GCE-US Launches New Youth Engagement Committee to Amplify Young Voices in Education Advocacy
We extend a special thanks to Girls Learn and She's the First for their leadership as founding organizational members of this important initiative that will connect passionate youth advocates with opportunities to influence education policy.
The Committee aims to:
- Develop an action plan to engage young people in promoting a whole-child approach to U.S. foreign assistance.
- Leverage access to youth networks and perspectives across the GCE-US coalition.
- Train youth advocates to further the whole child policy agenda.
This initiative recognizes the instrumental role that youth voices play in shaping policy decisions and driving meaningful change in global education.
The committee will be led by the new GCE-US Senior Fellow, Grace Mariana Rector, who brings seven years of experience in international education, teaching, and advocacy. As a trainer, teacher, and coach, Grace brings experience with youth training and capacity building that will equip youth participating in the committee to have meaningful meetings with stakeholders on Capitol Hill.
Reflecting on her work with high school and university students in Morocco and Chile, Grace shared, “Youth naturally bring positive energy and innovative thinking to challenges, and this is exactly what we need, especially during this unprecedented time. This committee is a transformational opportunity to cultivate the next generation of education advocates as the landscape of education fundamentally shifts.”
The committee will meet monthly throughout 2025, working collaboratively to identify common themes and goals between youth advocates and GCE-US members. A highlight of the committee's 2025 agenda will be an advocacy day in Washington, D.C., where youth advocates will engage directly with policymakers. This hands-on experience will allow participants to apply their training in real-world advocacy settings while building connections with decision-makers on Capitol Hill.
By December, the committee aims to have cultivated a group of trained and active youth advocates who can advocate for the whole child policy agenda and continue to build momentum for global education initiatives.
For more information about the Youth Engagement Committee or to learn how you can get involved, please contact Grace Mariana Rector.