Covid-Free Ambassadors and Representatives (COFAR) Program
Tapping into our youth engagement framework and building off of our prior COVID-19 programming, WCI is working with healthcare professionals and partners at Temple University who are experts in communications, social influence, and public relations to create a virtual workshop series.
Youth Ambassadors will each earn $50 for attending two short webinars, which will equip them with valuable skills to address social issues and communicate messages effectively in the digital media age.
Next, students will then be coached to apply their advocacy toolkit to create a campaign to creatively address vaccine hesitancy in their communities.
Participants will have the chance to gain real experience in advocacy, connect with professionals, get paid, and, most importantly, drive life-saving social change here in Philadelphia.
What ambassadors learn through workshops:
- How to craft a powerful message
- What you need to know about effective communication in the digital media age
- Strategy for creative, multi-method community outreach
- How to navigate politicized issues tactfully
- COVID-19 basics, its effects, and how to prevent it
- How vaccines work, and whether they are safe
- Where vaccine hesitancy comes from, and why some people are still reluctant today
- Vaccine myths and facts
COFAR Ambassadors Program
Build advocacy skills, learn how to campaign, drive social change!
The Program
Students will train with communications and social influence professionals from Philly, and learn from medical professionals. Each will earn $50 for attending two short webinars. Students will then be coached to apply their advocacy toolkit to create a campaign to creatively address vaccine hesitancy.
The Strategy
Students will collaborate with peers and trauma informed COFAR coaches to craft their message, identify a target audience and strategize innovative outreach tactics.
The Outcome
Ambassadors will gain valuable skills to address social issues and communicate messages effectively in the digital media age. They will implement their plan to engage community members and empower them to make an informed choice about vaccination.
How COFAR Ambassadors take action
Ambassadors will collaborate with Trauma-Informed COFAR coaches and peers to apply their new communication and advocacy skills in designing their own campaign, personalized to their strengths and interests. Campaigns will seek to address the barriers and attitudes that deter vaccination. Ambassadors will implement their plan to engage community members and empower them to make an informed choice about vaccination.
