An activist is someone who works hard to create change in the world around them. Activists campaign for causes they believe in, whether that's protecting the environment, improving their local community, or standing up for people who are being treated unfairly.

An activist might organize a neighborhood cleanup, start a petition to save a local park, raise money for a cause, or speak at town meetings to persuade leaders to make better decisions. Young activists have helped ban plastic straws in their cities, raised thousands of dollars for animal shelters, and convinced their schools to start recycling programs.

Activists use many different methods: some write letters, some organize marches, some create awareness through art or social media, and some work quietly behind the scenes to solve problems. What makes someone an activist is caring about an issue and actually doing something about it.

The word can describe someone who dedicates their whole life to a cause, or someone who takes action when they see a problem. If you decide to work toward solving an issue rather than waiting for someone else to do it, you're thinking like an activist.