Amnesty International’s Youth & Student Program:
Creating Space for Young People to Lead
In high schools and communities across Canada, young people care about justice and are ready to lead meaningful change when given the opportunity and support. Amnesty International Canada’s Youth & Student Program is there to meet students in that moment, offering them the tools, support, and community they need to turn concern into action, and to be change-makers in their communities.
At the heart of our program are student-led clubs. These clubs create space for young people to come together to learn about human rights, discuss issues that matter to them, and take collective action—locally and globally. Whether students are writing letters, organizing awareness events, or leading conversations with their peers, they are building skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
What makes Amnesty’s High School clubs program unique is its emphasis on youth leadership. Students drive the direction of their clubs, choosing the issues they want to focus on and how they want to engage. Amnesty Canada provides resources, campaign materials, and guidance to support safe, inclusive, and sustainable activism—ensuring students are never doing this work alone.
Educators play an important supporting role throughout this journey. By helping students navigate school processes, offering space to meet, and encouraging young people who show interest in social justice, teachers help make participation possible. Often, it’s a teacher’s encouragement that helps a student recognize their potential as a leader.
High school Amnesty clubs are about more than advocacy. They foster belonging, confidence, critical thinking, and empathy. They create opportunities for students—especially those who may not always see themselves as “leaders”—to step forward and be heard.
By supporting student-led human rights clubs and leadership opportunities, educators help young people build the skills, values, and sense of agency they will carry with them long after graduation.
For students who want to deepen their engagement, Amnesty Canada also offers a National Leadership Program. This program connects youth from across the country to build leadership skills, connect with peers, and contribute to national human rights work. It provides an additional pathway for students who are ready to take on more responsibility, while remaining grounded in youth-led values and collective action.
To connect with us on getting a school club started in your school or introducing a young leader to our National Organizers Program, you can connect with Shauna MacLean for school clubs at smaclean@amnesty.ca and Elena Dumitru for the National Organizers Program at edumitru@amnesty.ca.
