Kids have it hard today. Global problems seem always to get bigger and harder to solve. That, while kids still struggle at home with the most basic of things. What is for dinner? How can I learn better at school? Am I safe?

The answer to that last question, at least, is up in the air. To empower children and help ensure they enjoy a brighter future than is currently promised change will be necessary. This can be achieved both through advocacy and through more direct action.

In this article, we take a look at how you can help kids toward a brighter future.

What Do Kids Today Need?

Oh boy. How much time do you have? There are immediate concerns. Food security, for example. Almost fifteen percent of American families don’t know where their next meal is coming from. A minority, of course, but also an incredibly high number when you remember that the United States is the richest nation to ever exist. Ever. It’s also the kind of problem that basically halts the conversation. Because you can’t secure a child’s future when there aren’t even any guarantees in their present.

Our education system is similarly distressed. Almost 70% of eighth graders read below grade level. This fundamental skill gap undermines every other educational goal. Looking to the future things are possibly even more troubling. There is the issue of automation. What will the workforce look like in 20-30 years, and how can we possibly prepare kids for that future when we can scarcely imagine it ourselves?

Then there are environmental concerns. Diplomatic issues. No one has solved the opioid epidemic yet. Children today face an unprecedented combination of immediate needs and looming challenges. No single advocate can take on all of these problems. But as the poets once said (probably) if you can’t change the world, change what’s within your reach. In the next few headings, we look at forms of advocacy that can have a major impact on the lives of children now, and in the future.

Educational Advocacy

Education in the United States has reached troubled times. The Trump Administration works actively to do all that it can to dissolve the Department of Education, while American teachers still struggle with so many of the same old problems. Underfunding. Overcrowding. A roster of students who are balancing complicated home lives with their need to learn. These challenges create barriers to quality education across the country.

There are several ways to advocate for better educational outcomes. The first is learning about what specific obstacles schools in your community are facing, and then supporting politicians with strategies to overcome them. Attend school board meetings to understand local educational challenges firsthand. In places where you don’t see solutions getting discussed poke, prod, and suggest your own. The more local the politics, the more pliable the politician is likely to be to community input.

Remember that there are also many ways you can get involved more directly. PTO. School board. Simple communication. Talk to your kids’ teachers.

Ask them what they need and how you can help them get it. Building these relationships creates support networks that benefit students. Most classrooms will, at the very least, happily accept snack donations along with other supplies. Many students come to school hungry, which directly impacts their ability to learn.

In certain cases, you may have additional opportunities to get involved and support your local educational community. Volunteer programs, mentoring, and tutoring initiatives often need adult participants. Your presence and engagement, even just a few hours per month, can make a meaningful difference in students’ educational experiences.

Environmental Advocacy

At least as hard as changing our schools is changing the way people interact with Mother Earth. We are already experiencing the side effects of climate change. Extreme weather. High rates of forest fires. Polluted air. Increased occurrences of mosquito-related illness. These impacts directly affect children’s health, safety, and future prospects in ways previous generations never faced.

There are always opportunities to support politicians who push environmentally friendly policies. Research candidates’ environmental voting records before elections and make your voice heard. If you want to engage more directly with the issue, there are opportunities to do that as well.

Local clean-up events provide immediate community impact. Find organizations that are doing environmental work you agree with. Ask them what you can do to contribute. Many will have volunteering opportunities for families that can teach children environmental stewardship.

Presumably, none will say no to a donation. Even small financial contributions help sustain important conservation efforts and advocacy campaigns. Consider making changes in your own household that model sustainable practices for children. Simple steps like reducing plastic use, conserving water, and discussing environmental topics can help raise a generation that prioritizes ecological responsibility.

What Career Paths Support This Advocacy?

Certain careers have advocacy almost built into the job description. Social workers in particular are often making direct appeals to lawmakers to move the needle in a direction that works the best for people on their caseload.

They are in a good position to do this because they consistently work with people who are about as vulnerable as you can get.

Children who have been separated from their families. People who have been recently paroled, or who are trying to overcome drug addiction. Elderly people struggling to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system.

If a career in social work isn’t what you are looking for, there are always simpler ways to get off the sidelines. Vote for politicians who have answers to the questions weighing heaviest on your mind. Write into lawmakers who aren’t doing all that they can to help secure a safe future for children. Find non-profit organizations that align with your values and donate your time or money whenever you can.