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Sorry to break it to you, but you are not going to end sexual violence all by yourself. You need to connect with others, build partnerships and coalitions and find a group of fellow activists as passionate as you are about making and living in a world free from violence. How do you do this?

A good place to start is to gather a group of like-minded friends, peers and classmates and create a new “feminist club” or activism group at your school or in your community. This can be a space to come together on a frequent basis (maybe once a week).

Some activities you can do in this group:

– Educate yourselves! Discuss ideas and strategies for understanding the issues;

– Create and foster the safest and bravest space for people who want to and feel a need to share personal stories (* see CAUTION section for Youth Groups!)

– Spread the word! Find ways to educate others not in the group using any of the other tactics we have shared in this toolkit

– Design and run action campaigns

– Select a book that everyone reads together and then discusses in the group. Don’t know where to start? Check out “13 Books to Read in Your Feminist Book Club”

Here are some stories from girls about the challenges and successes of starting feminist clubs at their schools:

“Starting A Feminist Club at My High School” by Kat Spencer

“How to Start an Intersectional Feminist Club: A Guide by Two Bona Fide High School Experts” by Sienna Ruiz and Cammy, Rookie

“How to Create a Women’s Empowerment Club at Your School” by Sonia Edwards, Bust

“Here’s How to Start a Feminist Club at Your School” by Ariel Wodarcyk, Hello Flo

Here are some suggestions for you as you begin to create your group:

  1. Provide resources for folks who might be suffering from experiences related to sexual violence. Distribute a list of phone numbers and websites of places where they can access support and resources.
  2. Be clear about exactly what the group is and what it is not. Is it an activist group for young people to design action campaigns or a support group for survivors to share stories?
  3. Articulate community guidelines together. Ask everyone what they need to feel safe and supported. Write down this “community contract,” invite everyone to sign it and post it somewhere visible at every meeting. The list might include suggestions such as:
    1. speak with “I” statements
    2. replace judgment with curiosity
    3. respect where everyone is on their journey
    4. step up/ step back
    5. know, respect and name your own boundaries. No one has to share anything they don’t want to share
    6. practice “calling in” instead of “calling out”
  4. And unfortunately, spaces that are publicly named and branded in any way as “feminist” or addressing issues related to preventing sexual violence are often trolled by harassers. We highly recommend the resources at HEARTMOB to help you address harassers and support the folks they target.

Organizing and running a group is a lot of work! Don’t be afraid to get advice or guidance from a trusted professional and/or adult ally.

Take time to consider and strategize how you can create and foster the safest possible space for young people to feel comfortable, supported and empowered. Not everyone is ready to share a story about their own experiences related to sexual violence.

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