Lesson 1: Defining Social Activism
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Objectives
 I will identify and learn about three individuals
who have led social causes
 I will identify the characteristics of a
leader/social activist
Note: You’ll see the following pencil when a slide is connected
with your PoP Student Workbook.
This information is confidential and was prepared by Pencils of Promise, Inc. It shall only be used by the person(s) named and for the purpose(s) intended and is not meant for distribution.
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Vocabulary
 Social Activist: An activist is a person that works
on a project that he or she is passionate about
in order to bring about positive social change.
 Global Citizen: A person who is concerned with
the peace and human rights of others. This
individual also believes that they are
connected with others through history,
the economy, culturally, etc.
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Quick Write
 Why are leaders/social activists important for
global development?
 What charactersistics define a leader/social
activist?
When you’re finished, share your thoughts!
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A Look at 3 Activists: It all started with an idea…
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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important figure during the Civil
Rights Movement. As a non-violent leader, he fought for the equal
rights of the African-American community, led many
demonstrations, and advocated for peace and justice. For
example, in 1955, he led a great bus boycott that lasted 382 days.
Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest male to receive the
Nobel Peace Prize.
Retrieved from http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
This information is confidential and was prepared by Pencils of Promise, Inc. It shall only be used by the person(s) named and for the purpose(s) intended and is not meant for distribution.
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Adam Braun
Adam was a college student backpacking across the globe when he asked a
small boy begging on the streets of India what he wanted most in the world.
The answer: A pencil. The promise that came in sharing that first pencil led to
the distribution of thousands as Adam traveled through 50+ countries. In 2008,
Adam founded Pencils of Promise (“PoP”) with just $25 in hopes of building one
school; in just two years it has grown into an international movement of over
182,216 supporters leading to 26 sustainable schools in Laos, Nicaragua, and
Guatemala.
For more information, visit www.pencilsofpromise.org
This information is confidential and was prepared by Pencils of Promise, Inc. It shall only be used by the person(s) named and for the purpose(s) intended and is not meant for distribution.
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Talia Leman
In 2005, 15 year old Talia began to gather youth to help those
affected by Hurricane Katrina. Her actions set her on the path to
create RandomKid, a non-profit that connects youth with assisting
and funding social causes. The non-profit has built schools,
constructed water pumps, and provided health services for
communities.
For more information, visit www.randomkid.org
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Discussion Questions
 What surprised you or interested you the most
about these individuals?
 What characteristics should leaders possess?
 Which causes do you believe you would be
interested in leading or supporting?
 Which life experiences do you believe influence
your interest in the cause you stated?
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Independent Work
Create a piece of writing that defines the social
cause you are interested in and what factors in
your life motivate that interest. You can also add
the characteristics and skills you possess that will
help you contribute to this social cause.
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Leadership characteristics
These are a few examples of leadership
characteristics:
Communication, teamwork, organized, creative,
flexible, reflective, research-oriented, passionate,
hard-worker, fair, honest, trustworthy
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