Plan International Australia is launching the Youth Impact Academy, an innovative online program aimed at empowering young leaders to champion gender equality. This free initiative is designed for individuals aged 15-26, providing them with essential skills in leadership, advocacy, and campaigning to tackle gender inequality.
Building on the success of the Youth Activist Series, the Youth Impact Academy is set to equip a new generation of activists. Since 2016, the Youth Activist Series has nurtured nearly 100 young leaders, including notable figures like Yasmin Poole, a Rhodes Scholar and the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr Centre’s Youth Influencer of the Year; Ashleigh Streeter-Jones, who was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2018; and Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis, Australia’s 2022 Youth Representative to the UN.
Susanne Legena, CEO of Plan International Australia, emphasised the Academy’s potential to drive change. “Our prestigious Youth Activist Series has successfully supported young people in their fight for gender equality. The Youth Impact Academy aims to extend this support to more young change-makers,” Ms. Legena said.
Research from Plan International Australia highlights that while many young people see gender equality as crucial, there is still a significant portion who dismiss its importance. Notably, 1 in 10 young people aged 16-19 and 2 in 10 aged 20-29 believe that the push for gender equality has gone too far. The Youth Impact Academy seeks to address this by equipping young advocates with the tools they need to promote gender justice.
Yasmin Poole, fresh from completing her Rhodes scholarship at Oxford University, spoke highly of the Academy’s mission. “The Youth Impact Academy powerfully supports young activists to build a world where every voice is heard and valued. Activism has preserved hope for change in my lifetime despite the injustices of today’s world. There has never been a more urgent time to nurture young people’s passion, imagination, and new perspectives that will shape generations to come,” Poole said.
Throughout 2024-25, participants will engage in six online sessions covering topics like leadership, social impact, campaigning, media, and advocacy. The first session, titled “Intersectional Feminist Leadership: Leading with Purpose and Presence,” will take place on Thursday, August 1st. It will feature prominent activists such as Ms. Ojinnaka-Psillakis, Ms. Poole, and Ms. Streeter-Jones, sharing their advocacy experiences. Ms. Legena will also discuss how Plan International Australia has integrated feminist leadership principles.
For more information and how to apply visit.
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