People Who Made a Difference: Social Activists & Change-Makers

Presentation Structure & Questions (5–8 Minutes)

1. Introduction (≈ 1 minute)

1. Who is the person?

2. When and where were they born?

3. Why did you choose this person?

2. Background & Situation (≈ 1–2 minutes)

4. What was life like at that time?

5. What problem or situation existed?

6. Why was this problem important?

3. Actions & Challenges (≈ 2–3 minutes)

7. What did the person do to make a difference?

8. How did they try to solve the problem?

9. What difficulties or opposition did they face?

10. How did they overcome these difficulties?

4. Impact & Importance (≈ 1–2 minutes)

11. What changed because of their actions?

12. Who benefited from their work?

13. Why are they still important today?

5. Personal Reflection (≈ 1 minute)

14. What can we learn from this person?

15. How can their actions inspire young people today?

Civil Rights & Racial Equality

1. Martin Luther King Jr. (USA) (Raphael) 27.1.

Led the Civil Rights Movement; famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech.

2. Rosa Parks (USA) (Jonas) 27.1

Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her seat.

3. Nelson Mandela (South Africa) (Paul) 27.1

Fought apartheid; became South Africa’s first Black president.

4. Malcolm X (USA) (Lennox) 27.1

Advocated for Black rights, dignity, and empowerment.

5. Harriet Tubman (USA) (Marco Restner) 20.1

Escaped slavery and rescued many enslaved people via the Underground Railroad.

6. Ruby Bridges (USA) Saskia 3.2.

At age 6, she became the first Black child to attend an all-white school in New Orleans.

7. Ella Baker (USA) (Valentina) 20.1.

Grassroots organizer who encouraged young people to become leaders; helped form SNCC.

8. #BlackLivesMatter Movement (Marco) 27.1

Black Lives Matter is a movement that works to end racism and violence against Black people and to ensure equality, justice, and human rights for everyone.

Barack Obama - Jonas Winter 27.1

Abraham Lincoln - Artur 20.1.

Peace & Nonviolence

9. Mahatma Gandhi (India) Anna 3.2 

Used peaceful protest to help India gain independence.

10. Desmond Tutu (South Africa)

Spoke out against apartheid using nonviolence; won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Education & Girls’ Rights

11. Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan) (Livia) 20.1. 

Advocates for girls’ education; youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

12. Mary McLeod Bethune (USA)

Educator who opened schools for Black Americans and fought for equality.

13. Sonita Alizadeh (Afghanistan) Kathi 3.22

Teen activist and rapper who campaigns against forced child marriage.

14. Michelle Obama (USA) Konstantin, 20.1.

Promotes girls’ education globally through the “Let Girls Learn” initiative.

15. Greta Thunberg (Sweden) (Sebastian) 3.2.

Although known for climate activism, she is also a champion of youth and girls’ empowerment.

Health, Refugee Rights & Humanitarian Work

16. Clara Barton (USA) (Jason) 3.2 

Founded the American Red Cross.

17. Oskar Schindler (Germany) (Laurenz) 20.1 

Saved over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust.

18. Iqbal Masih (Pakistan)

Former child laborer who campaigned for children’s rights worldwide.

Writers, Thinkers & Truth-Tellers

19. Maya Angelou (USA) (Felix) 3.2 

Poet and writer who spoke about racism, identity, and hope.

20. Frederick Douglass (USA) (Noah) 27.1.

Escaped slavery and became a powerful speaker for freedom and equality.