Girl Up

Girl Up USA’s introduction of youth-led long-form content, through LeadHER Voices, aims to amplify our mission of educating and empowering girls across the United States. By providing a platform for youth to share their passions and explore topics they care about, we create opportunities for them to educate others while deepening their understanding. This initiative will expand our reach, foster informed and meaningful discussions, and strengthen alignment with Girl Up’s values and goals.

PHOTO SOURCE: “By age 15, she’d hosted a Netflix series and launched #1000BlackGirl Books. Now she’s a Harvard freshman.” by Lauren Daley (Boston Globe) October 4th, 2022

The Florida Senate Floor buzzed with urgency—senators rushing between conversations, finalizing policy decisions before the session began. Yet, despite the chaos, they took the time to speak with the Senate Pages.

“Your bill could have a real impact if it were implemented in real life.”

I never expected to hear those words as I advocated for expanding Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs through my bill in the Florida Senate Page Program. But that moment made something clear: change doesn’t wait for you to stop being afraid. With social media as our megaphone and passion as our fuel, youth leaders can steer the world towards change. Across the world, young women are leading movements for climate justice, gender equality, and more, proving that advocacy isn’t just for adults. We’ve grown up knowing our voices matter—but how do we turn that belief into real impact?

What started as a lone protest outside the Swedish Parliament turned into a global movement. Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future strikes have mobilized millions, forcing world leaders to face the climate crisis head-on. Over 14 million people from 7,200 cities have joined the movement, proving that young voices can hold power accountable. Despite criticism from politicians and media figures, she doesn’t back down, showing us that speaking truth to power doesn’t need permission—it demands persistence.

Some of the most influential movements in recent history have been spearheaded by young women who have refused to stay silent. They didn’t wait for permission or perfect plans; they dove headfirst into change. Their stories remind us that persistence, strategy, and conviction can turn passion into progress. While we often recognize names when talking about advocacy, we don’t always stop to remember the fact that they were just kids when their stories began. Their age isn’t what stands out; rather it’s their determination and courage that sparks change and leaves a legacy.

Many of us can think of a teacher who changed our lives forever. For me, my middle school English teacher was that person who proudly supported her students’ ambitions. She would center her class around educating us about the stories of brilliant young minds. This was my first real exposure to the stories of people like Malala Yousafzai and Marley Dias, young women who were fiercely devoted to making a change. Malala’s fight for girls’ education started when she defied the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education in Pakistan and survived an assassination attempt at 15. As the youngest Nobel laureate, she didn’t stop at recognition—through the Malala Fund, she’s helped over 10 million girls stay in school. She hasn’t stopped there, continuing to champion for gender equality, youth engagement, and climate action worldwide, reminding us that education is the foundation of every movement. Building on the importance of education at just 11, Marley looked at her school reading list and saw a glaring problem: none of the books featured Black female protagonists. Instead of waiting for change, she created it. Her #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign has collected over 13,000 books to date, sparking conversations about diversity in literature (Marley Dias). Now a published author and the youngest editor at ELLE magazine, Marley proves that young people don’t just read stories– they change them. The projects we would work on in class would instill that sense of determination in me. Yes, spending hours piecing together speech clips was frustrating, but seeing the final product made it all worth it. The result of my hours of work was a video clip that not only encompassed a bright young woman’s journey but also my new-found passion for advocacy. These women inspired me, and truly exemplify youth activism and its importance.

PHOTO SOURCE: “Malala Yousafzai” (United Nations) 2022

These young women prove that activism isn’t about age—it’s about impact. When Amanda Gorman stood at the U.S. Capitol and delivered The Hill We Climb, she didn’t just read a poem—she started a movement. As the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, her words on unity, justice, and hope resonated across generations. Her advocacy doesn’t stop at poetry though. Through her work, she highlights racial injustice, fights for literacy, and empowers young women to find their voices—because sometimes, the most powerful tool for change is a well-crafted verse. Young women like Amanda or me (or even you!) never waited to have a perfect plan or steps to action to start, it was all about getting to work to create change. Their stories remind us of the importance of voicing our opinions and beliefs, even when the odds seem impossible. After all, if they can do it, why can’t we?

Youth activism is at the heart of Girl Up because change happens when young people take action and responsibility. We empower young changemakers by providing the tools, resources, and global community needed to turn passion into progress. When we make a move, governments and corporations listen. When we take action, we create impacts that last for generations. And when we support each other, we build an unstoppable movement. Youth-led movements have proven time and again that our voices are powerful. As a Girl Up leader, I aim to spread the sense of determination and support of the community that I gained from my teacher to other young women. Thanks to my teacher, I will forever cherish the smiles I see from elementary school students or the gratitude from women in shelters as I actively strive to improve my communities.The thought that activism is reserved for a select few is outdated. The idea that activism needs to be big and large sweeping and done by bigger players is ancient. Tackling plastic pollution might seem like a job for scientists and policymakers, but Alex Gordon is proving otherwise. As a leader in the Break Free From Plastic movement, she’s rallying young people to clean up their communities, push for corporate accountability, and advocate for sustainable policies. She proves activism isn’t just about small actions; part of it is demanding change and holding those bigger players accountable.Whether it’s through lobbying for change, educating friends, or helping provide a platform for groups that have been on the sidelines for far too long, all young people, especially those in our generation, have the power to shape the future. Youth advocacy has three key aspects that let us have an impact. We’re one of the largest voting and consumer groups. When we mobilize, industries and governments are forced to listen. Our social media presence is huge, with over 75% of Gen Z voters being considered digitally connected (Change

Research). This gives us an accessible and influential platform for us to advocate. As we start our journey today, we plant the seeds for the societal change that will follow as we grow.

A 2022 Pew Research Center study found that 67% of Gen Z believe they have a responsibility to speak out against injustices, showing the desire for change is strong. Now, it’s about turning that passion that we all share into action. Not sure where to begin? Here’s how you can make an impact:

Find Your Cause – Whether it’s gender equality, climate justice, or mental health advocacy, choose an issue you’re passionate about. You don’t necessarily need to commit to one issue only, but make sure you strongly believe in change in the area you choose to focus on.
Educate Yourself & Others – Stay informed through books, documentaries, and reputable sources. Use social media to spread awareness to friends and mobilize support. Keep following news sources for updates.
Join or Start an Organization – Groups like Girl Up along with local advocacy networks provide platforms for collective action. You can find more information by going to their websites to see how to join the organization or start a chapter.
Engage with Policy – Attend town halls, email representatives, or participate in peaceful protests to push for legislative change. If you want to take it a step further, you can get involved in more targeted forms of lobbying as well.
Support & Amplify Voices – Not everyone feels comfortable leading movements, but every action counts— whether it’s donating, signing petitions, or uplifting marginalized voices. That’s still a way to contribute to a cause!

Young leaders aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow– we’re also the changemakers of today. Every movement that has sparked change started with someone’s passion for an issue. They dared to speak up, to challenge injustice, to demand better for all of us. Our voices hold power, our actions create momentum, and our collective resilience fuels progress. Whether you’re leading protests, writing policy proposals, or simply amplifying a cause that matters, your voice belongs in the conversation. Change isn’t waiting for permission, and neither should we.