Global Youth Ambassadors
About the project
Challenge
42% of the global population is under 25 years old. If we’re going to solve the education crisis, we need young people to be equipped with the tools, information and opportunities to change systems that exclude children from learning.
Approach
The Global Youth Ambassador programme gives young people who are passionate about ending the education crisis the skills, knowledge and community to unlock big change at a local and global level.
Connected community
Theirworld’s Global Youth Ambassador (GYA) programme is a two year programme, connecting a community of 2,000 18 to 30-year-olds, made up of young campaigners and social entrepreneurs united in their passion for social justice and the right to education.
Their voice is a crucial component of Theirworld’s vision as we work towards ensuring every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and the skills they need for the future.
Each year 1,000 new young people from across the world join the network to campaign for the right to education in their communities, countries and beyond.
The GYA platform gave me the inspiration and clarity to rights-led activism, especially within early childhood education and advocating for the rights of children in the refugee camp. It is a big honour to be a GYA. It has been nothing short of an amazing experience.Taban Nuai Deng, South Sudan
Voice of the next generation
As they develop their advocacy skills through an online learning platform, GYAs find themselves part of a supportive community that shares and promotes each other’s work, campaigns and achievements.
Being a GYA means getting access to opportunities to take part in high-profile campaigns and initiatives that represent the next generation’s voice on matters relating to youth education.
Recent years have seen GYAs submit an open letter to the President of Kenya calling for more funding for early childhood education; collaborate with artist Steven Nguyen on work that told their own powerful childhood stories; and speak compellingly at the 75th United Nations General Assembly on the importance of investing in education.
The responsibility of amplifying the voice of their generation means being a part of the programme can act as a springboard for participants’ future aspirations: GYAs have gone on to become government ministers, entrepreneurs and student prize winners, among many other paths.
Theirworld is proud to have created the go-to network for youth campaigners who want to help shape the future of education and unlock big change for millions of children and young people. Learn more and apply to be a Theirworld Global Youth Ambassador.
Global Youth Ambassadors: Impact
2024
Day of the African Child: Global Youth Ambassadors in Africa are urging governments to increase funding for early childhood education, highlighting its role in combating poverty and promoting development. More than 80 GYAs wrote to African Education Minister calling on them to prioritise early childhood investment during the African Union’s Year of Education.
2023
Global Youth Ambassador Nelly Julie Cetera sent a clear message to G20 leaders, calling for investment in early years education to ensure new generations are equipped to be the change agents the world needs.
2022
Global Youth Ambassadors took the #LetMeLearn message to world leaders at the UN, advocating for global education rights and emphasising the importance of inclusive and equitable education for all children.
2021
An open letter written by young people from Africa to President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, called for early childhood education to be prioritised. Created by GYAs, over 100 young people from across Africa added their voice to ensure that every child is guaranteed the best start in life.
2021
Our storytelling competition with artist Steven Nguyen saw him collaborate with four of our Global Youth Ambassadors to share powerful childhood stories which shaped them into becoming education advocates.
2020
GYAs Eden Tadesse, Sarah Musau-Mwikali and Ousmane Ba spoke virtually at the 75th United Nations General Assembly, calling on world leaders to #UnlockBigChange by prioritising and investing in education against the backdrop of a pandemic.
2019
GYAs Shazia Ramzan, Kainat Riaz and Yara Eid headlined Theirworld’s International Women’s Day event, speaking out about safe schools and calling on the international community to #WriteTheWrong.
2019
Javita Nauth travelled to the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings to meet world leaders and encourage them to invest 10% of their aid budgets in early childhood education.
News
African youth rise up to demand early years spending target is met