MOGO (Most Good) Clubs
What's a MOGO Club?
A MOGO Club is a school group that works to create a more peaceful, sustainable, and humane world through projects, innovation, and education that promote MOGO (Most Good) living -- a way in which people make choices that do the most good and the least harm for themselves, other people, animals and the environment.
Students in a MOGO club might take on community projects, educate their fellow students, faculty, and administrators about ways in which the school itself can make MOGO choices, and/or pursue more education themselves, through film screenings, book readings, and invitations to expert guest speakers so that club members can make MOGO choices in their own lives.
What can students to do get involved in a MOGO Club?
If a MOGO Club doesn’t yet exist at your school, you can start one. Find a supportive teacher who is willing to serve as a faculty mentor and who is interested in MOGO living, contact the administrators at your school to find out the procedures for starting a club, and post fliers at school and talk to your friends to find others who want to join.
What can the Institute for Humane Education help us with our MOGO Club?
We recommend that your club get a copy of Zoe Weil’s book Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life and that all members read it for ideas and a framework for considering MOGO choices and projects. We will supply 1 copy of the book at a 30% discount to every MOGO Club that is formed. Email us to take advantage of this special offer.
You can also:
- Download a copy of the Personal MOGO Plan (for students) for every member of the club.
- Visit these websites (including these especially for youth) to learn more about MOGO issues and the humane choices you can make.
- Check out these suggested, books, magazines, videos and online games.
- Browse our humane education activities for ones you might like to explore.
What Could We Do?
When young people learn about issues like global warming, animal cruelty, human rights abuses, consumerism and other social change issues, they often are inspired to take positive action. Use the Personal MOGO Plan to help each member of the club decide what MOGO habits and projects s/he might like to engage in. Here are a few examples that other students have mentioned:
Sample Personal MOGO actions that other young people have vowed to take:
- Look for the leaping bunny logo when I purchase products to make sure they’re not tested on animals
- Buy more local and organic food to promote the local economy
- Fundraise to support local poor families through bake sales, bottle drives, and the $1/week jar
- Find out where my trash goes
- Talk instead of fight
- Eat healthy food and get exercise
- Recycle and reuse more
- Teach my family and get them involved
- Start a compost bin
- Give money from redeemables to help others who are poor
- Wear a sweater and take other actions to keep the heat down
- Eat less meat
- Wear my clothes a little longer before washing them
- If I see an ad for something I like, I'll try to analyze it
- Do some research on any products or stores I'm going to buy from
- Make it know to other people what cruelty is going on and how to stop it
- Not watch as much TV
Sample MOGO Projects that groups of MOGOers have chosen to do:
- A donation/project jar: One middle school class decided to create a $1/week box. Each week, each student puts $1 in the jar, and at the end of every month, the class has about $100 to donate to a cause they agree on or use for projects that will make a difference.
- A student-created school newsletter that includes information about humane issues and a MOGO Tip of the Month
- Start a recycling program for our school
- Write and perform a play about humane living
- Learn about MOGO issues and give talks to other classes and some community groups
- Write letters every month to businesses, news editors, etc., about important issues and to encourage them to adopt more MOGO choices
How Might We Organize?
Your MOGO Club could be organized in any number of ways and explore a variety of issues. Here are a few examples that might inspire you:
Here's one example of how you might organize your MOGO Club:
Week 1 – LEARN: Through activities, movies, and discussion we learn about an issue.
Assignment: Everyone does reading/ research on topic for next week.
Week 2 – REACTION: We discuss the readings/research we explored and engage in additional activities or learning.
Assignment: Think of ways to help
Week 3 – PREPARATION: Discuss how we as a team might address the issue and prepare for whatever we decide is most effective.
Assignment: Continue preparation
Week 4 – ACTION: Put our desired plan into action and evaluate the results.
(Outline courtesy of IHE graduate Mark Heimann.)
Here's another sample outline:
September/October - Cultural Issues:
Cover media literacy, how to dissect advertising and how corporations influence schools. Take a look at the culture of consumerism and the effects of globalization. Explore how marketing influences our decision-making. Develop positive solutions to the problems we discover.
November/December - Non-human Animal Issues:
Analyze the exploitation and oppression of animals for food, entertainment, clothing, testing, etc. Explore the consequences of institutionalized animal cruelty. Develop positive solutions to the problems we discover.
January/February - Environmental Preservation Issues:
Focus on exploring the interconnectedness among everything on Earth and work to develop solutions to habitat destruction, pollution, global warming, endangered species, overpopulation, soil depletion, etc. Explore how our choices in life play an important role in the Earth's environment and the lives of others.
March/April - Human Rights Issues:
Focus on different forms of prejudice like racism, sexism, poverty, homophobia and disabilities, as well as issues related to sweatshops, child labor, modern day slavery and genocide. Reflect on our individual prejudices and explore the negative consequences of prejudice and stereotyping. Explore issues of institutional prejudice and human rights violations. Develop positive solutions to the problems we discover.
May/June - Putting It All Together:
With everyone's participation, the group will work on a project to share all their new knowledge with their local community.
Connect With Us!
Let us know about your projects, challenges, and successes! We’ll be featuring the work of MOGO Clubs and youth activists on our website, our blog and in our e-news, and we’d love to hear what you’re up to! Let us know if we can answer questions or help you, too. Email us.
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July 14, 2012 - 8:30 am to July 14, 2012 - 5:00 pm | Location: Institute for Humane Education
Live your values. Change the world. Choose MOGO! Our MOGO (most good) workshop is part retreat, part personal development, part educational experience, and 100% invaluable to anyone who wishes to make their lives a manifestation of their greatest vision for a more pea...
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