Humanity Strikes Back
Registration for Humanity Strikes Back is open until February 15, 2013- but space is limited so register soon! Click here to register now
The 2012 Humanity Strikes Back Resource Leader Team
The Basics
Cost: $25 – includes meals and conference materials
What?: Humanity Strikes Back (HSB) is an interactive, fun, youth empowerment and leadership event.
When?: February 23rd, 2013 (Registration opens in January 2013)
Who: Secondary school students grades 8-12.
More info? Email: humanitystrikesback@redcross.ca / Phone: 604-709-6653
HSB History 101
Humanity Strikes Back evolved out of a desire to help connect the dots between being passionate about humanitarian issues and taking action on the issues. Sure you care about what’s happening in the world, but how do you do something about it? Since 2004 Humanity Strikes Back has been helping answer that question by providing youth with the tools to turn their passion into action. This year we will be checking out the cycle of poverty & disease and how to break it, what we can do about child soldiers and the problem of light weapons, and the ever increasing problem of Climate Change & ‘Natural ’Disasters. We will also have a number of skill based workshops designed to give you the tools to be successful with the events you plan, the people you work with and the way you view the world!
In addition to spreading awareness about these issues, this event focuses on helping you plan your own events and generate ideas about ways you can make change back in your community. The beauty of Humanity Strikes Back is that the event is only the beginning - the real action takes place once you go back to your school, take what you learned at Humanity Strikes Back and help build something amazing!
What have people done after attending HSB?
After attending Humanity Strikes Back a number of students have gone on to plan amazing events in their high schools – for example four amazing young women went on to plan a huge awareness fair in May 2012, called the Aware-A-Fair after attending our events, which brought out over twenty organizations & not-for-profit groups, the mayor of Burnaby and hundreds of people!
Jennifer Hao also attended both Humanity Strikes Back and our Global Issues Symposium for Youth and went on to win Canada’s Greenest School contest in 2010! Click here to read more about Jennifer’s story. There are dozens of other stories like Jennifer’s: a successful slam poetry night fundraiser, bake sales, amazing ideas for awareness events and countless dinner fundraisers to name only a few great outcomes.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Easy! Click here to register online today. Registration closes on February 15th, but spots often fill up before the deadline so the earlier you apply the better. If you have questions email humanitystrikesback@redcross.ca.
Do I have to go to Symposium before I got Humanity Strikes Back?
No way! We’d love to have you, whether you’ve been to Symposium or not! This event is a great way to learn about humanitarian issues and the Red Cross for the first time :) You may want to go to Symposium once you’ve been to HSB – but it’s totally not a prerequisite!
What’s Symposium and how is it different from HSB?
The Global Issues Symposium for Youth (Symposium for short) is an event we hold every November around Remembrance Day. It has been running since 1984 and we think it’s pretty amazing (click here for more info about Symposium). The main differences between HSB and Symposium are time- HSB is two days and not overnight whereas Symposium is overnight and four days- and content – we cover some different issues at HSB and we put a heavier focus on ways to take action.
Do I have to know a lot about global issues to come?
There is no minimum or maximum amount of knowledge needed to come to HSB. We make sure that everyone is on the same page about all the issues we cover – from the basics of what climate change is, to the more complicated laws around child soldiers. This is a great place to first learn about a lot of these topics. On the flip side of things, if you feel like you already know a lot about this stuff we assure you that you will still get something out of coming to our event. As George Santayana, the Spanish American philosopher said “The wisest mind has something yet to learn.”
Okay this all sounds great- but what do I actually DO there?
During HSB you’ll be signing up for different workshops run by our amazing Resource Leader team- the workshops are highly interactive and ask you to participate in simulations, role plays and discussions designed to get you in the mindset of the people who are affected by these issues. There will be plenty of chances to share knowledge you already have on these topics with your fellow participants; this is not a lecture style conference – prepare to participate!
I need more info, who should I contact?
Send us an email at humanitystrikesback@redcross.ca, or give us a call at 604-709-6653. Don’t be shy- we love questions!
Contact Information
For all Humanity Strikes Back related questions please contact:
Melinda Mennie- Coordinator, Humanitarian Issues Promotions
Canadian Red Cross, Lower Mainland Region
Email: humanitystrikesback@redcross.ca
Phone: 604-709-6653
Fax: 604-709-6675
