Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

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Sunday Aug 09, 2009

A big hello from Isabel

Hi! I'm Isabel, I'm 19 and from Wales. I'm just finishing my gap year between finishing school and starting at Bristol University. On this blog I'm going to show you what I'm doing about climate change and how I campaign on it.

The environment wasn't always my passion, and I used to want to be a fashion stylist, it seemed to be what I was best at, where my natural talent lay. Then I got interested and more and more curious about ethical living; tracking down where my clothes and toothpaste had come from, who had made it and for how much. Once I'd started I couldn't stop, that led me to the environment. Initially I campaigned on sustainable development in Wales, through the Welsh Youth Forum on Sustainable Development (WYFSD website) and in my huge secondary school. We did presentations, started a green group, I tried to toughen our schools environmental policy, make them less oil dependant and more efficient. It was tough, especially at the same time as doing my A levels, but you when you feel strongly about something you always find time.

I went to my first youth conference near Amsterdam in 2007, and then became a British Council Climate Advocate for Wales. In September 08 I took a risk and applied to be part of the UK Youth Delegation to the UN Climate Negotiations in Poland. I was a bit hesitant, thinking the write up for applicants sounded a bit heavy going and out of my depth-I didn't think I was that hardcore!

Anyway, I applied successfully and the next thing I knew I was raising a grand to get there, and on a train to Poland with 15 people I barely knew. Meeting over 500 young people all with the same values and goals in life was inspirational, and to hear their stories was amazing. Ever since those hellish two weeks in Poznan, Poland (see my blog for the details.) I have tried to continue the work we started as an international youth movement, doing talks about my experience, inspiring others to show the Government at home what needs to be done on our behalf, joining Climate Rushes, going to conferences, speaking at them, questioning them, living with lots of activists and joining campaigns like Remember Saro-Wiwa and Climate Camp. While I was in London  I did 2 internships for Lib Dem MP's, to be able to greater understand the structure that underpins our society so I can campaign as effectively as possible for the things I feel strongly about, so expect some political sides to my arguments.

In short, I'm a youth campaigner who tries to amplify the voice of our generation in anyway possible, because it's our future they're messing with-lets take it back!

Make every day count

Isabel

Posted by Isabel ( 11:11 AM )
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