We are excited to introduce our 2025 Youth Advocates cohort! From a pool of exceptional applicants, the GCE-US Youth Engagement Committee has selected eight outstanding young leaders who demonstrate dedication to education and advocacy.
Beginning this month, these advocates will embark on an intensive training program focused on advocacy strategies and whole child education policy. Their journey will include an Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill this July, where they will put their newly acquired skills into practice.
By equipping these promising leaders with the technical and professional skills essential for effective advocacy, we're investing in a future where young voices meaningfully shape education policy and inspire their peers to become agents of change.
Lara Almeida is a proud queer Brazilian-American student based in Texas. Her Latinx immigrant family consists of first-generation college grads who used education to break poverty cycles and kickstart careers. She serves on the She's the First Girls Advisory Council, where she fights for every girl's right to equitable schooling. She intends to major in Political Science to protect access to the wondrous joy of learning for all. In her free time, she crochets donations, paints activist art, and cozies up with tea and a good history book.
Buse Arici is a passionate teenager who believes that every student deserves a seat, not just at a table, but in a classroom setting that addresses their needs and challenges. She cares deeply, speaks boldly, and may eat several pounds of chocolate covered strawberries when stressed. As a GCE-US Youth Advocate, she is excited to turn passion into action and engage in dialogue with representatives.
Mariama Darboe is an education advocate, program director, and graduate student passionate about equity, youth empowerment, and global learning. With over eight years of experience in education, she has served as a teacher, operations manager, and currently as Interim Program Director for the Upward Bound program at Brandeis University. In this role, she leads college access initiatives for first-generation and low-income high school students, manages staff, and builds partnerships to expand academic and career pathways. Originally from The Gambia, Mariama’s work bridges local action with global perspective. She has coordinated international exchange programs, supported mentorship for girls across rural communities, and raised funding to support over 100 students annually. Mariama is excited to join the GCE-US Youth Advocate Cohort to deepen her commitment to educational justice. She believes that youth voices are essential in shaping equitable systems and policies, and she looks forward to contributing her experience while learning from other global advocates.
Helena Donato-Sapp is a 15-year-old scholar, activist, keynote speaker, and poet who believes in the power of youth voices and uses her own in the work of equity and justice. She is an accomplished activist and educator internationally recognized for her work in Disability Justice. She partners with The National Education Association and co-founded their “Become a Champion for Disability Rights and Inclusion” campaign. She has won the UK Global Youth Award for Educational Leadership and the Judey Heumann-Elijah Armstrong Award for Activism. She regularly speaks to tens of thousands of educators each year to lift up disability pride and justice.
Ushna Fawad is a Fulbright Scholar and Master’s candidate in International Educational Development at Teachers College, Columbia University. Ushna brings four years of experience advancing education equity through policy engagement, partnership development, and program implementation. She is an alumna of Teach For Pakistan, part of the global Teach For All network, where she collaborated with government stakeholders to improve student learning outcomes in an under-resourced school in rural Islamabad, and later led the organization’s fundraising efforts and external relations. She has also supported national education reform initiatives with UNDP Pakistan and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. At GCE-US, Ushna aims to strengthen global advocacy for equitable, inclusive, and rights-based education policies, working to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality learning opportunities.
Imaani Haque developed her passion for education from a young age. From helping friends with their math homework to teaching her grandma how to play video games, connecting through learning always felt natural to her. As a Writing Center Tutor at her school, Imaani learned to be patient yet supportive, creating a safe space for tired adolescents and helping them overcome foundational knowledge gaps. Additionally, as part of her school's Model UN leadership team, she taught peers about diplomacy while emphasizing essential skills like speaking up for oneself and mastering the balance between leading and contributing. Today, she tutors kids in her community in everything from civic engagement to dividing fractions. She is thrilled to join the Global Campaign for Education-US Youth Advocate Program to continue her educational journey.
Divine Irakoze experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing quality education, born to Burundian parents in Tanzania and raised in a refugee camp in Malawi. Those early years sparked her passion for ensuring access to education for all, especially for marginalized and displaced communities. Divine has worked with organizations such as Plan International-Malawi and Humanity & Inclusion, where she supported education advocacy, policy research, and youth engagement efforts. Her recent internship with the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) deepened her understanding of the importance of inclusive education policy and the role of youth voices in driving change. She has also led youth engagement initiatives and developed tools to amplify the perspectives of young refugees. She is excited to join the GCE-US Youth Advocates Cohort to continue building her advocacy skills and contribute meaningfully to the movement for education equity.
Ahaana Sabari Rajan is an 8th grader at Cooper Middle School, residing in Fairfax County, Virginia. She has a plethora of experience in educational programs, being an avid member of her school community through leading clubs such as Model UN and debate. She has organized initiatives to bring extracurriculars and other activities to the collective population, hosting events with incredible turnouts. Moreover, she has moved several times and attended schools in various countries, making her aware of the current situation of many. She aims to address issues that many pedagogical organizations lack, such as lack of financial equity, special education opportunities, and mental support.