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The Oaktree Foundation (UK): Youth Advocacy Worldwide

The Reason

We are passionate about seeking justice for the poor and forgotten in the world.

Why? The reality is that around the world there are 2 billion people, a third of the world's population, trying to live on just $2 a day (this is the equivalent of £1 a day). This is not acceptable. We believe that lasting solutions to the causes and symptoms of global poverty are within reach. But to reach them, the governments and people of the wealthy nations of the world must take action.

The Vision

Oaktree UK Advocacy seeks to secure this action by speaking out about the injustices suffered by the world's poor to the UK government and public. As the only international aid and development agency in the UK run entirely by volunteers aged under 26, we are uniquely placed to articulate the voice of young people on issues of global injustice. Oaktree is reigniting the national conversation about poverty, with young people leading from the front.

We cannot do this alone.

We are enthusiastic about mobilising a generation of young people to respond to issues of injustice facing our peers throughout the world. We are passionate about seeing young people rising up to take a stand and be counted.

The Action

Oaktree UK is still developing its advocacy campaigns for 2008-2009. These will undoubtedly involve loads of young people, many (sometimes reluctant!) politicians and public figures, and some exciting and innovative ways of communicating our message. More information will be available here soon.

Oaktree Australia has undertaken several hugely successful campaigns since its launch in 2003.

Last year, they focussed on pressuring the Australian government to increase the proportion of GDP given to international development work to 0.7% by 2015. Oaktree launched a Zero Seven Road Trip in which large numbers of Oaktree Ambassadors travelled across Australia, visiting a series of high-profile concerts and maximising the campaign profile. In less than three months, the Zero Seven campaign reached 11.5 million people through print media alone. During the week of the Road Trip, the leader of the Australian Labor party promised, if elected, to increase foreign aid to 0.5% GDP by 2015, an increase in real terms of more than $4bn (AUS).

Oaktree has made a massive impact in Australia, and will do so in the UK as well. We hope you can join us!

Oaktree Foundation © 2008