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Student leadership: the CHANGE Initiative

CHANGE trains college students to become actively engaged with Oxfam America’s work. Its goals: to broaden perspectives, inspire action, and shape a new generation of global citizens.

What is CHANGE?

CHANGE develops capable leaders, who are informed voices for positive social change, and who inspire greater global awareness in others. CHANGE Leaders are introduced to the social justice issues directly related to Oxfam America's mission; and are supported by Oxfam staff as they undertake Oxfam campaigns on their campuses and in their communities.

“After the CHANGE program, I had a deeper appreciation of what I already had—and how much I had to give to someone else.” – Alicia Wilson, 2001 CHANGE Leader

Training

Every year, Oxfam brings 50 CHANGE Leaders to Boston for a rigorous week-long training that combines group activities, expert panels, and workshops with a multimedia teaching curriculum. The leadership training program builds students’ leadership skills, advocacy skills, and familiarity with Oxfam’s mission—and introduces them to sophisticated and powerful models for social change. Founded in 2000, CHANGE has trained more than 630 student leaders from more than 280 colleges and universities.

Campaigns on campus

After the training, CHANGE Leaders return to campus energized and ready to work on social justice. Oxfam staffers and a CHANGE campus advisor provide guidance to the student activists throughout the year.

Each CHANGE leader implements at least one Oxfam-specific public advocacy campaign on campus, covering issues like food justice; oil, gas, and mining; or disasters and poverty. Activities include building networks, organizing their peers to take political action, and hosting campus awareness events like teach-ins, panel discussions, art exhibits, and speakers’ tours.

Learn more

  • Download a brochure about CHANGE and Oxfam's youth engagement work on campuses nationwide.
  • Watch our video (below) and share it on your social networks:

Connect with us

If you are a CHANGE Leader or Alumni, log in to the CHANGE Network. You'll find updates about Oxfam’s work, the latest job postings, and opportunities to connect with CHANGE alumni in your area.

Watch a video from our 10-year anniversary event

Hear CHANGE Leaders from across the years share their insights about the program, its impact on their lives, their memories as student activists, and the rich and deep connections they have made with their fellow CHANGE Leaders:

The 2012 application period has ended. Please sign up to receive notification when the 2013 application process begins.

If you are a CHANGE Leader or Alumni, visit the CHANGE Alumni Network.

Contact us

If you have any questions about CHANGE or the application process, please contact us.

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