The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) is a year-long program run by the girl's rights organization Plan International USA in Washington DC. The YLA includes monthly remote engagement and a 4-day residential Academy at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Students learn about gender equality, the Sustainable Development Goals, hear from activists and mentors, and create a leadership project addressing a global issue they care about.
Do you want to become a change-maker in your community? Imagine designing and implementing a sustainable project that tackles the social justice issues you’re passionate about on a local and global scale! In this immersive year-long program, you’ll meet and learn from young activists, influencers and experts on how to make a difference in the most pressing issues in your community and the world. The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) will place you in a supportive, engaging environment where you’ll develop your personal leadership style, learn to advocate for policy change, build knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and issues around gender inequality, and become an expert in designing and implementing social justice projects. At the YLA, you’ll make lifelong friends and become a part of Plan’s national network of young leaders who are advancing gender equality and elevating young voices. By the end of the program, you’ll have implemented an impactful project that engages your peers and makes a difference in your community, with the support of a mentor from Plan’s Youth Advisory Board. Location: Remote/Washington, D.C. Program dates: June 2022- June 2023 Residential academy: July 18-21, 2022, in Washington D.C. (location TBD) Program benefits: - Learn how to advocate for yourself and the social justice issues you care about. - Gain expertise in designing and implementing young people-led projects. - Unpack and understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and gender inequality. - Develop your personal leadership style. - Build a network of likeminded young leaders.
