By: Marilena Gohmann, GCE-US Intern

On July 15, the Global Campaign for Education-US welcomed eight Youth Advocates to Capitol Hill to encourage elected officials to lead on international basic education. 

The 2025 GCE-US Youth Advocate cohort, an all-female group representing six states and seven districts across the U.S., received prior training to equip them as agents of policy change. The group had 17 meetings including eight meetings with Senate offices, and nine meetings with the House of Representatives.  

Through GCE-US's program, the Youth Advocates developed the necessary skills for legislative navigation, analyzing funding mechanisms such as the appropriations process, and translating firsthand experiences into policy demands. The training sessions focused on policy frameworks that emphasized collaborative, fact driven approaches to education reform, while also taking part in leadership self-assessments and persuasive communication drills to cultivate their ability to influence decision-makers.  

The GCE-US Youth Advocates met with their congressional delegations to discuss three key policy issues that, if addressed, can make a significant, long-lasting difference in the lives of children and young people. The topics and issues discussed included funding for international basic education, supporting foreign assistance for children, and joining the Basic Education Caucus. The advocates amplified their voices by urging offices to support educational programs, which strengthens the U.S.’s reputation overseas especially by impacting the lives of children and young people.  

“My main takeaway is to really be confident with yourself, as you always know more than you realize, and people are often impressed when they see that you really know what you're talking about, especially on such niche topics as global education and the specific asks we had,” said Imaani Haque, GCE-US Youth Advocate from Virginia. 

Putting their advocacy training to use, they leveraged personal stories alongside data-driven policy arguments to show how access to quality education reduces poverty, supports future trade partners, improves the global economy, bolsters peace and security, and strengthens public health.  

“Something else that was outstanding was meeting representatives that were already aligned with what we were advocating for. They believe in the values of education and what it does for youth and children, and that was valuable and meaningful,” said Mariama Darboe, GCE-US Youth Advocate from Massachusetts. 

The Youth Advocates’ next steps are to return to their communities and implement some of the skills they learned, and to develop community-focused action projects. “A skill I'll use is research. I must research a lot to basically formulate my pitches; tweak it based on which representatives I was going to be meeting,” said Ahaana Sabari Rajan, GCE-US Youth Advocate from Virginia. 

The GCE-US Youth Advocates showed how U.S. investment in global education directly advances security, economic growth, and public health worldwide. Their Capitol Hill engagements strengthen America’s diplomatic standing in youth-dense regions, as well as confirmed both the power of advocacy and bipartisanship.  

“Watching Imaani, Mariama, Ahaana, and their peers articulate complex policy asks with such conviction reaffirmed our core belief that youth aren’t just beneficiaries of change; they’re its co-authors,” said Giulia McPherson, Executive Director of GCE-US. “Their success in securing commitments on international basic education funding and expanding the Basic Education Caucus proves that when we invest in youth, we invest in a more just, secure future for all children."