practice. You can also download workshops with speakers notes if you want to run your own training sessions. These have also been designed so you can take elements of different workshops and paste them together to tailor a session for a particular audience.
 
There will be updates to this page with new modules and resources over time. So make sure to keep checking for updates. If you haven’t signed up to be a part of our movement yet, head to our Get Active page. If you have questions please get in touch with us at activism@amnesty.org.au.
LEVEL 2 MODULES

STRATEGIC THINKING

This module is an introduction to the type of thinking that goes into making an effective plan. We’ll be covering why it’s important to be strategic and give an overview of what a strategic cycle looks like. Finally we’ll show how you can develop your own plans using SMART goals.

Effective communications

An important part of achieving change for human rights is how we talk about it. It’s about the words and images we use to communicate the issues we care about. Using the wrong message can close hearts and minds towards our work. But, when we put it all together in the right way, we inspire people to join us.

Structured conversations on campaigns

Driving positive change in the world involves talking to a lot of people. Face to face conversations are still one of the most effective ways of doing this. In this module we will cover topics like how to start a conversation and keep it flowing. We’ll also look at what kind of language is most effective in getting your message across. Finally we’ll cover how to handle objections and difficult conversations.

Public narratives & relational meetings

In this module we will look at how you can use personal storytelling to inspire and seek commitment from people. Also so they can better connect with our movement and what we are trying to achieve. We’ll also examine how to make one on one meetings more meaningful. How they can lead to deeper engagement and a stronger relationship with the movement.

How to be a genuine ally

In this module we will look at why diversity and inclusivity is important. Why it is fundamental to the success of our movement. A success which is dependent on how proactive we are in championing diversity within. We’ll also look at how to engage with marginalised communities to ensure safety, self awareness and respect. How to recognise the effects of unearned privilege and power imbalances. We’ll give tips on how we each can each do our part to dismantle these unjust systems.

Sustainable activism & self care

In this module we’re going to take a look at how we can better take care of ourselves as activists. How you can recognise when your activism is starting to take a toll. What you can do to make sure your activism is sustainable for as long as you wish to do it. That you can be resilient and enjoy what you do for a long time to come.

Using digital tools for activism

In this module we’re going to look at the power of being an activist in the digital space. We’ll also cover how you can build your online persona and use it to spread a message. There’s an overview of some popular tools you can use straight away. Finally we’ll look at how to protect yourself online and keep your activities private.

Next Level

ADVANCED ACTIVIST SKILLS

Ready to step up your activism and leadership at Amnesty? Check out our modules on advanced activist skills and see how you can deepen your impact for human rights.