believe THey can - Free The Children

How- to Guide | 3
How-To Guide
We Won’t Rest is a Free The Children campaign that educates and inspires action
among youth on the issue of homelessness in our own communities.
An international charity and educational partner, Free The Children believes in a
world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents
of change.
Internationally, our sustainable Adopt a Village model removes barriers to
education in developing communities, giving families the resources to lift
themselves out of poverty.
Locally, we seek to free youth from the notion that they are powerless to make
a difference. Through We Act and We Day, we educate, engage and empower
young people with the tools, knowledge, confidence and support they need to be
ambassadors for change.
We Won’t Rest is a local action idea that helps you and your students fulfill your We
Act commitment to complete one local and one global action. Every action helps
you and your students earn your way to We Day. What’s more, every action helps to
change the world for the better!
Interested in participating in the We Act program?
Email youth@freethechildren.com for more information.
steP 1: educate Yourself
Through the We Won’t Rest campaign, Free The Children offers resources on a
significant issue impacting many of our local communities: homelessness. Youth
across North America can demystify homelessness through self-education and
awareness. First, participants learn about the many faces of homelessness and its
causes and effects. Then, they educate their peers about the issue. Finally, they
reach out to their community by volunteering and making a difference in the lives
of those affected by homelessness.
WHY?
A place to call home—it’s everyone’s right. But millions in North America are
homeless and their struggles are too often ignored.
A local shelter or homeless aid organization is an excellent source of information
and can help guide your campaign in the right direction. You can locate one by
visiting: www.shelterlistings.org/find_shelter.html
To successfully take action on issues of homelessness, ensure that you and your
group or class are fully aware of all the facts and complexities involved. We’ve
compiled some resources on the issues of poverty and homelessness to get you
on your way. Before you get started, check out the We Won’t Rest campaign
video at freethechildren.com/wewontrest.
looking for more ideas?
If at any time you need help planning new activities or engaging your class or
community, feel free to contact a Youth Programming Coordinator (YPC)
at youth@freethechildren.com. Free The Children’s dedicated YPC’s are available
for information, encouragement and support during every step of your service
learning journey.
Homelessness
at a glance:
• Each year, nearly 1.6 million
Americans use homeless shelters.
• On any given day, 633,782
Americans are homeless.
• 22 percent of sheltered homeless
are under the age of 18.*
• 58 percent of sheltered homeless
are members of a minority group.*
• There are countless hidden
homeless, people who have jobs
but just can’t earn enough to
afford housing.
For more statistics about the realities of
homelessness, see the We Won’t Rest
Fact Book online at freethechildren.
com/wewontrest.
*Sheltered homeless are people who are staying in
emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or
safe havens.
sTudenTs now
believe THey can
make a difference 95%of
in the world
as a result of free the children’s
domestic programs.

How-To Guide
steP 2: educate otHers
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How- to guide
Not many people know that every year, more than 350,000 children sleep in
homeless shelters. Many of these children’s parents have jobs but can’t earn enough
to afford housing. They are called the “hidden homeless.”
The We Won’t Rest campaign provides the opportunity for your group to talk to others
about homelessness to raise awareness and dispel myths about the issue.
Consider getting the word out to local media outlets to further promote your group’s
campaign. You may also want to encourage your group to publicize the event within
the school by posting flyers, holding an information booth, wearing signs or putting up
the campaign poster included in this booklet. And don’t forget to take pictures!
Another great way to spread the word about your campaign is through social media,
such as Facebook or Twitter. Here are some ideas for using social media to further
your campaign:
• Share statistics and facts online and ask friends and family to re-post.
• Tweet about the issues you discover using the hashtag #wewontrest
• Start a Facebook group and ask people to post common myths about
homelessness, for example, “All homeless people live on the street.” Then add
comments to the post as you discover real facts in your research.
• Encourage your group to record their thoughts in a journal or video blog
throughout your event.
Here are some activities you can incorporate into your event:
• Invite a speaker from a local homeless shelter or homeless aid organization to
give a speech, and facilitate a question and answer session after.
• Have your group arrange a public event where you spend a night in the
school gym discussing the topic of homelessness and exploring ways to make
a difference.
• Hold a soup kitchen-style dinner and have a short discussion about the
challenges of buying and cooking nutritious food on a low income. You could ask
the group questions like, “What makes a meal nutritious? How would you make
a nutritious meal with less money or without a kitchen?”
• Watch the film The Soloist and have a discussion about the issues it raises.
• Write a letter to your mayor and/or your senator or member of congress.
• Hold a candlelight vigil to raise awareness.
• Develop you own activity.
We Won’t rest
at We daY
We Day is an event and a movement
where young change-makers celebrate
a year of performing local and global
actions by enjoying speeches and musical
performances from some of the greatest
heroes of our time.
At We Day 2010, football star Pinball
Clemons told a story about actor
Tyler Perry’s compassion for those
affected by homelessness. Watch the
recording online at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=r31lZnJGmqg.
If you are leading a university or
college group, then you might
consider camping outside on
campus for one night to heighten
your connection to the issue of
homelessness and bring further
awareness to your campaign.
But remember:
• First seek permission from
school administration.
• Ensure safety by asking
campus police to monitor the
site throughout the night.
• Provide information and
flyers to passers-by to
maximize public awareness.
1 in 5
sheltered homeless
are under the
age of 18.

discussion
Questions
Here are some discussion questions you
can present to your group members to
help them reflect on the event. This is
an important step to help your group to
deeply and meaningfully engage with
what they are learning and experiencing.
• Which activity affected you the
most? Why?
• What does the phrase “living
without a home” mean to you?
• How has your perception of
homelessness changed since the
beginning of the We Won’t
Rest campaign?
• What is the one item you believe
you can’t live without? Why? How
has your opinion about wants and
needs changed over the course of
this event?
• Who are some family members,
guardians or friends who provide
for you? Imagine for a moment
that they weren’t there. How
would your life be different?
• Was there any material discussed
throughout the campaign that you
found challenging? Why?
• What are some ways people
or governments can help
the homeless?
• What are some ideas for
taking action?
Remember, a Youth Programming
Coordinator (YPC) is available to help
you every step of the way. Contact your
YPC at youth@freethechildren.com.
steP 3: take action
Once your event is complete, get ready to make a difference!
How- to Guide
discover WHat Homelessness looks like locallY
Research and complete a project on what homelessness looks like in your community.
Some specific questions to research might be:
• What are the main causes of homelessness in your community?
• Who is affected?
• What are the “unseen” instances of homelessness that you have learned
more about?
• What government policies are having an impact on this issue, either positively
or negatively?
• Who is working on this issue in your area?
• What are some solutions?
Your group can gather information by conducting research, doing interviews, taking
pictures, recording video and visiting local organizations. After, share your findings with
the larger community by:
• Creating a PowerPoint presentation or video to show at a school assembly
• Writing articles or letters to the editor to submit to local newspapers
• Setting up a blog
• Encouraging your community to join Free The Children in taking a stand on
important issues like homelessness and poverty.
make an imPact on Homelessness in Your communitY
There are lots of ways you can make a direct impact on the lives of those affected
by homelessness.
• Carry out a clothing drive to collect items needed by your local homeless shelter.
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen or a local homeless shelter.
• Hold a fundraiser to collect money for a local homeless shelter or aid
organization.
• Collect toys for children in your local homeless shelter.
• Develop your own activity!
It’s very important that for each task you seek the guidance of your local homeless
shelter or homeless aid organization to ensure that you proceed in the most appropriate
way possible.
For further advice and support, reach out to your YPC at youth@freethechildren.com.
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