The GIRL UP TEEN ADVISOR PROGRAM is a year-long, rigorous training for youth leaders looking to scale their impact and become advisors to a global organization. Selected participants will serve as advisors to Girl Up, participate in professional development training and take actions to enhance gender justice worldwide.
Every year we receive hundreds of applications from leaders around the world. This year we plan to select 10-12 young leaders, making the Teen Advisory Board highly competitive.
Girl Up’s Board of Teen Advisors are a culturally and globally diverse group of passionate changemakers who together spread and fuel our work, ensuring we stay authentic to our mission and bring the voice of this generation to the forefront.
Since its inception in 2010, more than 220 girls have gone through this global program. Collectively, Girl Up Teen Advisors have raised more than $500,000, completed more than 7,000 hours of community service, hosted hundreds of events in their communities around the world and performed thousands of advocacy actions at local, national, and global levels. They have also represented Girl Up on some of the world’s biggest stages, been integrated in critical global moments, and featured in some of the top media publications.
2025-2026 Teen Advisor Responsibilities:
The 2025-2026 Teen Advisor Board will serve a one-year term from March 2025 – February 2026. Teen Advisor must commit at least 10 hours per month to their role.
During their tenure, Teen Advisors will –
- Complete Girl Up’s Teen Advisor Curriculum;
- Attend two-hour, virtual meetings every month (typically held on second Sunday of the month from 10 AM – 12 PM EST);
- Commit to Girl Up’s collaborative accountability approach;
- Serve on technical committees to work directly with Girl Up staff on programmatic, strategic, and operational deliverables;
- Serve as a representative for Girl Up in public spaces (digital and in-person), as relevant and/or requested.
- Engage with Girl Up’s online community and co-create content for Girl Up’s social media platforms;
- Advise on Girl Up’s partners and programs
To acknowledge the key role Teen Advisors have in the Girl Up movement as dedicated volunteers, Girl Up is committed to offering the following benefits and opportunities to those selected:
- An honorarium for leaders’ time and efforts;
- The opportunity to attend and/or speak at Girl Up, UN Foundation, or other events, identified as opportunities arise;
- A certificate and/or letter of recognition from Girl Up and the UN Foundation upon successful completion of a one-year term;
- The opportunity to receive direct mentorship from a Girl Up staff member;
- The opportunity to engage with diverse stakeholders, such as Girl Up leadership, school officials, global experts, funding partners, and more; and
In order to apply, candidates must meet all the following criteria:
- Must be between the ages of 13-17 at the start of their tenure
- Must currently be enrolled in high school/secondary school, and still attending high school/secondary school until at least May 2026
- Must identify as a girl, woman, or gender non-confirming youth
- Must be fluent and comfortable speaking English
- Must have participated in Girl Up programming in the past (for example: be involved in a club or local initiative, attend a WiSci camp or leadership summit, be part of our online community, etc).
What does the application include?
- Five short-answer questions (suggested limit: 50 words each)
- Three essay responses (suggested limit: 250 words each)
- A one-minute video (or a 100-word essay alternative if video recording isn’t an option)
As a proud Girl Up alum, I’m thrilled to share insights from my experience with the organization and program applications. Let’s dive into my tips to help you succeed!
SHORT ANSWERS
Please explain your involvement with Girl Up to date.
- If you have participated in a Girl Up Club, don’t forget to include the Club name and your title, and describe your responsibilities.
- If you have attended a Girl Up event or bootcamp, don’t forget to include its name and date of your participation.
- Mention your most relevant Club activities, quantifying achievements with numbers. This can include (but isn’t limited to) educational sessions, film screenings, fundraisers, awareness campaigns, service projects, and meetings with local decision makers, and events.
What are the top 1-3 areas of your life where you see yourself as a leader (e.g. sports discipline, school activity, community activity, family activity, etc.) and how do you show up as a leader?
- Identify Leadership Roles: Choose specific examples where you’ve taken on a leadership role (e.g., sports team captain, student council member, community volunteer, family responsibilities, cultural or faith-based leadership).
- Describe How You Lead: Provide concrete examples of your leadership actions (e.g., organizing events, mentoring peers, advocating for change). Highlight challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
- Showcase Leadership Impact: Share how your leadership benefited others or created change. Include measurable outcomes or achievements (e.g., “led a campaign that raised $2,000” or “mentored three younger students”).
What two personal values are most important to you and why?
- Choose the two values that are most important to you (e.g., honesty, empathy, perseverance, equality, etc).
- For each value, briefly describe why it’s important to you and how it guides your actions or decisions.
- Share specific moments or experiences where you demonstrated each value in your life. Show how these values have shaped who you are today.
- Connect your personal values to your leadership style or how they help you make an impact in your community or in other areas of your life.
What do you think is the strongest personal asset or technical skill you have as an advocate?
- Your personal asset or technical skill can include (but is not limited to) organizing, advocacy, fundraising, or storytelling.
- Provide a specific example of how you used this asset or skill to create meaningful change or make an impact.
- Highlight the outcomes of your efforts, such as increased awareness or funds raised.
Is there anything else you want to make sure we know about you as we review this application?
- This space is open for you to share anything else that you think is important for us to know about you.
- It is not mandatory to fill this section, however, if there is something important about you that you believe can’t be shown in the above questions- you can share it here!
ESSAYS
What is one specific social justice issue you are passionate about? What have you personally done to address it?
- Social justice issues are the ones linked to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.
- Share a personal story of when and why you advocated for an issue. Explain which issue it was, why it matters to you, and the actions you took.
- Describe the outcomes of your advocacy. For example, did you inspire others to take action or create tangible change in your community?
What is one goal – academic, personal, or otherwise – that you would like to achieve in 2025 and why?
- Choose any goal – big or small – as long as you explain why this goal is important to you and how it aligns with your values or aspirations.
- Share how you plan to work toward achieving it, including any specific actions or strategies you will take.
How would you describe your leadership style in one word? Tell us about a time when you demonstrated your leadership style.
- A good way to think about this question is to think of what your friends or peers would say (e.g., collaborative, supportive, visionary, etc).
- Share a specific example where you demonstrated this leadership style. Describe the situation, your actions, and how your leadership approach made an impact.
- Reflect on the outcomes and how your leadership style contributed to the success or learning from the experience.
VIDEO
What about your community (any way you define it, e.g. school, neighborhood, faith, culture, etc.) brings you the most joy and how has that influenced you?
- Describe what specifically brings you joy within that community (e.g., support, shared values, cultural events, or meaningful connections).
- Explain how this community has influenced you personally. Has it shaped your values, passions, or actions? Share a personal story or example that highlights this influence.
- Replay your video afterward to double-check the sound and video quality, as well as your delivery.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I have a deadline extension?
Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications we receive we are unable to offer application extensions. Please ensure you submit your application by January 26.
Is the application only available in English?
Yes, the application is only available in English.
What tips do you have for applicants?
Be your authentic self and aim to be both precise and concise. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself and please refrain from using answers generated from AI.
How will the application be evaluated?
Girl Up is looking for leaders who demonstrate:
- Commitment to global gender justice
- Leadership potential and a drive to make change
- Proven impact in their communities
- Ability to Innovate
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Do I need to be a member of the Girl Up community to apply?
Yes, you need to have some level of prior involvement with Girl Up to apply.
I am not a U.S Citizen or resident, can I still apply?
Girl Up welcomes citizens from every country to apply, however, please note Girl Up’s Award and Honorarium policy on the last page of the application.
I am experiencing technical difficulties with the application (e.g. I can’t log in to my application, etc.) How do I fix this?
For all technical questions and support please email awards@girlup.org and help@mykaleidoscope.com.
What if I have more questions?
Please email awards@girlup.org.
