2014

Start the year by thinking more closely about your New Year’s resolutions

so that they reflect not only your personal aspirations, but what you can influence.

In choosing your New Year’s resolutions think about how you can affect change:

Personally

Within your school

Within your local community

Within the wider global community

PersonalEat healthier foodStop eating crispsDrink water rather than fizzy drinksBecome fitter by walking or cycling to schoolArgue less with my friendsSpeak politelyTake responsibility for my actionsControl my behaviour/temperCommunicate more effectivelyDo not exclude others Consider the views of others Reduce my salt intakeEat five fruits or vegetables a dayRespect people from diverse backgroundsValue friendshipHelp others

GlobalFind out about basic human needs and rights – UN Rights of the ChildHelp develop a Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development week at schoolExamine media coverage and detect stereotype and bias Learn about fair trade and how it can help people get out of povertyEat fair trade products or run fair trade eveningsContact a charitable organisation and find out about its work in the UK and overseasResearch a campaign. What are its aims? Do I agree? What can I do? Contribute to the school web siteContact my local Development Education Centre for materials about global issuesEstablish a link with a community in the developing worldRaise money for my favourite charityResearch the impact of climate change and what I can do about itLobby and/or write to my local MP about Send My Friend To SchoolProduce posters, fliers, videos, artwork or presentations to inform others aboutan issue I care about

Local CommunityReduce pollution: cycle or walk, rather than drive, to schoolGet the community to recycle rubbishContact a charity working locally to find out more about issues that affect my localityHave a say in community projectsLearn about ‘urban regeneration’Improve links with local community groupsSet up recycling groups

Classroom and School Respect other people’s possessionsRespect other classmates’ first languagesCo-operate more with othersShare classroom resources more fairlyListen to others in classDo not interrupt othersHelp others within the class and schoolLook after school equipmentShow consideration towards othersRecycle classroom rubbishReport bullying incidentsHelp newcomers to the schoolUse less paperIntroduce fair trade products to schoolSet up a school councilImprove school links with the communityTackle racism and racist incidentsImprove access for disabled people around schoolImprove litter problems in school and on the routes to schoolSave waterDon’t waste energy – turn off lightsWork more collaborativelyOvercome problems together

New Year’s resolutionsHow can I

effect change?

These are examples of resolutions your class might choose to make, but there are lots of other great resolutions your class might end up with.

Do let us know what your class vows to change in 2010

Email education@oxfam.org.uk and tell us,and we might feature your class’s resolutions online.

PersonalWhat could you

change about yourself this year?

GlobalHow could you influence

a global issue?

Local Community

How could you influence your local community?

Classroom and SchoolHow could you improve your classroom and

your school?

New Year’s resolutions

Personal

Photos (in rows from top left): Fairtrade Foundation, Is Allen, Fairtrade Foundation, Penny Tweedie/Oxfam, Penny Tweedie/Oxfam, Oxfam, Fairtrade Foundation, Sean Sprague/Oxfam, Fairtrade Foundation, Toby Adamson/Oxfam.

Classroom and School

Photos (in rows from top left): Toby Adamson/Oxfam, Toby Adamson/Oxfam, Crispin Hughes/Oxfam, Crispin Hughes/Oxfam, Howard Davies/Oxfam, Glen Edwards/Oxfam, Julio Etchart/Oxfam.

Local

Photos (in rows from top left): Glen Edwards/Oxfam, Julio Etchart/Oxfam, Crispin Hughes/Oxfam, Jenny Matthews/Oxfam, Glen Edwards/Oxfam, Jim Holmes/Oxfam, Glen Edwards/Oxfam, Is Allen

Global

Photos (in rows from top left): Crispin Hughes/Oxfam, Fairtrade Foundation, Wind Prospect Group, Jenny Matthews/Oxfam, Padro Guzman/Oxfam, Toby Adamson/Oxfam, Julio Etchart/Oxfam, Is Allen, Friends of the Earth, Annie Bungeroth/Oxfam

I will value my friends more by…?

My personal resolution is to … value my friends more

… welcoming newcomers to my class and school

…trusting my friends

… listening carefully to their concerns

… accepting differences in opinion

…enjoying the company of my friends and not taking their friendship for granted

…treating their concerns sympathetically

… speaking openly to avoid misunderstandings

I will improve my school’s links to the community by…?

My school resolution is … to improve the school’s links to the community

…producing a school newsletter highlighting

local events

…getting involved in an issue affecting the community,

such as litter, drugs, urban regeneration, or

an environmental concern

…becoming involved in community projects

…inviting local groups into school

…inviting speakers in the community to address

school assemblies

…valuing the community more and deciding whatneeds to change

…visiting community projects

I will find out more about poverty in the South by…?

My global resolution is… to find out more about poverty in a developing country

…producing a school newsletter highlighting

local events

…getting involved in an issue / contacting a school in a developing country /

writing or e-mailing other school children

…contacting an organisation involved with aid in

the developing world

…researching the websites of charitable organisations

working in the developing world

…producing materials such as fliers, newspapers or newsletters,

to raise awareness of poverty issues at school

…understanding the causes of poverty in

developing countries

…planning a school week of action to raise

awareness of poverty worldwide / canvassing

views of teachers, governors, parents