WASHINGTON, June 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Girl Up, a gender equality initiative of the United Nations Foundation, has announced the next class of teenage leaders that will work alongside the organization to advance global gender equality.
The 2020-2021 class is the largest cohort of Teen Advisors to-date, united by the common goal of creating change to support the rights, access, and opportunities for girls. From programs to partnerships, Teen Advisors provide crucial feedback that helps Girl Up continue its mission.
"If we're going to affect change, we have to do it together. The best part of what we do is working with girls to create programs that have lasting and meaningful impact for girls," said Melissa Kilby, Executive Director of Girl Up.
These young leaders represent 11 U.S. states, eight countries – Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Taiwan, Zambia, the United States – and the British Virgin Islands. The 25 high school students will serve with Girl Up for one academic year, after which they will continue to lead efforts that drive global change on their college campuses and their communities around the world.
Girl Up is working with Gen Z leaders to create a generation of girls who will be a force for social good. Teen Advisors are the backbone of Girl Up's borderless movement, which has led advocacy efforts for global policies that affect women and girls, raised more than $10 million for UN programs that work to give girls in developing countries a chance at a brighter future, and grown to reach more than one million supporters in 120 countries.
The application to become a Girl Up Teen Advisor is rigorous and highly competitive. The Teen Advisors are self-identified girls selected on an annual basis to serve for an academic year. Each Teen Advisory board includes two advisors from the previous class, to serve as Co-Chairs.
"Girl Up has given me the chance to use my voice and find the leader within me," 2020-2021 Girl Up Teen Advisor Co-Chair Laura Julia said. "I'm looking forward to building new bonds and growing as a person and leader this year with the new class."
The 2020-2021 class of the Teen Advisory Board includes:
- Amatullah Turner, Pa.
- Amelia Marcum, Colo.
- Amina Salahou, N.Y.
- Anagaby Litz, Mexico
- Angela Zhang, Calif.*
- Angelina Silva-Perez, Mass.
- Daniella Villafana, Australia
- Emily Lin, Taiwan
- Ivonne Ortega, Calif.
- Izabella Pollett, Okla.
- Laura Julia Fleischman, Md.*
- Maeve Murray, Md.
- Maya Cabrera, USA/Italy
- Micaela Melissa Simplício Silva, Brazil
- Michelle Soneye, Md.
- Mwansa Thewo, Zambia
- Peri Perkins, Md.
- Salome Beyer, Colombia*
- Shania Hurtado Valbuena, Texas
- Simayah Alexander, N.C.
- Tatiana Fahie, British Virgin Islands
- Trish Venkatesh, India
- Victoria Ortiz, N.Y.
- Winter Ashley, Ariz.
- Yakira Pinillos Linares, Fla.
*Denotes Teen Advisor Co-Chair
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Press Contact: Rahkendra Ice, [email protected]
About Girl Up
Girl Up is a global leadership development initiative, positioning girls to be leaders in the movement for gender equality. With resources in five languages and 3,500 Girl Up Clubs in more than 120 countries, we've trained 65,000 girls of all backgrounds to create tangible change for girls everywhere.
Girl Up provides leadership training and gives girls tools to become gender equality advocates and activists. Through our programs, girls broaden their social impact skill set, benefit from a platform to tell their stories, and apply STEM for social good. Our girl leaders create real policy change at local and national levels, help raise millions of dollars to support United Nations programs that reach tens of thousands of girls around the world, and build community-based movements. Girl Up was founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, and continues to work across a global community of partners to achieve gender equality worldwide. Learn more at http://www.girlup.org.
About United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation acts as a strategic partner to help the United Nations mobilize the ideas, people, and resources it needs to drive global progress and tackle urgent challenges. We focus on issues at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, build initiatives across sectors to solve problems at scale, and engage citizens who seek action. Founded in 1998 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner, the UN Foundation works with philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual partners. Learn more at: http://www.unfoundation.org.
SOURCE Girl Up
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