Bangladesh
Ayesha Siddika
Ayesha is a 27-year-old GPE youth leader from Bangladesh. As a Fellow at Teach For Bangladesh, she supports and leads community-service projects focused on addressing life challenges. Ayesha also co-leads Uttoron to build momentum to end gender-based violence (GBV) among adolescents. Ayesha roots for an education system that promotes equal access to learning, nurtures students' full potential, and is capable of facilitating every child becoming a lifelong learner.
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Cameroon
Ngimou Victorine Nchokuno
Ngimou Victorine Nchokuno, is a 23-year-old youth leader from Cameroon. She is a fierce feminist activist with over eight years of experience. She is passionate about fighting for girls' rights and a hygienic environment for young women and girls in and out of schools. She founded a school club called Development Fighters, coached by Women for a Change, Cameroon in 2014. She is part of many movements, such as Nala Feminist Collective. She loves sports as a means to promote quality education.
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Canada
Ayesha Khan
Ayesha Khan is a 20-year-old gender and health equality advocate and researcher. She is a Global Health student at the University of Toronto. She works with various non-profit organizations to build a world in which women and girls' full potential is unlocked. She has led a storytelling program with a female mentorship program called Girlz, FTW. It provides a platform for women and girls from over 15 countries to creatively share their experiences with gender inequality.
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Denmark
Neha Ullah
Neha is a 23-year-old GPE youth leader from Denmark. She is passionate about working towards giving every child, specifically girls, the right to STEM education. She is the founder of the Nordic Women in STEM, where she teaches 400+ girls coding in the Copenhagen region. She is an advisory board member for the Girls Guiding and Scouting organization in Denmark.
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Eline Thor Eliassen
Eline is a 20-year-old Danish GPE youth leader working on women’s rights and youth engagement. She is a youth ambassador at Plan International Denmark and the 2023 Danish youth delegate to the Council of Europe’s Congress. With her consulting company, she works to connect Danish youth with youth in vulnerable areas of the world to create cooperation and engagement in themes such as gender equality, climate change, and education.
Germany
Omar Alkadamani
Omar is an 18-year-old GPE youth leader based in Germany. He is active in his city's Youth Parliament and serves as a Youth Advisor for the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). He also volunteers with YoupaN, a network for development in education, BrandNewBundestag, and other political and cultural programs. His motivation is his own story. As a Syrian young immigrant in Germany, he has many experiences about integration and being new in education systems.
Guatemala
María José Carranza Padilla
Maria José is a 28-year-old GPE youth leader from Guatemala, where she advocates for guaranteed human rights for people with disabilities. She is also part of the UNDP youth advisory group in Guatemala. She is a core supporter of Miss Wheelchair Guatemala. Maria José firmly believes that sport is a tool to create a better world. She likes to describe herself as an unstoppable dreamer and education fighter.
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Guyana
Anjalie Sookra
Anjalie is a 22-year-old disability inclusion advocate from Guyana. She serves as a guidance and counselor officer at the Port Mourant Secondary School, driven by her passion to uplift young people to reach their capabilities. Anjalie is an active member of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, supporting their programmes on inclusive education, civic education and mental health. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of Southern Caribbean.
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Honduras
Amara Thaecy Perdomo Aguilar
Amara Aguilar is a 22-year-old GPE youth leader from Honduras. She is an activist for women's rights and people with disabilities in her country with Foro Dakar Honduras and FENAPAPEDISH. She is the co-founder of an NGO with women with disabilities and their families called Colectiva Mariposa 88 HN. She is very passionate about education because, while growing up, she realized that education is not accessible to all.
Indonesia
Anna Bella Sabilah
Anna Bella Sabilah is a 29-year-old poet from Indonesia. She dedicated her teenage years to campaigning for a violence-free movement, from exposing campus night stalkers to forming a youth coalition for safe and inclusive education. As General Chairwoman of Forumpuan, she collaborates with NEW Indonesia's youth coalition to establish safe schools for all, including pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). Advocating gender equality and social inclusion, she advocates for consistent application of inclusiveness in policies and communities. Her efforts aim to prevent violence, discrimination, and neglect, ensuring every educational model adopts a "safe and inclusive education" framework.
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Italy
Carlos Lougourou
Carlos Lougourou is a 24-year-old GPE youth leader from Burkina Faso currently residing in Italy. He has dedicated his career to empowering young people in education. Hailing from the small village of Kollo, he witnessed the challenges faced by youth in accessing quality education, sparking his commitment to inclusivity. Pursuing a Master's in sustainability, he advocates for climate action and educates peers through an environmental association in his school. As a content creator on YouTube, he guides students through university projects. Carlos firmly believes in education's transformative power and is enthusiastic about his role as a GPE youth leader, striving for a world where education is universally accessible and empowering.
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Kenya
Valentine Mugun Chepkoech
Valentine Chepkoech is a 26-year-old GPE youth leader from Kenya. She is passionate about transformative leadership, accountability, and governance. In 2017, she spearheaded Thebarrierbreakers, a mentorship organization that has been to over thirty schools in Kericho County, offering practical mentorship to students and distributing sanitary pads. After the COVID-19 pandemic, she narrowed her focus to The Second Chances Initiative which helps teenage mothers go back to school.
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Farida Ally
Farida Ally is a 24-year-old GPE youth leader from Kenya. She is studying a Bachelor’s in Development Studies and is the Founder and Director of ELIMU CARE which focuses on education, gender and leadership. She briefed the UN Human Rights Council and spoke at the Women Deliver Conference 2023 as a She Leads UN Youth Advocate. She is also active in the UNESCO Global Youth Community and Theirworld’s Global Youth Program. Her various award nominations include the African Gender-Based Violence Warrior Award for 2022 and she has been featured in a blog by the World Bank about her work as an education advocate.
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Malawi
Eliza Chikoti
Eliza Chikoti is a 26-year-old GPE youth leader from rural Malawi. She is an education activist and philanthropist who promotes girls' education. She gives back to her community by supporting other vulnerable school-going children through mentoring, career guidance, motivational sessions, and SRHR sessions. She works with CAMFED and she believes that girls' education is the key to development.
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Francine Niyomuhoza
Francine Niyomuhoza is a 21-year-old GPE youth leader originally from Rwanda who lives in a refugee camp in Malawi. She has worked as a community social worker for JRS on the Naweza Project. Growing up as a refugee, she knows that the only way of succeeding is by getting educated. She believes that education allows refugees and young people to attain knowledge and skills that can be used in different aspects of their lives.
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Myanmar
Su Myat Noe
Su Myat Noe, a 19-year-old GPE youth leader from Myanmar, is passionate about women and girls' rights. As a Champion of Change leader, she delivers training on SRHR and gender equality to adolescent girls and young women. She also engages with adolescent boys and young men to promote gender equality through joint training sessions. Currently a Peer Leader at PLAN International Myanmar, she provides Ready for Work training, implements peer-based interventions, and facilitates dialogue sessions on gender equality and Child and Early Forced Marriage (CEFM). Committed to educating youth on SRHR and job-related skills, Su Myat Noe aims to unlock their potential and foster leadership for social transformation and global education equity.
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Nepal
Nir Shrestha
Nir Shrestha is a 23-year-old GPE youth leader from Nepal who is an inclusive development enthusiast and a youth with disability rights campaigner. He has actively been advocating for disability rights, particularly inclusive and quality education for children with disabilities, and has worked as a consultant on several inclusive education projects. He believes change is possible when we amplify the voices of children and young people with disabilities at the global level.
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Lalita Tamang
Lalita Tamang is a 19-year-old GPE youth leader from Nepal. She is a Girls Not Brides youth leader. Since childhood, she has been involved in extracurricular activities in her school, organizing programs and campaigns on leadership, education, environment, safety, self-defense, SRHR, and many other issues through the Tri Padma Child Club. She works with Civil societies and the government to include girls' issues in policy making.
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Nigeria
Motunrayo Fatoke
Motunrayo is a 24-year-old GPE youth leader championing access to quality education in marginalized communities in Nigeria. She currently works with TEP Centre. She designs projects focused on improving access to STEM education for girls and young women in Nigeria and co-plans the Education Innovation Summit (NEDIS), which has a core focus on bridging skill gaps to improve innovation in Africa.
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Temilade Salami
Temilade Salami is a 25-year-old GPE youth leader from Nigeria. She is the founder and executive director of EcoWarriors. She has spent the past five years leading a group of over 200 young environmentalists across 26 African countries. She has authored two environmental books to bridge the climate education gap in Africa. She also launched the Climate Education Leaders Fellowship in Africa. She is a member of the UNESCO SDG4Youth network.
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- A day in the life at the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings with climate activist, Temilade, and World Bank Senior Climate Change Advisor Stéphane Hallegatte
- GPE youth leader, Temilade, talks about harnessing the power of education for climate action with CEO Laura Frigenti
- International Youth Day
- Spot Roger Federer among these young education activists and learn about what they
- Torchbearers for the SDGs: Meaningful Youth Engagement & the 2030 Agenda (SDG Action Weekend, Mobilization Day, Youth)
Wadi Ben-Hirki
Wadi Ben-Hirki, is a 27-year-old GPE youth leader from Nigeria. She is a development worker, speaker, and writer, is the Creative Director of Range the Brand, which caters to advocates for positive change. As the Founder of Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation, she focuses on improving the lives of the less privileged and marginalized, especially women and children. She is a Chevening Alumna, Holding a BSc. in Accounting from Covenant University and an MA in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex,. With over eight years of professional experience, Wadi is a Mandela Washington Fellow, a Chatham House Common Futures Conversations Founding Member, and a Plan International Nigeria Youth Volunteer. Her advocacy for sustainable education financing and girls’ education has gained global recognition and featured in documentaries and books, driving her passion for sustainable education financing and empowerment.
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Pakistan
Anzal Abbas
Anzal Abbas is a 24-year-old GPE youth leader, from Pakistan. He works in the education and public health sectors as an advocate for youth empowerment. He is a member of known national youth advocacy platforms in Pakistan. He is the founder of Bagh-e-Sakina. He is also a content creator dedicated to improving people's awareness of social issues through @anzalabbas.
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Muhammad Asad Hashmi
@iamasadhashmi @lifewithalawstudent
Asad, a 25-year-old lawyer and GPE youth leader hailing from South Punjab, Pakistan. He earned his LLB degree from the University of London. As the sole member of his family to attend university and inspired by his mother's denied education due to gender, he champions children's rights in his community. Leading a team of young advocates, he advocates for education, believing it liberates from social norms. As a global peace ambassador, he organized a 200+ young leaders conference for capacity building on advocacy. As a volunteer, he supports community initiatives to improve access to education. Committed to justice, Asad aims to uplift marginalized communities through legal advocacy, promoting peace and societal change.
Papua New Guinea
Isabella Kila
Isabella Kila, is a 27-year-old GPE youth leader and lawyer from Papua New Guinea. She is the Gender Equity, Disability & Social Inclusion Officer at Papua New Guinea (PNG) Ports Corporation Limited. Isabella's commitment extends beyond her profession to significant roles in various organizations, including Vice Chairperson at Cheshire Disability Services and leadership positions in the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons, PNG Education Advocacy Network (board member), Shifting the Power Coalition, and PNG Youths with Disability. Her active participation in workshops, meetings, and conferences globally has enriched her insights into educational barriers, fueling her belief that quality education is pivotal for national progress and development.
Sierra Leone
Massah Esther Nyally Bockarie
Massah Esther Nyally Bockarie is a nationally recognized feminist activist, writer, and social entrepreneur committed to advancing girls' rights. She serves as a Team Coordinator at Purposeful. In college, Massah founded Easy Learning Services, a social enterprise that promotes quality education and provides job opportunities for college students and recent graduates. Additionally, she is the president of The Rotaract Club of Freetown, which focuses on community service and professional development.
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South Sudan
Seme Luate Cons Lomoro
Seme Luate Cons Lomoro is a 22-year-old GPE youth leader based in Uganda Bidibidi Refugee. He is enrolled in Bidibidi in the projects of I CAN South Sudan, a youth- and refugee-led organization. He recently led a project called "Disability is not a Burden," which aims to assess, and enroll refugee children with disabilities in school, train teachers and parents, and provide assistive learning devices to children with disabilities.
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Rianka Chance
Rianka Chance, an 18-year-old GPE youth leader from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, hails from Garifuna Descent, born in Barbados and raised in the Caribbean gem of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She's a member of the United Nations Youth Advisory Group for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, serving as Let’s Unpack It and UNICEF Mental Health Focal Point. She was also the 2022 U.S Youth Ambassador for her country. At 16, Rianka spearheaded campaigns addressing suicide prevention and bullying awareness. She founded the ISDS project, empowering youth through debate. Rianka is a firm believer that education does indeed have transformative powers in the lives of people.
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Sweden
Faridah Luanda
Faridah Luanda is a 26-year-old GPE youth leader and refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo now residing in Uppsala, Sweden. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Davison Refugee Youth and Women Organisation in Uganda's Kyaka II refugee settlement, focusing on education, livelihood, and health. As the Gender and Diversity Lead for the Global Refugee Youth Network (GRYN), she empowers young refugees to build skills, initiate projects, address community needs, and advocate for essential changes. She is particularly focused on supporting teenage mothers that have experienced child and early forced marriage.
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Switzerland
Carolina Earle
Carolina Earle is a 25-year-old GPE youth leader based in Switzerland. She is a dynamic advocate and scholar, holds a B.A. in History and English from the University of Oxford and a Masters in International Affairs from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Her academic journey led her to Seoul National University, where she delved into Korean education and national development. Passionate about climate action, her Master's thesis emphasized the pivotal role of education in combating the climate crisis. Carolina's commitment to gender equity and social innovation is evident in her leadership on the EU Horizon 2020-funded project EQUALS-EU. As a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, she spearheads impactful social projects, embodying her belief in education's transformative power for global progress and empathy. Currently contributing to the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, Carolina continues her mission to foster inclusive education and empower marginalized communities worldwide.
Tanzania
Salha Aziz
Salha Aziz is a 28-year-old GPE youth leader from Tanzania. She is the founder and executive director of Binti Salha Foundation. She is an SDG champion and advocates for adolescent girls' and young women's rights to quality education, economic freedom, and good health. She is an AU-CIEFFA Ambassador for Girls' Right to Education. She believes that when a young girl is empowered and educated, a community is also empowered.
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Tunisia
Oussema Sahnoun
Oussema Sahnoun is a 25-year-old GPE youth leader from Tunisia. He is an active member of the National Association for the Right to Education for All, a member of the Tunisian Educational Coalition, and a member of the Educational Youth Academy of the Arab Campaign for Education for All. His interest in education is focused on climate education and equitable access to education for refugees.
Ukraine
Oleksii Druz
Oleksii is a 27-year-old Ukrainian GPE youth leader living in Romania. He was forced to flee to Romania as a result of the war in Ukraine. He now works with the National Youth Foundation (FNT) in Romania. He serves as a youth project coordinator to identify Ukrainian youth in local communities and design and deliver projects that meet their needs and priorities with a main focus on education.
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United Kingdom
Vee (Varaidzo) Kativhu
Vee (Varaidzo) Kativhu is a GPE youth leader from the United Kingdom. She is a 24-year-old YouTuber and girls' education activist. She provides academic empowerment skills to students through her non-profit organization, Empowered By Vee. She is a Diana Award Legacy Award recipient. She is also a UN Youth Envoy SDGs Young Leader. She is currently an active ambassador for United World Schools, CAMFED, and GirlUp Zimbabwe.
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Heela Yoon
Heela Yoon is a 24-year-old peace and education activist based in the UK. She is the founder of Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace , She has worked with Global Network of Women Peacebuilders as a Cora Weiss peacebuilding fellow. She is also a member of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. The office of the UN Youth Envoy recently recognized her as one of the Young Leaders for SDGs 4 and 9.
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Qais Khan
@connectwithqais @connectwithqais
Qais Khan is a 27-year-old GPE youth leader from the United Kingdom. He is a cochlear implant user and disability rights activist, and is dedicated to promoting inclusivity within the Usher community. His advocacy is informed by his personal journey as a deaf individual. Qais has utilized platforms such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum at the UN, the World Health Organization, and the UK Parliament to elevate the voices of those with disabilities. He plays a key role in the Cochlear Implant International Community of Action, helping to establish a young adult stakeholder group and develop impactful strategies. As an Usher Syndrome Coalition ambassador, he champions the needs of those affected. His podcast, Connect with Qais, explores hearing loss issues through conversations with notable guests.
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Zambia
Memory Tapela Banda
Memory Tapela Banda is a 25-year-old GPE youth leader from Zambia whose life’s work is dedicated and built on the vision to improve education, disability rights, good governance, and peace and security in Zambia.
She is the founder of the Zambian Albinism Matters Organization(ZAMO), a Youth Parliamentarian at the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the country focal point for International Humanitarian Studies(IHS) and has previously served as the Director of social and gender protection at the Africa Union for Persons with Albinism (AUPA). She is also the head of the national team of the Pan African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) and a member of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY).
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Zimbabwe
Tendai Kunyelesa
Tendai Kunyelesa is a 22-year-old GPE youth leader from Zimbabwe. She is a dynamic young leader who is passionate about advancing the leadership of girls and young women in SRHR, HIV prevention, gender equality, and education. She is the co-founder of the Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network. Tendai is also part of Generation Unlimited's Young People's Action Team (YPAT).
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Alumni
- Zoé Elkær Nicot, Denmark
- Phương Anh Dương, Vietnam
- Ranja Diab, France
- Diana Ayala, Honduras
- Selina Nkoile, Kenya
- Maryjacob Okwuosa, Nigeria
- Jonatan Balle, Denmark
- Martine Billing, Norway
- Lilia Touil, France
- Tomoe Nakano, Japan
- Ayesha Farah, United Kingdom
- Sikemi Okunrinboye, United Kingdom
- Clement Kaponda, Zambia
- Miyo Hataoka, Japan