New Global Citizens

At a time when girls’ rights face unprecedented challenges worldwide, a new generation of young leaders are rising to meet the moment. From Saskatchewan to Kenya, these remarkable women aren’t just speaking up – they’re taking action to ensure that every girl has access to education, health care, economic opportunities and protection from violence. They’re creating change and redefining what it means to be a global citizen in 2025.

What does it mean to be a global citizen?

A global citizen is someone who recognizes their connection to the world beyond national borders and takes responsibility for creating a more just, sustainable and inclusive society. They are someone who actively participates in creating positive change, whether through advocacy, volunteering or everyday choices.

A global citizen understands that their actions, no matter how small, contribute to a better world for all. They stay informed, embrace diversity and stand up for human rights and environmental responsibility.

What young women are up against

The statistics paint a sobering picture: With the United States significantly pulling out of international aid, funding for girls’ rights initiatives could face up to US$5 billion in cuts.

This means:
• 18 million more girls won’t be in school.
• 4.7 million more women won’t be able to find work to support themselves and their families.
• 4.2 million more people won’t have support to escape gender-based violence.

But numbers only tell part of the story. The real narrative lies in the determined young people who refuse to let these challenges deny girls and young women access to their fundamental rights to learn, earn a living and live free from fear.

Keep reading to meet five extraordinary participants from this year’s Girls Belong Here program, a Plan International Canada initiative that has empowered young women ages 14–24 to step into leadership roles and advocate for girls’ rights worldwide for the past nine years.

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When Yvonne arrived in Montreal in 2023 from the suburbs of Beirut to study international development, she didn’t just step into a new city; she stepped into a world of possibilities.

“My international-development studies course transformed my thinking,” she says. “It opened my eyes to global inequalities and made me reflect on my role as both a global citizen and a woman.”

Where she hopes to see the biggest impact:

“Women in Lebanon remain underrepresented in politics and decision making despite their significant contributions...Women’s rights must be fully integrated into national rebuilding efforts through improved representation and as key stakeholders in shaping the country’s future.”

What does an equal world for girls and women look like to Yvonne?

“A world where every girl is valued for her potential, intelligence and contributions, not reduced to her body or physical appearance. It is a world where girls become presidents, prime ministers and secretary generals, where gender-based violence and sexual harassment no longer exist.”

How Yvonne is working to make this vision a reality:

Yvonne applied to the Girls Belong Here program with a clear purpose: to share her perspective as a youth advocate for gender equality and socio-economic issues. This year, she’ll step into a seat share alongside Plan International Canada CEO Lindsay Glassco. Yvonne is looking to discuss Plan’s work in Lebanon and explore how female-first solutions come to life and how they create lasting change. She’s observed: “When women have the same economic power as men, they gain greater bargaining power and influence in household decisions. This not only promotes gender equality but also fosters an inclusive environment.”

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Leaving Afghanistan in 2021 was a turning point in Farishta’s life, one that left her with an undeniable weight: guilt. The guilt of being able to go to school while other Afghan girls couldn’t. The guilt of having opportunities that they were denied.

“Every day, I thought of my cousins, my friends, and every girl trapped in silence,” she shares. “That guilt became my fuel. I realized I couldn’t just move on – I had to speak up. In Canada, I learned what it means to have rights, and I knew I had to use my voice to fight for those still waiting for theirs.”

Where she hopes to see the biggest impact:

“By listening. By acting. By refusing to look away. Change begins when the world stops seeing girls as victims and starts seeing them as leaders. Support isn’t just sympathy – it’s action. Fund their education. Amplify their voices. Stand beside them, not just in words but in action.”

What does an equal world for girls and women look like to Farishta?

“A world where a girl isn’t told what she can’t do. A world where gender doesn’t limit her dreams. Where she doesn’t have to fight for her basic rights. A world where she walks freely, learns fearlessly and leads unapologetically. Equality isn’t a favour; it’s her right.”

How Farishta is working to make this vision a reality:

This year, Farishta will step into an innovation hub with Corus Entertainment through Girls Belong Here, joining forces with other passionate youth. An innovation hub is a focused discussion where six to eight youths are encouraged to share their perspectives as the next generation.

For Farishta’s innovation hub, the youth will bring their unique expertise and lived experiences to the table. “It’s about using our voices to shape the future in ways that matter,” Farishta tells us, eager to make an impact.

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Arany grew up hearing the haunting stories of her parents’ survival and escape from the war in Sri Lanka. But one story from her mother left the deepest mark: During the conflict, her mother’s education stopped. Society’s expectations cut off her potential, and by the age of 20, she was married.

Watching her mother navigate life without a formal education sparked something in Arany. It became her mission to fight for girls’ education, no matter the circumstances. “I couldn’t stand by and watch girls face the same fate,” Arany says, channeling her mother’s resilience into her own actions. Seeing her mother complete her GED (high school equivalency) also marked a small but important victory for Arany: The milestone showed that advocacy can have a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and it inspired Arany to continue working for meaningful change.

Where she hopes to see the biggest impact:

“Recognizing the Tamil genocide is essential for justice and addressing the unique struggles Tamil women faced during the conflict, including systemic violence and cultural barriers,” she explains. For Arany, recognition of the genocide is an important step in acknowledging that injustice occurred at a systemic level. This would then make space for marginalized voices and ensures accountability for what happened to them. “My mother’s experience, where war and societal norms denied her education, reflects these challenges... Together, these efforts support healing, justice and a more equitable future for women.”

What does an equal world for girls and women look like to Arany?

“It’s a world where girls are free from violence, discrimination and societal expectations that limit their choices. Equal representation in leadership, politics and decision-making spaces ensures their voices shape policies and communities.”

How Arany is working to make this vision a reality:

“I’m motivated not only by my mother’s struggles but also by the resilience I’ve witnessed in my community and around the world. I believe that when we empower girls and women, we transform entire communities. I’m committed to continuing this work, using my voice and platform to create tangible change, and to supporting others in their journey toward a more just and equitable world for all.”

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Mahdia was born and grew up in Afghanistan with her siblings. She found her voice and her strength through writing. “My words echo the pain and dreams of Afghan girls, offering a glimpse into the resilience we carry deep within, despite the weight of the world pushing us down.”

Where she hopes to see the biggest impact:

“When we fight for Afghan girls’ rights, we fight for all girls. A girl’s right to live, to hope and to choose her future transcends borders. The world cannot call itself free or just when so many girls – like those in Afghanistan – are silenced by oppression. Every victory for Afghan girls brings us closer to true equality for girls everywhere.”

What does an equal world for girls and women look like to Mahdia?

“An equal world is one where girls don’t need to fight for the right to exist, to breathe and to hope... A world where we are no longer seen as lesser, where our worth isn’t defined by the confines of society’s expectations.”

How Mahdia is working to make this vision a reality:

“Through my writing, I have witnessed the quiet yet powerful impact my words have on the hearts of young girls, igniting in them the belief that their voices matter. It is in these moments that I realize the true power of sharing our stories – it’s how we heal and empower each other to continue fighting.” Now, through Girls Belong Here, she’s determined to unlock new platforms and networks for her writing. As part of an innovation hub with the clothing retailer Aerie, she will be sharing her voice and experiences as an advocate for girls.

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Mehak grew up surrounded by unrealistic beauty standards, each one slowly chipping away at her sense of self. For years, she dealt with low self-esteem and body confidence as she worried about her appearance. These struggles led her to lose the sense of pride she’d once had in her identity, eventually feeling like she had lost a crucial part of herself. Over time, she came to see body confidence as a critical factor in helping girls develop the self-confidence they need to escape unsafe situations and reclaim their power.

Where she hopes to see the biggest impact:

“Navigating being a woman and understanding what menstrual and sexual health is important for girls on an individual level,” she says. Mehak sees this as an extension of helping women become more confident in their bodies at every stage and age and even learning to protect and advocate for themselves. Mehak feels “society views women as more ‘vulnerable’ due to these natural [cycles] and uses it as an excuse to put women down.”

“It’s so important to advance women’s rights by providing spaces where women from all demographics feel welcomed, safe and recognized,” she says.

What does an equal world for girls and women look like to Mehak?

“An equal world means women aren’t seen as problems to fix but are valued for their qualities and potential. This includes closing gaps in health care, education, and rights, not as a performative measure but for real impact. Hence, an equal world means everyone genuinely cares about women and wants to see them excel in every way possible.”

How Mehak is working to make this vision a reality:

Mehak works with SOCH Mental Health, and collaborated with women in her community to co-create Khula Aasman: The Sky is the Limit, a poetry collection amplifying South Asian women’s voices through the organization. She has also written her own children’s book, Tory and His Spiral of Worries, which promotes emotional awareness.