CONTENTS:

Join the movement ...

... 1

Star t your club .........

.... 2

Choose a campaign
..... 4

> Climate change ...

...... 4

Oxfam Clubs 101:

Your guide to making
a dif ference on camp
> Right to know,

us
right to decide .........
.. 6

> Hunger and pove

rty ... 8

Take action ...............

....10

More ways to
GABRIEL BARRER
AS / OXFAM AMER
get involved ............ ICA
..... 12
 Join the movement

Meet Oxfam America. We’re an international nongovernmental organization

committed to creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice.
And we’re seeking caring, like-minded others to help change the world.
Forty percent of the people on the planet—more than 2.5 billion—now live in poverty,
struggling to survive on less than $2 a day. As an international relief and development
organization, we’re working to change that. Together with individuals and local groups
in more than 100 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and
fights for social justice.

What sets Oxfam apart?

We create partnerships. Rather than provide short-term aid, we work with local communities
to create lasting solutions to poverty by helping people address the root causes themselves.
We rely on the knowledge and insight of those affected, and we provide support to partner
organizations in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean.

We’re independent. Among leading humanitarian organizations, we stand alone in our refusal
of US government funds. We accept no money from sources that could compromise our ability
to make decisions independently or to speak freely about injustice.

We work locally and globally. Oxfam is deeply committed to our community-based work, but
we also recognize that there are larger barriers that can keep people in poverty. To tackle these
obstacles, we do national and international policy and advocacy work.

We believe that human rights are fundamental and nonnegotiable. Oxfam adheres to the
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which entitles all people to safety, a voice in the de-
cisions that affect them, equality, basic social services, and a secure means of earning a living.

It’s a big job. But we’re not alone. Oxfam relies on like-minded people to help us give poor
people the support they need to change their lives. Here in the US, college students have
historically been some of our most active, committed, and creative supporters.
Though there are lots of ways for students to get involved with Oxfam, many choose to join
or start Oxfam Clubs on campus. These independent organizations support Oxfam’s work
through actions and events; in turn, we supply them with materials, research, training, and
ideas. Oxfam Clubs are currently active on about 100 college and university campuses
around the country.

Recommended reading For members, Oxfam Clubs can be a fun, dynamic, and collaborative way to join up with
fellow activists while learning more about poverty and social justice—not to mention a chance
Oxfam America website to make a real difference on the issues.
www.oxfamamerica.org
Sound like you? Then join the movement. This guide provides all the basic tools you need to
Learn more about where start and run your own Oxfam Club on campus. But we’re also here if you have questions—
we work, our history, and
our values.
email us at clubs@oxfamamerica.org. And at the end of each section, you’ll find a list of
recommended reading; these links will take you right to our web site, where you can find
more resources.

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 

 NAKARMI
Star t your club

ABHISHEK
Want to join an Oxfam Club but don’t yet have one at your school? No problem.
Follow these easy steps to get your own club up and running:

Do your homework. Before you begin educating others, educate yourself by making sure you
have the proper resources and understanding. Go to our website (www.oxfamamerica.org) to
learn about the issues and read stories from affected people and communities. You’ll also find
our fact sheets, toolkits, posters, and other free materials you can download and order.

Get connected. Register your club with Oxfam so we can stay in touch, keep you informed
of the latest news and volunteer opportunities, and provide you with tools and materials.
You can also hear about what’s new at Oxfam by joining our community on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/pages/Oxfam-America/15041226930), reading our blog
(http://blogs.oxfamamerica.org), and following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/oxfamamerica).

Recruit. You’ve got the information. Now you just need people. Here are some ideas for
recruiting others to the cause:

• Advertise: Write a press release for your student newspaper, create Facebook events and
groups, put up posters and fliers in the student union and dorms, or make announcements
in your classes or in lectures.

• Table: Set up a table with information in high-traffic areas on campus (student union, out-
side a cafeteria, in major dorms, etc.) and at student activity fairs.

• Meet: Hold an informational meeting to generate interest.

• Follow up: Gather email addresses of interested students, and send out emails to keep
them updated and involved.

• Wear it out: Once you are established, make T-shirts and designate days for club members
to wear them.

Meet up. Once you’ve got your group together, you can start holding regular club meetings.
You can make the most of your meetings if you:

• Designate a set day, time, and location for your meetings, whether weekly, biweekly, or
monthly; this way, everyone knows how to find you and get involved.

• Create an agenda ahead of time and stick to it.

• Consider having a meeting with club leaders prior to general meetings to organize ideas
and to create an agenda.

• Take minutes at every meeting to help make sure you carry out next steps; share them with
anyone in the club who couldn’t attend.

• Try to keep meetings under an hour. Consider providing some light snacks or beverages,
especially during informational meetings.

• Keep everyone involved in each meeting—allow time for discussion of ideas and opinions.

• Alternate the types of meetings you hold: some informational, some planning, some group
building, and some celebratory.

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 

Start your club
Recommended reading
Oxfam Clubs web page
www.oxfamamerica.org/clubs
Read our FAQs, register your
club, and check out our
sample constitution.
Find an adviser. Some schools require groups to have a faculty adviser in order to be offi-
cially recognized on campus. Whether required or not, an adviser can help you follow proce-
dures and reserve rooms, and can serve as a resource for your club for years to come—since
professors and staff stay on campus much longer than students.
Get recognized. Once you’ve generated interest from students (and possibly faculty), work
toward gaining official club recognition from your school; check your school’s activities website
for further information. Recognition can give your club access to funding and greater visibility
on campus.
Know your mission. Work with members to create a club mission statement or vision plan.
Some schools require a written constitution for recognition as well; you can create your own
or use ours.
Elect leaders. Most clubs operate with a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary.
As the club grows, many elect leaders for specific campaigns. You may also want to consider
appointing a communications or publicity person, who takes charge of email lists, Facebook,
media contacts, and other forms of promotion.
Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 
Choose a campaign

LILIANA RODRIGUEZ /
OXFAM AMERICA
Now that your club is up and running, it’s time to pick an Oxfam advocacy campaign
where you can focus your efforts. All clubs agree to organize around at least one
Oxfam campaign, although you can choose more than one if your club has the
interest and resources.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Oxfam’s current campaigns, along with some stories
from clubs that are making a difference:

Recommended reading
Oxfam Climate Change
campaign web page
www.oxfamamerica.org/climate
Download materials and read
the stories behind the campaign.
Climate change
People like to talk about global warming like it’s a problem to deal with in the future. But
the reality is that poor people are already struggling with it right now. You don’t have to go
to drought-riddled Ethiopia or flood-threatened Cambodia or malaria-prone South Africa to
witness it. Just take a trip to the hurricane-battered US Gulf Coast or look at the damage done
by the wildfires in California. Climate change kills off crops, destroys homes, and creates mas-
sive refugee problems. There’s no time to waste. We must help poor communities deal with
the effects right now.

As an international relief and development organization dedicated to finding lasting solutions

to poverty and injustice, Oxfam America is bringing the human dimension to the climate
change debate. We believe that in order for communities to adapt to climate change—
indeed, in order for them to begin overcoming poverty—they must take early action to
reduce their vulnerability and build their resilience to new and heightened risks. We are
asking that the US go beyond cutting greenhouse gas emissions by providing financial assis-
tance so that the most vulnerable communities here and abroad can adapt.

If we act quickly, we can reduce the damaging impact that climate change has on poor people’s
lives and livelihoods. But if we fail to help in time, they will suffer far greater damage, and at
a much higher human and financial cost. That’s why we need US leaders to act on this issue
now—and your club can help us get the message across.

Two years after Hurricane Rita destroyed her Chauvin, LA, home, Miss Betty Adams moved into the Lift House, a storm-resistant
home designed by MIT students and Oxfam partner the Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition. In a region facing more
intense storms and coastline flooding, the Lift House offers a safe—and affordable—alternative. Valerie Downs / Oxfam America

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 

Choose a campaign

Ideas for action: University of Kansas Oxfam Club

April 8, 2009
To: Oxfam b President
nor, KU Oxfam Clu
From: Nicole Tiche t resolution passed
!
ters on the Plane
Subject: Oxfam Sis

Hi all, as Student Senate

University of Kans
t wa nte d to let you know that the [In sp ired by Oxfam’s Sister
s on
Good news! I jus me n’s Da y resolu tion last night.
Da y by ex pre ss ing the
ational Wo ational Women’s
passed our Intern em ora tes Int ern cts of cli ma te
resolution comm the disparate impa
the Planet films, the ns as fac ult y and students over
rsity of Ka
concern of Unive .]
n around the world ers)
change on wome rs and club memb
fen (tw o ou tstan ding student leade sid en ote , our
Ariel Tazcargy and
Meredith Walra t it through. On a
d de fen d the bill last night and go n in a long tim e. We are
plain an rld” legislatio
went with me to ex l justice or “real wo
passed any socia
Senate hasn’t really this.
ud to be a part of
so excited and pro uragement.
support and enco
itin g the res olu tio n and for all your fer en ce in the lives
for wr a measurable dif
Thank you so much ve me nt to ma ke
forefront of a mo
We are truly at the
of so ma ny.

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 

Choose a campaign
Recommended reading
Oxfam Right to Know, Right
to Decide campaign web page
www.oxfamamerica.org/
rights-resources
Download materials and read
the stories behind the campaign.
Right to know, right to decide
“Right to Know, Right to Decide”—Oxfam’s new campaign on oil, gas, and mining—calls on
companies to disclose all the facts about how their projects affect communities, and to obtain
the free, prior, and informed consent of these communities before drilling.
For example, if you learned that a major oil, gas, or mining company planned to build a new
project in your neighborhood, you would have some important questions. Will people be
forced to relocate? Will there be decent jobs for locals? Will the environment be harmed?
Where will the funding come from for site cleanup? Who will benefit from the project, and
how much money will they receive?
In countries like Guatemala, Ghana, Cambodia, and El Salvador, people are asking these
same questions—and in many cases, they’re not getting straight answers. That’s why Oxfam
is calling on major oil, gas, and mining companies to respect people’s “right to know”
all the facts about how these projects affect their communities. Once communities
have the information they need, they must have the “right to decide” whether or not to
consent to a project that affects their land, water, health, and means of earning a living.
Throughout our campaign, we’ll be calling on you to take action and make sure companies
respect the rights of communities around the world.
Niama Makalu, 22, and her nephew, Amidou Dembelle, work in a field of groundnuts against the backdrop of the waste dump area for
the Sadiola Hill Gold Mine, located in the West African country of Mali. Their families were among the many people displaced when
mining began in the area in the mid-1990s. Like many others in her community, Makalu is now forced to cultivate food for her family
on land in close proximity to mine waste. Brett Eloff / Oxfam America
Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 
Choose a campaign
Ideas for action: Oxfam Club at University of Texas, Austin
The Daily Texan Online, Monday, Feb. 12, 2007
Class ring co. voices support for cleaner gold mining tactics
By Claire Reynolds
Efforts of UT student activists have led the
company that produces UT’s class rings to
support a campaign calling for mining companies
to embrace more environmentally and socially
responsible techniques in their operations.
According to the Web site for the international
campaign “No Dirty Gold” [Oxfam’s previous
campaign around oil, gas, and mining], gold
mining has been linked to environmental and
human rights violations. … UT’s class rings are
produced by Balfour, one of three name brands
under the Austin-based Commemorative Brands
Inc., which is the first class ring company to
endorse the “golden rules,” said [Oxfam’s]
Paul Bugala. …
“None of this would have happened without the
efforts of the Oxfam ‘No Dirty Gold’ chapter at UT
Austin,” Bugala said. “They took the ideas that
we put forth and really gave them life.” …
UT students began their efforts in the campaign
more than a year ago by tabling on campus and
creating a petition in support of the No
Dirty Gold campaign. They also published
opinion pieces in campus publications, said
Ana Wolfowicz, history senior and vice
president of Oxfam at UT.
“After Balfour representatives saw the articles,
they decided they wanted to hear more about
what we had to say and they started talking to
Oxfam America,” Wolfowicz said. “Our part was
basically educating the campus and the Austin
community,” she said.
Oxfam UT activists are currently tabling
outside of the Texas Union. They are hoping
to also gain the support of Jostens, another
class ring company, by sending No Dirty Gold-
themed valentines.
“This taught us that nothing happens overnight,”
Wolfowicz said. “We’re not done, we realize that
we have the power to influence change, so we
want to keep using that,” she said.
Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 
Choose a campaign
Recommended reading
Oxfam Fast for a World
Harvest campaign page
www.oxfamamerica.org/fast
Order materials to host an
Oxfam America Hunger Banquet
or other Fast event.
Oxfam emergency action
web page
www.oxfamamerica.org/
whatyoucando/take-action/
emergency-action
Find tools and resources to
help you organize events and
educate others.
Hunger and poverty
In 2008 rising food prices forced 40 million more people worldwide into hunger, bringing
the total number of men, women, and children who no longer have a secure source of food
to almost one billion. That means about one-sixth of the world’s population now faces
chronic hunger.
At Oxfam, we are working to change this. Many people believe that hunger is about too many
people and too little food. This is not the case. Our planet produces enough food to feed every
woman, man, and child on earth. Hunger is about power. Its roots lie in inequalities in access
to education and resources.
Hunger’s not the only thing that affects poor people disproportionately. Inevitably, natural and
man-made disasters strike the poorest people hardest. Poor people are often pushed onto
depleted lands where they must survive using scarce local resources. Houses perched near
ravines, villages without the means to reach help in times of trouble, lack of emergency medi-
cal assistance—all of these turn natural events, like floods and storms, into human tragedies.
Think back to when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans: the hardest hit neighborhoods, like
the Ninth Ward, were also the city’s poorest. To make matters worse, poor people often have
the fewest resources for recovery.
For over 35 years, Oxfam America has worked to strengthen the movement to alleviate
poverty and all that comes with it—including hunger and vulnerability to humanitarian
emergencies. Since 1974, our Fast for a World Harvest campaign has called on Americans to
raise awareness about hunger through Oxfam America Hunger Banquet events and other Fast
events. When disaster strikes, Oxfam moves quickly to meet people’s critical needs. Every
bit as important, we stay to work with devastated communities as they rebuild. We recognize
that humanitarian emergencies give people the opportunity to build back stronger, so we try
to spread the word about the importance of helping communities even after the disaster fades
from the headlines. Your club can help us educate others about how poverty increases the risk
of disaster, and you can support our work by speaking out about humanitarian issues worldwide.
Rort Kea transplants rice seedlings using the System of Rice Intensification, an innovative agriculture technique that is
dramatically improving the lives of more than 80,000 Cambodian farmers. Using this system—taught by Oxfam and our local
partner, the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture—farmers can produce 50 to 150 percent more rice
while using less water and fewer seeds. Isabelle Lesser / Oxfam America
Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 
Choose a campaign

Ideas for action: Oxfam Club at New York University

erts
hosted conc
nge. We have
ual create cha to
sting an ann ms of Soc
ial Change
has been ho
Oxfa m @ NY U
ent for called Rhyth rio us clubs
Banquet ev wareness a
bout va
ica Hunger promote a
Oxfam Amer been he ld
which has jectives,
rs, each of the same ob
several yea year striving for e money
last. Last ers to rais
ul than the ap fundrais
more succ es sf clothing sw ed
including st
udents, iti, and host
attendees, ne relief in Ha
we had 150 l for hurrica lf of
-by — an a
stronomica speak on be ha
nd passers Project to
faculty, a the Enough oc ratic
in the Dem
our campu
s. pe victims
number for the many ra
Congo.
we were Republic of
nquet event,
r’s Hunger Ba
At last yea ive when we nd poverty
are
w perspect at hunger a
hunger a ne We believe th
able to give , who has Rather, th
ey exist
ra-Umunna ted issues.
ed Agne s M. F. Kama rarely isola cism,
host fugitives imination, ra
of Liberian nflict, discr
ing stories alongside co
been collect ten ive
rs in the Sta ile our object
past civil wa politics. Wh
fleeing from and global din g
w hunger closer to en
e about ho e one step
sla nd a rea. She spok is to becom t do it
I
e perfect cl
imate rty, we mus
y create th er and pove
and povert global hung sues
be abduc te d and ese other is
ung boys to ing all of th
for these yo cts. … by address
ing violent a
into committ as well.
brainwashed

oud of
bly most pr — Anna Genn
aro,
we’re proba
As a club, a t does NYU
ents, but th nt , Oxfam @
Banquet ev co-preside
our Hunger
new ways to
from trying
not stop us

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 

 Z/
OXFAM RODRIGUE
ICA
Take action

AMER
A
LILIAN
Choose a campaign

When you host an on-campus event to support our campaigns, you’re making
a significant contribution to Oxfam’s efforts. You’re helping us get the word out;
educating others about the issues; and showing friends and fellow students that
they, too, have the power to make a difference. Spreading knowledge spreads
awareness; awareness leads to action, and action leads to change. This is how
grassroots movements are built—one person at a time.
Follow these steps to host a fun and successful event:

Plan it out. As your club gets off the ground, take some time to plan your activities for the
year ahead. You can achieve the greatest impact if you put some thought into the process.

• Keep an eye on your university calendar of holidays, breaks, major athletic events, and
exams. Avoid scheduling events that conflict with other big moments.

• Leave time at the beginning of the year for recruiting, strategizing, and planning.

• Consider the size of your group and amount of resources when planning the number of
events—large groups may be able to accomplish several events per semester, while smaller
groups should focus on one. Make sure you involve your entire club, since everyone has a
talent to contribute.

• Create a club calendar with meetings, deadlines, and event dates.

Set a goal. When planning an event, clearly identify a goal you’d like to accomplish. Do you
want to generate signatures for a petition? Recruit new Oxfam supporters? Call on legislators
or a company to do the right thing? Raise money for your club? Your event can have more than
one goal, but whatever your aim, make sure you set specific, and realistic, targets for success
(for example, 500 signatures gathered). Afterward, you can measure your event against this
goal, discuss what did and didn’t work, and use what you learned to inform your next steps.

Choose an event. The possibilities are nearly endless—and so are your opportunities to be
creative. Oxfam Clubs around the country have hosted everything from roundtable discus-
sions to letter-writing parties, speaker series to film screenings, art exhibits to fashion shows.
Recommended reading
When choosing an event, consider your club members’ interests and skills. (For example,
if you have musicians in the group, think about holding a benefit concert.) Or plan around
Oxfam Clubs web page
holidays. (Hold a climate change film screening on Earth Day or an Oxfam America Hunger
www.oxfamamerica.org/clubs
Banquet event before Thanksgiving break.) To get you started, we’ve put together a list of
Read our suggestions for event
ideas online and in Oxfam’s organizing guide, but don’t be afraid to come up with your own.
ideas and resources.
The more unique your event, the more fun and effective it will be for you and your participants.
Oxfam organizing guide Spread the word. Whatever event you choose, make sure you get the word out in the days
www.oxfamamerica.org/
and weeks ahead to ensure a good turnout.
publications/oxfam-america-
organizing-guide
• Network: Nothing brings people to an event like the chance to hang out with friends while
Check out our tips for taking
making a difference. Use your personal network to get the word out; post a notice on your
action in your community.
Facebook page, and talk to people in your house, dorm, classes, or other activities.

• Collaborate: Look for like-minded campus groups, and find out if they want to co-sponsor
your event or promote it to their members. (For example, partner with a women’s rights

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 10

Take action

group on an event around women and climate change.) Besides bringing in more people
and resources, these groups can add different perspectives to the issues.

• Advertise: Put up posters, chalk sidewalks, and hang banners to get people’s attention.

• Table: Host an informational table in the dining halls and other common areas.

• Use the media: Reach out to your campus paper and radio station, and ask them to cover
your event. Off campus, your local newspaper—whether it’s large or small—can be a great
forum for publicizing your cause. See the publicity and media checklist below for tips on
how to reach the media.

Publicity and media checklist

Immediately
q Select a group member to head the publicity for your group, and make lists for the two types of press to
contact. “Advance” press includes calendar editors, community bulletin boards at TV and cable stations,
and public service directors; these outlets typically have deadlines three to six weeks prior to an event.
“News” press includes news editors, assignment editors, and reporters; they typically have deadlines of
two weeks to a few days before an event.

Two months before your event

q Send out press releases to your advance list (see our organizing guide for tips on writing a press release),
and consider taking photos to send to print publications. When pitching your event to the media, think about
a “hook”—what makes it different and newsworthy? Why should others in your community be interested?

One month before

q Follow up with members of the advance press to make sure they received your press release.

Two weeks before

q Send press releases to your news list.

One week before

q Follow up with those on the news list. Remind them about the event, and let them know why it deserves to
be covered.

One day before

q Follow up again with those on the news list. Ask if your event will be covered, and find out if they need
any special arrangements to do so.

The day of the event

q Arrange for someone in the group to take photos to send with captions to interested media outlets.

After the event

q Evaluate the media coverage of the event. Analyze what worked and make improvements for next time.

q Tell us about it. After your event, email us at clubs@oxfamamerica.org and let us know how it went. We love
to hear about your successes, and we can also help evaluate how it went or brainstorm ideas for next time.
And don’t forget—you can also email us anytime with questions.

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 11

More ways to get involved

/ IGUEZ
ICA
LILIANA RODR
OXFAM AMER
Choose a campaign

Want to do more? Check out these additional ideas for action on campus:
The CHANGE Initiative. US college students entering their sophomore or junior year can
take advantage of Oxfam America’s leadership training and become skilled and knowledge-
able agents of change. Get more information and apply: www.oxfamamerica.org/change.

Music outreach. Help Oxfam recruit new supporters while joining your favorite bands
and musicians against poverty. We’re looking for volunteers to table at concerts by
Coldplay, Wilco, Angelique Kidjo, and Arcade Fire, among others. Sign up at
www.oxfamamerica.org/music to learn about opportunities in your area.

Oxfam’s eCommunity. As a member of our eCommunity, you will receive our monthly email
newsletter and occasional alerts about urgent advocacy campaigns and humanitarian crises.
Sign up now: http://act.oxfamamerica.org.

The Oxfam Action Corps. Join a group of dedicated volunteers in more than a dozen US cities
who lead a coordinated charge to improve national legislation and deepen local community
resources for fighting poverty and injustice. Learn more: www.oxfamamerica.org/actioncorps.

Oxfam America | Oxfam Clubs 101 12