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Solidarity Action Day

About Solidarity Action Day

The idea of the Solidarity Action Day is simple: Young people swap their normal day at school for a job of their choice. They donate their salaries to youth-related projects from all over the world. Large number of young people participate in the Solidarity Action Day annually.

The aim of the Action Day is to establish solidarity between youth during their years of education, including marginalised / oppressed youth with fewer opportunities and / or minorities around the world. But that’s only half of the story.

The Solidarity Action Day, when organised according to our principles and values: inspires active citizenship, youth-led development and global solidarity. At the same time, it is an impactful instrument to provide access to political education and to raise money for a good cause. (All this is due to the fact that we in SAME believe in the importance of the Solidarity Action Day – the importance of youth taking informed action in times when facts sometimes seem as fluid as water and action sometimes feels useless. No matter what the change you want to see is, or how many people you think you can organise, the actions you take are important. When many people act locally while thinking globally, we believe substantial change is possible.)

How to Start an Action Day in Your Country

Start an initiative!

Supporting Solidarity Action Day initiatives is highly important for us. The idea of the Solidarity Action Day is simple: Young people swap their normal day at school for a job of their choice. They donate their salaries to youth-related projects from all over the world. The Solidarity Action Day is a unique opportunity for young people to show solidarity.

If you are a youngster and want to start a Solidarity Action Day in your country or region, please contact us. We can assist you with the experience of all SAME member organisations. We offer seminars and created a Start-Up Kit to support you. Furthermore, you can join our annual Solidarity Action Day for Beginners Conference.

Join the Solidarity Action Day for Beginners Conference
Are you thrilled by the Solidarity Action Day concept? We organise the Solidarity Action Day for Beginners Conference to provide you with the necessary information, tools and guidance towards organising a Solidarity Action Day. After the conference we provide you with material and guidance towards your Solidarity Action Day. It will take place at the end of May. If you’re interested in joining, contact us! Do you want to get more information, join a seminar or start an initiative? Rreze is your contact person!

rreze.ejupi@same-network.org

Stories from Participants and/or from active people within our mo´s who´re organizing the action day.

Student participant

“Last year I decided to join the Solidarity Action Day instead of going to school that day. I worked five hours at a small bakery in my town, helping to prepare sandwiches and serve customers during the morning rush. At the end of the day I was tired, but really proud that my wage was donated to a youth project supporting people my age abroad. It felt good to realise that even one school day of work can help create real change for people my age in another part of the world.”​

Lara,16, Denmark

Volunteer organiser

“As a volunteer organiser in my organisation, I spent months preparing our Solidarity Action Day. Together with a small team of students, I visited schools, explained the concept to teachers and pupils, and contacted local companies who could host young people for one day. On the Action Day itself I was coordinating from early morning until late afternoon, making sure everyone arrived safely and answering questions from employers. Seeing the final donation amount and knowing that young people had organised almost everything themselves was incredibly empowering and confirmed why I invest my free time in this movement.”

Nelenja, 23, Germany

New organisation’s first time

“Our organisation joined the Solidarity Action Day Movement this year and implemented a Solidarity Action Day for the very first time. At the beginning we were unsure if schools would trust such a new initiative, but with support and mentoring from more experienced member organisations and the lovely SAME office we managed to design clear materials, agreements and a simple campaign. When the day finally took place, hundreds of students across our city went to different workplaces and donated their earnings to a partner project we had chosen together. The positive feedback from pupils, teachers and employers convinced us that this will become a permanent part of our yearly programme, and we are already planning an even bigger Solidarity Action Day for next year.”

PNTP, Moldova

FAQ

1. What role does SAME play in organising the Solidarity Action Day?

SAME stands for “Solidarity Action Day Movement in Europe”. It is a network of youth organisations from different European countries that organise an annual Solidarity Action Day, where pupils work for one day and donate their wage to youth‑led projects.

On the Solidarity Action Day, pupils do not go to regular classes but work in a job of their choice, for example in shops, offices or social institutions. The money they earn on this day is donated to a social or youth project that has been selected and presented in advance. 3. Who can organise a SAD? A SAD is usually organised by youth organisations or student‑led initiatives together with schools and local partners. Both experienced organisations and completely new groups can implement a SAD, as long as they are youth‑driven and committed to transparency and solidarity.
A SAD is usually organised by youth organisations or student‑led initiatives together with schools and local partners. Both experienced organisations and completely new groups can implement a SAD, as long as they are youth‑driven and committed to transparency and solidarity.
SAME offers mentoring, training and practical tools for groups that want to start a SAD for the first time. This can include seminars, online consultations, templates for agreements with schools and employers, and guidance on project selection and communication.
A SAD raises money for projects that strengthen the rights and participation of young people, often in the Global South or in disadvantaged communities. At the same time, it empowers pupils in Europe to experience solidarity in practice, learn about global issues and gain first work experience.
Your organisation can participate in trainings like the “Solidarity Action Day for Beginners” or contact SAME to explore starting a new SAD initiative. If you already run a social day, you can apply to join the network as a member organisation and become part of the European movement.