Global Youth Ambassadors champion the early years at G20 summit
The young campaigners called for world leaders who gathered in South Africa to sign the Act For Early Years ‘Minifesto’ and invest in the future of millions of the world’s youngest children.
Young campaigners made a major impact at the G20 summit by turning up the pressure on leaders to protect the world’s youngest children.
On behalf of the Act For Early Years campaign, Theirworld Global Youth Ambassadors were in South Africa to urge the biggest economies to invest in the future of millions of under-fives who need quality healthcare, childcare and preschool education.
The passionate young advocates appeared at key summit events, including a special one on early childhood. They persuaded leaders to sign the Act For Early Years ‘Minifesto’ – which calls for increased spending on early childhood development and pre-primary education.
G20 leaders later made a historic commitment to young children by including childcare and early childhood education in the Leaders’ Declaration at the end of the summit and agreeing to increase investment in the early years.
The early childhood event was addressed by Global Youth Ambassador Princess Thandolwenkosi Nkosi, who said: “Governments must re-evaluate how important early childhood development is.”
Titled Prioritising Early Childhood Development: one powerful solution to many global challenges, the event was hosted by Act For Early Years during the Social Summit, in partnership with the Roger Federer Foundation, ECDAN, Brookings and Children20. It highlighted that with 40% of Africa’s population under 18, the G20 cannot achieve its vision of solidarity, equality and sustainability without prioritising early childhood.
Princess Thandolwenkosi Nkosi, a Theirworld Global Youth Ambassador, speaks at a G20 summit side event
Princess, who is from South Africa, told governments: “I plead for your urgent commitment in early childhood education – to uphold every child’s right to survive and thrive. When the world fails its young children, there are huge consequences.
“As children and young people, we will inherit the legacy of the current decision-makers. The more they listen to us, the more engaged and involved we will be across the world. Let us be part of the change that implements generationally-sustainable solutions.”
The Global Youth Ambassadors were at the G20 summit in Johannesburg to act as champions for young children and give them a voice on the world stage. The G20 (Group of 20) summit is where heads of the world’s leading economies – 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union – gather to discuss major issues such as development and trade.
South Africa has held the presidency of the G20 during 2025 and this is the first time the summit has been held on the African continent. South Africa has been a fierce champion for the early years, putting early childhood front and centre of the agenda.
The Global Youth Ambassadors also appeared at the youth-led Children20 Summit and the G20 Social Summit, where civil society voices are integrated into the main G20 decision-making process.
“We wanted to put early childhood education and care at the centre of G20 priorities… It’s not just social spending, it’s an economic investment.”
Siviwe Gwarube, South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education
The young campaigners advocated at each event for leaders to sign the Act For Early Years ‘Minifesto’. The document sets out three achievable goals every government can deliver to change the lives of millions of children. They are:
- Universal access to quality primary healthcare – supporting health, wellbeing and development from pregnancy to early childhood.
- Universal access to quality preschool education.
- Universal family support – including affordable, quality childcare, child benefits and parenting support.
Global Youth Ambassador Nicole Ranada took part in the Children20 Summit with other GYAs and was involved in forming a declaration that was handed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. His government had officially endorsed Children20 to ensure their voices, priorities and experiences were embedded in the G20 process.
Anzio Jacobs was South Africa’s Sherpa (the personal representative of a G20 leader) for Children20. He said: “This step is not symbolic – it is transformative. By creating a formal G20 track for children, South Africa affirms that children are not only beneficiaries of global policies but also active participants in shaping them.”
Global Youth Ambassador Princess Thandolwenkosi Nkosi (at front in pink) with attendees at the Children 20 Summit – all holding their signed Minifestos
Before heading into the Children20 Summit, Nicole said: “We have working groups that we are included in for us to contribute to the Declaration that is presented to the President. We are having consistent dialogue with other Global Youth Ambassadors and leaders, so that is rewarding.”
The G20 summit followed a major breakthrough for early childhood development during the United Nations General Assembly in September. Global leaders took a historic step towards transforming the lives of millions of young children with the announcement of the first-ever International Finance Summit for Early Childhood to be held in 2027.
The significant announcement came at the Unlocking the Future event in New York, hosted by the South African Government, Theirworld, UNICEF and the Act For Early Years campaign partners.
Ben Hewitt, global lead for the Act For Early Years campaign, said the 2027 summit will be “a turning point – bringing together governments, businesses, philanthropies and civil society to secure bold new funding for the early years.
“In a time when the world feels increasingly divided, the early years are uniting us. From South Africa to Brazil, Sierra Leone to Ukraine, leaders are stepping forward to champion investment in children’s earliest years – where inequality begins and where change can begin too.”