Want to take action and make a change in your community but don't know where to start?  Well look no further, Students Taking Charge has everything you need to start your own project and turn your passion into action.

Students Taking Charge was started by Action for Healthy Kids an organization focused on promoting healthy lifestyles to youth.  Students Taking Charge, however, was made for students to take control and advocate for themselves and their peers by providing access to useful information on how to investigate the issues your school, organize projects to create positive change and connect with other students across the country.  They give outlines and example projects to guide you as well as detailed information on who to meet with to present your ideas and how to organize the information you are presenting effectively so you can make the greatest impact. 

Many students have used Students Taking Charge to create projects and make important changes in their schools.  Here's an example:

Northampton High School students (Northhampton, MA) students took their school business manager and school nutrition director to visit a similar high school nearby to learn about their strategies for healthy cafeteria and vending options.  The visiting school staff was also able to view the salad bar that offered students fresh fruits and vegetables every day.  By taking their school leaders on a field trip, the students were able to demonstrate that their plan could be done successfully by showing what it would look like.  And the school business manager and the school nutrition director could talk to their peers at the other school.  A well-organized field trip was much more convincing than any fact sheet, presentation, or student survey.

There are many more examples like this one on the Students Taking Charge website but if you already have a project in mind and just need some help implementing it you can check out the project and communication templates for ideas on how to organize your project and begin contacting influential individuals in your school and community to gain support for your plans.  Check out this video of students from Tigard, Oregon who created a student group to promote awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.

If you are interested in getting involved with Students Taking Charge or just want to learn more check out the Students Taking Charge blog to keep up to date on current health issues affecting high school students.  Students Taking Charge also has a Facebook page to facilitate communication between students.  Whatever your goals, adding a salad bar to your school cafeteria, creating more opportunities to get active after school or to increase healthy options in vending machines, Students taking charge can help you make them a reality.

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