Core materials and templates

This practical guide outlines a number of basic elements that are essential for an effective advocacy initiative— identifying a specific advocacy objective, creating central campaign messages, working with the traditional and new media and mobilizing others. It contains specific examples and creative ideas that FIRS and other advocacy groups can develop and implement.

Users of this guide are encouraged to bear in mind that effective advocates often borrow successful ideas from others, and then creatively adapt and apply their own situations and campaigns.

Without basic awareness and advocacy for lung health issues, we will not be able to reduce the burden of preventable lung diseases or improve treatment outcomes. We need to increase public awareness on the role lung health plays in everyday life and the ways in which serious diseases affect lung health and function. To this end, we need to help drive policymakers to increase funding for basic research, better diagnostics and more effective treatments. We’ll need more effective and sustained advocacy to achieve this goal.

Advocacy is a tool for winning the support of key constituencies in order to improve lung health awareness, influence policies and R&D spending, as well as bring about social change. Successful advocates start by identifying the people they need to influence and then planning the best ways to communicate with them. They research an issue and build a persuasive case. They organize networks and coalitions to create a foundation of support that not only can increase awareness among the general public but also influences key decision-makers. They work with the media to help communicate the message.

For our campaign, advocacy can change the behavior of people, politicians and decision makers so they will understand the role the lungs play in sustaining life, as well as the immediate need for more scientific funding.

Kit in spanish and portuguese

Provided by ALAT , a kit containing a cover letter type, logos, letters and powerpoint background in both languages can be downloaded and used by each partner:

Kit in spanish (KIT herramientas español)

 

Kit in portuguese (Kit herramientas portugues)

 

Each file is a ZIP compressed file containing all resource file. Using WIndows, double clicking the downloaded file will open the folder. Under Mac OS X, double clicking the downloaded will create a folder containing the resource file.
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