How our Global Youth Ambassadors have been inspired to Unlock Big Change
Girls' education, Global Youth Ambassadors
Our youth activists tell about their uplifting experience at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖's annual International Women's Day event.
窪蹋厙惇勛圖’s mission to end the global education crisis and get every child into school wouldn’t be possible without the passion and energy of young activists.
Our Global Youth Ambassadors – a network of young campaigners from around the world – are at the heart of everything we do. So it was fitting that several of them attended 窪蹋厙惇勛圖’s annual International Women’s Day event.
The theme, as more than 300 supporters and friends of 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 gathered in London, was: How we can all work together to Unlock Big Change for girls and women?One of the highlights was a special award to oneof the world’s most inspirational female leaders –Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Finance Minister and Managing Director of the World Bank and currently Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
Here three Global Youth Ambassadors – Danielle Green, Nyasha Duri and Amishta Aubeelack – tell of their experience at the event. Nyasha and fellow Global Youth Ambassador Amrit Kaur Lohia also spoke to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 Chair Sarah Brown for a special International Women’s Day edition of the Better Angels podcast.
A panel session at the 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 International Women’s Day event features Global Youth Ambassador Amrit Kaur Lohia (second from left) (窪蹋厙惇勛圖 / Heathcliff O’Malley)
Amishta Aubeelack
The 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 annual International Womens Day breakfast was nothing short of inspiring.
The morning started off with a panel of women – and the one that stood out to me the most was Maysa Jalbout. She was passionate about the refugees left on the Greek islands and emphasised how 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 is the only renowned organisation recognising this predicament and adopting powerful strides to decrease the unimaginable conditions our refugees live in.
In that moment, I felt proud to be a Global Youth Ambassador for 窪蹋厙惇勛圖. This organisation seeks out situations that are uncomfortable and shocking and responds through long-term, pragmatic solutions.
I felt my pride heighten when guest speaker Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ended the morning. This woman is formidable. She has dedicated her life to improving healthcare and advocating for justice and through that cultivated robust ties with 窪蹋厙惇勛圖.
Ngozi left the whole room in goose-bumps. I was blown away by her resilience.That day I went home and thought about one thing she said that resonated with me: Amazing things happen when girls go to school. She couldnt be more right.
As a GYA, I felt re-energised to #UnlockBigChange and contribute to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s goal of ending the global education crisis.
Danielle Green
On my way to .s International Womens Day breakfast where leaders from around the world come together to for women and girls!
— Danielle Green (@danniegee23)
As I made my way to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s International Womens Day breakfast, I wasnt sure what to expect. I had suspected that it would involve a few GYAs like myself gathering for a discussion in a London hall for a couple of hours – a pleasant but small-scale meeting to share experiences and inspire each other in our work.
I was certainly right about the sharing of experiences and the inspiration, but this was no small-scale gathering. Upon entering the hall of the Grand de Vere, I was greeted by what seemed to be thousands of women, flitting around dozens of elegantly dressed tables.
The conversations I was to have with those women would leave important imprints in my mind: ladies who have witnessed and lived through gender inequality and discrimination at its worst but have gone on to found parties, write books, become comedians or work in development, just like me.
I found Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealas speech particularly inspiring I hope that, like Ngozi, I can spend my life working for justice. Her words of encouragement to us all have rekindled the spark of motivation I have always had to ensure that every child has access to an education that will allow them to flourish on all levels.
I hope to bring Ngozis sense of determination and that of the other ladies whose stories I had the pleasure to hear – into my own work. I will be finishing my Masters course at the end of this academic year, after which I hope to pursue issues related to Education for Sustainable Development, with an emphasis on realising tangible impacts on communities worldwide.
Nyasha Duri
A privilege to be 's International Womens Day breakfast where leaders worldwide come together to
for women and girls! Delighted to hear introductions from & on why this work matters and how we can help every child.— Nyasha Duri (she/her/any) (@NyashaDuri)
It was a real privilege to attend 窪蹋厙惇勛圖’s IWD breakfast focusing on how to #UnlockBigChange to end the global education crisis: unless we act by 2030 half of young people may lack skills needed for meaningful employment.
This really brought home again that Education Cannot Wait – but left me hopeful, optimistic and invigorated by our energy as we explored ideas while fundraising. 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 and Reed Smith staff did an excellent job setting up the event.
Panellists Leena Nair, Amrit Kaur Lohia, Unjoo Moon and Maysa Jalbout gave incredible insights covering the whole spectrum: from business, politics, media, history, academia, and art. I also learnt so much from the wonderful women at my table, with our discussion led fantastically by Lorraine Candy.
I’m now more inspired than ever to #UnlockBigChange in my communities by using all resources I have regardless of size, practically iterating theories for transformation and calling upon each sphere of influence beyond work.
Among the many takeaways, I loved the way Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – moved by her award, standing ovation and how June Sarpong shared her story – encouraged us not to just let things like this be a motivational power hour or talking shop. Instead, we must keep on pushing every day to engage others in this cause we care about so much.
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