Get involved
They say a thousand-mile journey starts with one step. We believe that educating the world about the personal, generational and global effects of terrorism starts with the telling of one story.
Please join us as we stand united in speaking truth to terror.
It's up to you how you want to speak out. In case you need some ideas, we have a few to share. And if you have some of your own, .
- Meet with your elected officials - Set up meetings with leaders in your community - local and regional representatives (mayors, provincial/state leaders) and national office holders (president, prime minister, cabinet/ministry leaders). By letting them know what issues are important to you, you can become a resource to them in helping achieve progress. Be sure to keep abreast of and attend parliamentary proceedings and the like that are relevant to what you would like government to focus on - by being physically present, you send a strong message of interest and remind them that you take these issues seriously and are not going away.
- Develop relationships with members of the media - Ask your local newspaper, radio and television editors and reporters to coffee to explain who you are and what you are working towards. These people are more likely to include you (and your point of view) in their reporting when they are regularly reminded of and updated on what you are working on.
- Reach out to community organizers and religious leaders - By coordinating with religious leaders and community organizers, you can tap into a network that can be extremely helpful. If you are able to communicate your goals, they will likely be able to help harness the collective efforts of their organizations to help you reach a broader audience.
- Build coalitions - You might not be aware of how many people there are in your community who share your goals and beliefs. Whether a local charity against violence or the regional chapter of an aid organization like the International Red Cross/Crescent, there are groups that can help you speak out to a large audience that can further your goals. By doing a bit of research and asking lots of questions, you will likely find both expected and unconventional partners that can be an extraordinary resource to you.
- Educate the young - Speaking out at schools, universities and after-school programs is a great way to make sure youth learn about the past, and can be part of preventing its repetition. Your perspective and personal experience is something students cannot learn about in books or prepared lessons - consider offering a few hours of your time to teach to next generation how we need to work to together to make a safer and more secure world.
- Engage in your community - Have you considered volunteering to present your story at local libraries, museums or community centers? Have you offered to plan an event (at a school, community center, place of worship or other gathering spot) to educate and inform people about your experiences?
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Join the conversation on the world wide web - Your voice needs to be heard and the Internet provides a number of opportunities to share. You can participate in forums, blog, tweet, and post to make sure the voices of survivors are as loud as the voices of those who would cause harm. If you are active in reaching out, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. Find us on , , or to begin!