Make it Happen: How to be an Activist

by Amika George

Overview

‘Make It Happen reminds us that people of any age can create change in their communities. From finding allies to setting goals, everyone who wants to contribute to a better future can learn from Amika's book.’ Malala Yousafzai

GET UP. SPEAK UP. DON’T GIVE UP.

In the spring of 2017, 17-year-old Amika George founded the Free Periods movement on behalf of every schoolgirl who couldn’t afford tampons or sanitary towels.

Three years later, in January 2020, these products became freely available to every schoolgirl in England for the first time, funded by the government.

Anyone can make history, including a teenager launching a global campaign from their bedroom. And Amika will show you how, in this essential guide to being an activist.

With chapters on finding your crowd and creating allies, going public with your campaign, how to use social media effectively and how to look after your mental health while protesting, Amika will show you how you can effect real and lasting change in your community, on the streets of your city, on your social media feed, in your country and in YOUR world.

• Is the environment being overlooked in favour of driving profits?
• Do you see injustice and suffering all around you?
• Have you hit upon a way to make the world a better place?

This – rallying cry, stories and lessons, and interviews from Amika’s fellow protestors and other changemakers, including Caroline Criado-Perez, Deborah Frances-White, Adwoa Aboah, Nicola Mendelsohn and Scarlett Curtis – is your book.

It’s not too late. You’re not too young. You are important. Rise up and be the change you want to see.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008377588
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/21/2021
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishers
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Amika George is a 20-year-old student at Cambridge University, who, at the age of 17, started the Free Periods campaign from her bedroom to end period poverty in the UK. After reading about children missing school, as they were unable to afford menstrual products, Amika started an online movement, organised a protest in London, attended by over 2,000 young people, and launched a legal campaign. In 2019, Her campaign successfully persuaded the UK government to provide free menstrual products in all English schools and colleges from January 2020.

She has received global recognition for her campaigning work, including receiving a Goalkeepers Campaign award by Bill & Melinda Gates, in conjunction with the United Nations, and was listed by TIME magazine as one of the 25 most influential teenagers in the world. She continues to campaign to ensure that every child worldwide has access to education, uninhibited by their period, and works to eradicate the taboo around periods.

Editorial Reviews

'Amika is one of my favourite people on earth – she embodies why the world is so excited for Generation Z! Make it Happen is an inclusive, powerful, political, intelligent and brilliant book about how one person can truly make a difference in this world. If you feel remotely fed up with the status quo – you need this book in your life!’ Scarlett Curtis

‘Campaigning is an incredible force for good – it has the power to improve people’s lives. So, if you’re a young person who has an idea and wants to change the world – read this book and help make it happen.’ Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

‘Inspiring and practical: an indispensable handbook for changing the world.’ Caroline Criado Perez

‘A personal, powerful, passionate, pragmatic, punchy book from one of Britain’s most exciting Gen Z activists. A great guide to moving and shaking with joy, spirit and real world results.’  Deborah Frances-White from The Guilty Feminist

‘Amika is a credit to her generation and makes me feel so much better about the future. Her tireless campaigning to make period poverty a thing of the past in the UK has helped millions of girls. The social and economic benefits of this will be seen for many years to come. I'm delighted to see that she has put her passion into words.’ June Sarpong

‘Amika is an inspiration to us all and a personal hero of mine.’ Josie Naughton, co-founder of Help Refugees

‘An inspirational London teenager.’ Evening Standard

‘Kickass founder of the #FreePeriods campaign and absolute kween’ Glamour

‘Schoolgirl by day, activist by night: we crown Amika George our next Girl on a Mission.’ Vogue

‘George is single-handedly fighting for teenage girls to be given the right to free sanitary products.Instead of simply firing off an angry Tweet, [Amika] decided to do something about period poverty. Like, actually do something about it.’ Elle

From the Publisher