Youth Advisory Council

Muzhda

Muzhda is a girls’ education advocate and the founder of CodeGreenAfg, an initiative expanding access to education, digital skills, and learning opportunities for Afghan girls and young people. After the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the closure of secondary schools for girls, Muzhda turned to online learning and coding, transforming her own experience into action for others. Through CodeGreenAfg, she has supported girls through educational programming, digital literacy initiatives, and the distribution of learning resources, while advocating for the right to education. Muzhda has represented the voices of Afghan girls in international and Canadian spaces, including the United Nations and Parliament of Canada. A recipient of The Diana Award, she is currently pursuing undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto while continuing her advocacy for education, gender equality, and youth leadership.

Norah

Norah believes education is a catalyst for change and that young people must play a meaningful role in shaping a more just and equitable world. A final-year B.Ed. student at McGill University, she is passionate about girls’ rights, global affairs, public policy, and expanding opportunities for children and young people facing inequality. As a UN Youth Delegate and NGO Representative with McGill’s Youth Advisory Delegation, she helps elevate youth perspectives in international conversations and advocates for greater inclusion in decision-making spaces.

Norah also serves as President of the Journalists for Human Rights McGill Chapter, where she works to amplify human rights issues and foster informed dialogue. She is the founder of SYNC, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to AI and technology education for underserved youth. Her experience also includes internships with Al Jazeera and diplomatic missions. A Plan International Canada Girls Belong Here alumna, Norah is committed to advancing girls’ leadership, education, and participation on a global scale. As a third-culture kid who speaks English, French, Arabic, and Spanish, she brings a cross-cultural perspective to her advocacy and a deep belief in the power of youth-led change.

Kaia

Kaia is a proud Métis woman from Saskatchewan and a passionate advocate for girls’ rights, Indigenous representation, and youth leadership. A third-year Honours Psychology student at the University of Saskatchewan, she is committed to advancing gender equality, mental health, and equitable systems through youth-led advocacy and action. As a Plan International Canada Girls Belong Here alum and Alumni Champion, Kaia has contributed to initiatives focused on climate action, mental health, and girls’ empowerment, including co-editing Plan’s 2025 newsletter exploring the connection between climate change and youth mental health.

As Provincial Chair of Young Politicians of Canada–Saskatchewan, Kaia develops policy recommendations, collaborates with government leaders, and works to strengthen youth participation in civic and decision-making spaces. She has also partnered with Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association to support Indigenous community well-being and culturally responsive programming. Through her leadership and advocacy, Kaia is dedicated to creating a future where girls, Indigenous youth, and young people across Canada have the opportunities, representation, and support they need to thrive and lead change.

Shreya

Shreya is a youth advocate, entrepreneur, and passionate champion for girls’ rights and global youth leadership. She is committed to creating a future where girls and young people have the knowledge, opportunities, and confidence to shape their own futures and drive meaningful change in their communities and around the world. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business, Climate, and Sustainability at Duke University, bringing a global perspective to her work at the intersection of youth engagement, sustainability, and social impact.

As a Youth Ambassador for Plan International Canada and participant in the Girls Belong Here program, Shreya has helped amplify the voices of girls and young people through advocacy, storytelling, public engagement, and awareness initiatives. She currently serves as a Youth Public Engagement Champion with CARE Canada, helping elevate youth voices on sexual and reproductive health and rights. As the founder of Planted, a youth-led platform connecting young people with opportunities for social impact, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation of changemakers. Through her leadership and advocacy, Shreya works to advance a world where girls everywhere can learn, lead, influence decisions, and reach their full potential.

Malika

Malika Inspired by Plan International Canada’s mission to advance children’s rights and girls’ equality, Malika believes meaningful change happens when young people are empowered to lead locally and globally. As a member of Plan International Canada’s Youth Council, she is eager to leverage her background in public policy and corporate affairs to advocate for girls’ rights, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and help create a more just and inclusive future. Proudly bilingual in English and French, Malika brings a collaborative, global perspective to her advocacy, leadership, and commitment to advancing opportunities for girls around the world.

Dabria

Dabria is a second-year Health Sciences student at McMaster University and a passionate advocate for girls' rights, gender equality, and meaningful youth participation. As a leader of Girl Up McMaster, she leads initiatives that empower girls and young women, amplify youth voices, and advance awareness of the barriers that continue to impact girls' opportunities and well-being. Her commitment to creating a more equitable world is rooted in both local and global perspectives on health, education, and human rights.

Dabria's leadership journey includes serving as the elected President of the York Secondary Catholic Presidents' Council, where she represented more than 53,000 students across 17 secondary schools. Through her work in health research and engagement with children and families, she has developed a strong understanding of the systemic challenges that affect young people and the importance of ensuring girls are heard, valued, and included in decisions that shape their futures. Fluent in English and French, Dabria is committed to helping build a world where every girl can thrive, lead, and reach her full potential.

Yvonne

Yvonne is a youth advocate, policy researcher, and global leader committed to advancing girls’ rights and creating opportunities for young people to shape a more equitable world. Originally from Lebanon, she brings lived experience from crisis-affected contexts and a deep understanding of the challenges facing girls and communities around the globe. She is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Global Affairs and Public Affairs at the University of Toronto and Columbia University, specializing in International Finance and Economic Policies, with a focus on advancing inclusive and sustainable development.

Yvonne has championed girls’ leadership and meaningful youth engagement on the global stage, representing youth at forums including the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Financing for Development Conference. She has contributed to initiatives with organizations such as the Malala Fund and Plan International Canada, helping elevate the voices and priorities of girls and young people. Alongside her advocacy and humanitarian work, she co-founded the Hawa Initiative to expand educational opportunities for children in Lebanon. Through her work, Yvonne is committed to advancing girls’ rights, strengthening youth leadership, and researching ways to design better policies.

Maryam

Maryam is an accomplished student leader with a proven track record of high standing in academics, sports and music. Maryam is a proud youth member of the New York Academy of Sciences, where she focuses on STEM-related challenges. She has won multiple public speaking contests on topics including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and fast fashion (the journey of a T-shirt made in Bangladesh). At ten years old, Maryam was chosen as a TEDx speaker, where she spoke about closing the gender wage gap in Canada. Maryam is a competitive swimmer and has represented her swim club at provincial-level championships.

Alisha

Alisha is an incoming second-year student at McMaster University, studying health sciences with a specialization in child health. She is passionate about children’s education and supporting equity in children’s health care. She loves working with children and looks forward to participating in children’s rehabilitation and equity research. Alisha is a part of Islamic Relief McMaster and McMaster’s Model United Nations club, which have fostered her interest in international human rights and global health issues. She believes strongly in young people’s voices and agency and is constantly inspired by those around her and their passion to improve their community. Alisha is excited to use her education and experience in STEM and her passion for improving children’s well-being as a youth council member.

Thomas

Thomas is entering his fourth year at the University of Calgary. He is pursuing his Bachelor of Social Work with minors in Global Development and Gender and Sexuality Studies, alongside a certificate in Pluralism and Global Citizenship. Thomas is incredibly passionate about global issues, particularly those at the intersection of gender, sexuality and migration. This is reflected in his current role as the Co-President of the University of Calgary’s Global Development Society. He’s involved in various research projects on LGBTQ+ migrant safety, integration barriers for refugee youth and COVID-19’s effect on international students. He remains steadfast in his commitment to a lifelong journey of learning and eagerly anticipates further immersion in meaningful advocacy endeavours.

Emmaline

Emmaline is entering her third year in high school with a track record of high standings in academics, volunteering, and leadership. She is a proud fellow of Pineapple Labs, a Gen Z networking app. She is the founder of The Evermore Society, an organization focused on promoting the creativity of young people and their activism work. With a passion for advocacy and leadership from a young age, Emmaline has led many climate change and community-building activities, developing a niche for gender equality vs. equity. As a girl wanting to pursue mechanics, she hopes to promote the unclaimed opportunities for girls in STEM. She’s attended two leadership conferences the Global Student Leadership Summit and the Ontario Student Leadership conference and hopes to continue to find and create spaces to connect with likeminded changemakers.

Donald

Donald is a proud member of the Mi’kmaq Nation in the unceded territories of Mi’kma’ki, on the East Coast of Canada/Turtle Island. He is from the community of Membertou, where he sits on the Youth Chief and Council. Their goal is to amplify young people’s voices while developing leadership skills and qualities. Donald has participated in various STEM camps and activities focused on a “two-eyed seeing” approach. This approach combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with European/Western methods of scientific collection. A strong humanitarian and proponent of traditional Indigenous knowledge, Treaty Rights and culture, Donald has begun to examine “two-eyed seeing” as a way of relating to the world. He’s examining the role of men and boys in relation to gender equality and upholding the rights of women, girls and non-binary folks, especially regarding violence and prevention. Through discussions with an esteemed Elder, he recognizes the need to provide support and services to young people who have struggled to stay in school due to the effects of intergenerational trauma.

Muskaan

Muskaan has always been eager to give back to the community while building relationships and connections rooted in empathy. Her research and advocacy focus on accelerating gender equality through an intersectional approach. Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how social identities intersect and interact, shaping how one experiences discrimination and oppression. It’s a tool to ensure no group is left behind when working toward justice, inclusivity and equality. She is a youth advisor for Plan International Canada’s Power Within program and facilitates the Confident Me workshop, speaking to young people about body confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, she co-founded an online student-led platform, Tell Me About It, dedicated to taking action by providing a forum for women and activists of all genders to discuss their experiences and share their stories by listening, learning, connecting and sharing.

Adrienne

Adrienne served on the Youth Council from 2021 to 2023. She completed her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Commerce at the University of British Columbia. Her daily work combines her passions for digital communications, international affairs and youth engagement. She has experience working on issues such as gender equality, multiculturalism and access to justice with government, academic institutions and non-profit organizations. Some of her work includes leading communications at the Justice Education Society, being appointed Honorary Reporter for the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver and serving on the One Girl Can Society board, advancing girls’ education in Kenya. She wrote a series of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) feature interviews for the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation. She was honoured to serve as a youth delegate at the UN High-Level Political Forum and the Commission on the Status of Women.

Breanne

Breanne was on the Youth Council from 2014 to 2018. She is a Michif/German woman from Red River and Treaty 1 Territory. Her Michif family is from the Métis community of St. Ambroise, Manitoba, located on the southeastern tip of Lake Manitoba. Her German family settled in Beausejour, Manitoba, on Treaty 1 Territory. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor from McGill University. She is currently the Executive Director of Festival du Voyageur, the largest winter festival of francophone and Indigenous culture in Western Canada. In her community, Breanne is committed to decolonizing understandings of law and governance through the active embodiment of Métis sovereignty. She is a proud member of Red River Echoes, a collective of Métis people across their homeland who are reclaiming culture, laws and languages through land back and abolition. Breanne enjoys writing, spending time with the land and water and laughing with friends and family.

Christina

Christina was member of Plan International Canada’s Youth Advisory Council from 2015 to 2020. During this time, she advised on the organization’s global youth advocacy strategy. She was involved in designing and implementing multi-year initiatives, including Girls Belong Here and Youth for Gender Equality, Canada’s first youth-led UN SDG implementation plan. Christina was a youth delegate at the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and has been a member of UN youth working groups on economic empowerment and gender equality. She works in strategy and operations in financial services and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta.

Austin

Austin was on the Youth Council from 2016 to 2019. He is from Salisbury, NB and is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s Renaissance College Faculty for Interdisciplinary Leadership. He is currently the first Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Salisbury. Austin has worked for the City of Moncton as the Manager of Strategic Communications and as the Executive Assistant for a Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and la Francophonie. He completed his undergraduate degree as a Lord Beaverbrook Scholar, graduated with the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal for Academic Excellence and was inducted into the Sir Howard Douglas Society. His volunteer work has brought him around the country and the world. He served as Chair of Plan International Canada’s Youth Advisory Council and President of a provincial not-for-profit. He completed an internship at the Deshpande Foundation in Hubli, India. Austin is passionate about local governance and travelling and was a minor hockey official for over ten years.