Start A Do Something Club!
Grab 4 or more friends and take action in your community! We'll give you tons of resources to help you get started and easy project ideas to make a difference at your school. More
How To: Raise Awareness With a Wall of Pledges
- Figure out your cause. What are you passionate about that you want to bring attention to?
- Create your pledge. Be specific and concrete. Are you pledging to do something or to abstain from something? Here are some ideas:
- Pledge to recycle.
- Pledge to lower your carbon footprint.
- Pledge to lower your energy consumption.
- Pledge to lower your water consumption.
- Pledge not to pollute.
- Pledge not to drink.
- Pledge not to drug.
- Pledge to stay tobacco-free.
- Pledge not to discriminate.
- Pledge to vote.
- Pledge to care for your pet.
- Pledge to practice safe sex.
- Plot your spot. Figure out where you want to have people signing your pledge. Go for a high traffic area like the lunchroom, school or parking lot entrance, or even the entrance to the gym before a big game or rally. Creating a Wall of Pledges is also a great way to display all you have collected.
- Ask for the go ahead. Now that you have found your ideal spot, make sure you have permission to be there. The last thing you want is to take the time to create this only to have it torn down.
- Write it out. What will the pledge say? Be specific in what they're pledging to do. Here’s our example for a no alcohol pledge:
I, ________________________, promise to remain alcohol-free. I will not drink, and certainly won’t drink and drive, which I know is very dangerous to myself and for others, too. I will do my best to encourage people I know to not drink, and will not let others drink and drive.
And for a no smoking pledge:
I, ________________________, promise to remain tobacco
free. I will not smoke or use any other tobacco products, and I will do my best to stay away from secondhand smoke, which I know is very harmful to my body, too. I will do my best to encourage people I know to quit smoking, and will do my best to support them as they try to quit.
…but be creative! Write whatever you think will appeal to people in your school. Remember keep it brief, professional and legitimate sounding! (Ask a teacher to read over it for extra help.)
- Print ‘em out. You probably won’t need a whole sheet of paper for just one pledge. Maybe you can cut one sheet into two (or even four!) smaller pledges. It will save paper! If you can, try and make them look nice with color or pictures (or even color paper). That way, they will look awesome when they are all hung up.
- Tell them to get their pens out. Now’s the time to get the signatures. As you receive them, hang them up. The more pledges that go up, the more amazing it will look. People will see how many other people have pledged their involvement, and they will be inspired to sign one too! Plus, in some cases, this can serve as GOOD peer pressure. Like if it’s a no alcohol pledge, knowing how many people don’t drink is a great way to keep someone from starting.
- Be realistic. Timing is important when it comes to anything, even pledges. For example, if it’s around prom or spring break, you can modify the no alcohol pledge to be a little less restrictive. Ask them to pledge to assign a designated driver, to not drink and drive. Though it would be great to get people who are underage to promise not to drink, the main concern is their safety, so if they are going to drink, then we just want to make sure that they will NOT get behind the wheel. People may be more willing to sign something like that if they know they are more likely to stick to their promise!
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Comments
I like this idea quite a bit. It would be a very color way to show peoples' support for a common cause. I think this could be very successful and would make people stop and think for a moment.
yeah Breaking down the walls is coming this would be a great idea for an afterward activity
I like this idea very much. I'm thinking about doing it!
:)
This is a Great Idea! I really might try it. I'm going to get a couple good friends together and see if they like the idea! But, I'm totally down for it. :]
im thinking about trying it, but how would i get community service for it?
I think it is a very good idea, but i dont think many people would actually vow to do wat they say. Yes they would sign the vow but it doesnt mean they will actually do it.
i like this idea a lot!
i like this idea. especially if its pledging to recycle and help go green. im totally a go green person. save the planet! :)
I am considering doing this at my school and/or church, but I will have to run it by the principal and/or pastor first. Anyway, I think it's a great idea. =)
I am actually considering doing this at my school because I think I want to actually see those who stand strong for nondiscrimination because I love everyone and I would truley like to see who else is on board!:)
I will definitely do this at my school! We have a special board for projects like this...I can't wait!!
This is a great idea. My college is in the process of becoming a tobacco free campus and we were trying to think of different activities that the students should do and this is a good one.
Thinking about incorporating this with something a group at my school is already doing involving drunk driving.
Hopefully bringing awareness to how many people die from drunk driving will inspire more students to pledge to at the very least, not drink and drive.
Really liking this idea...im thinking about taking this idea to my principal as soon as school starts : ]
People are been homeless due to Unemployed.
Hungary is killing little once b'cos of single parenting.
Am into music so I will use my music career to preach my message.
If you send me some Volunteers and some funds for the project, I will be glad.
2 cool not 2 think about
Great Idea! My school lacks spirit and unity. I am going to set up a meeting this summer with my principal and see if I can get him to agree to this. I am thinking of changing it up a little bit. I think I am going to have many different colored bright index cards (just so it looks pretty) and I am going to have people come up during their lunch and write down a goal or improvement or wish or suggestion for the new school year. I will have a committee look them over and perhaps pull out the best ones or the ones that show up alot to bring up to the principal. We will then hang all of the cards up on a billboard. This is such a great way to start the year off with enthusiasm and change. Thanks for the idea!
I'm thinking about doing this. I don't think my school even recycles! So I'm going to try to change that, first! :)
i need a small help to open a pre primary school for poor children , previous i am teaching in my home but my room owner has told i ve to leave that room n i dont ve money to take new room on rental so please help me soon mail help_misson@yahoo.in cell no. 09331257401
This is a great project idea to encourage young teens in high school become aware of certain situations.
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