What is YUGA?

YUGA (Youth United for Global Action and Awareness) is a network of young people around the U.S. that aims to promote global change through understanding, awareness, and action on local and global issues. YUGA members run campaigns in their schools and communities to get their peers involved in global issues and engaged as agents of change in our world.

YUGA chapters are active in schools and community centers all over the country. Starting a YUGA chapter in your school is simple:

1. Download our How to Start a YUGA Chapter Toolkit.
2. Register your YUGA Chapter and receive a package of materials and resources for your chapter – plus free gift!
3. Get informed of the issues by reading the YUGA Campaign toolkits and get ideas for taking action in your community.
4. Sign up for our monthly youth e-news.
5. Get active! Check out the Events page to get involved in the next YUGA event and join our monthly meetings held at the Plan International USA office in Rhode Island.

What do YUGA members do?

Host Campaign Events
YUGA chapters organize awareness events for campaigns in their schools and communities. Some popular events include the annual Move to Stop AIDS Dance-a-Thon, community clean-up projects, movie screenings, and the Walk for Wells walk-a-thon.

Make International Friends
Through Skype calls, YUGA Camp, conferences, and other events, YUGA members share their opinions and exchange ideas with their peers from communities around the world.

Advocate for change
Petition for issues like the International Day of the Girl, fight against child marriage, and hold governments accountable for promises made to end global poverty.

YUGA Campaigns

HIV and AIDS
YUGA advocates on behalf of people affected by AIDS throughout the world, especially children and youth.

Global Poverty
YUGA advocates for an end to global poverty. We urge our national and world leaders to make the changes necessary to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Climate Change
YUGA members raise awareness of how daily actions affect the environment. World leaders have promised to ensure global environmental sustainability by 2015, and YUGA wants to make sure this goal is achieved!

Child Rights and Child Exploitation
YUGA raises awareness about child labor, child trafficking, and child soldiers and encourages people to purchase food and clothing not produced by child labor. Join our campaign urging the U.S. to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and help protect children around the world from being exploited.

Gender Equality: Because I am a Girl
Because I Am a Girl is Plan International’s campaign to fight gender inequality, promote girls’ rights and lift millions of girls out of poverty. YUGA believes in empowering girls and women and engaging boys and men in the solution.

"I've always wanted to change things and had ideas about what I wanted to do. YUGA helps me put my ideas into action. It’s also great to be connected with other youth across the country and world." – Melanie, Wayland MA

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