Youth Advocacy Network

WHO WE ARE

Amplifying young voices where it matters most

The World Vision UK Youth Advocacy Network (YAN) unites young people from the UK and around the world to share their experiences and influence decision-making.

The network engages with UK policymakers, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Members of Parliament, to promote child-focused policies that prioritise youth voices. Members also work closely with World Vision UK's leadership and teams, co-creating initiatives, advising on campaigns, representing youth at events, and leading youth-led activities to ensure children remain central to World Vision UK's work.

WHAT WE DO

Our role within World Vision UK

1

Co-create and influence

Bringing young people's views into impactful initiatives and strategic decisions at World Vision UK.

2

Youth ambassadors

Representing the network at donor, supporter, and government events, putting real stories to global issues.

3

Accountability mechanism

Serving as a check on WVUK's work to ensure children remain at the heart of everything we do.

4

Youth-led action

Designing and driving innovative activities, from grassroots campaigns to formal policy submissions.

WHAT WE CAMPAIGN FOR

Our advocacy priorities

From discussions across the network, YAN members are focused on six interconnected issues that affect millions of children worldwide.

Child rights and protection

Every child deserves safety, dignity, and the right to participate in decisions that shape their life. We push UK policymakers to embed child rights in every international development policy.

Food systems and nutrition

Child hunger and malnutrition are political failures, not inevitable realities. We work alongside government actors to drive food systems reform that centres children's needs, and soon we will be starting our own research project.

Gender equality

We amplify girls' and young women's voices, challenge gender-blind policy, and advocate for equality at every level, including on FGM, menstrual health, and ending child marriage.

Disability and inclusion

Every child, regardless of ability, deserves access to education, opportunity, and a voice in decisions that shape their future. We advocate for inclusive policies that leave no child behind.

Artificial intelligence

As AI reshapes the world, young people must have a say in how it is developed and governed. We ensure children's rights are central to conversations about technology, data, and the digital future.

Child participation

Children and young people have the right to be heard in all matters that affect them. We champion meaningful participation in policy and decision-making, from local communities to international institutions.

The Youth Advocacy Network is where young voices, ideas and experiences come together to influence the decisions shaping our future for everyone.

Williams

Youth Advocacy Network member

THE NETWORK

Meet the changemakers

The World Vision UK Youth Advocacy Network was created to platform and amplify the voices of young people around the world. By bringing together young people from different contexts, both from the UK and beyond, we provide opportunities for members to share their experiences, needs, and solutions with key decision-makers in the UK, and with World Vision UK internally.

From parliaments to communities, our members are changemakers. Meet the network.

^{*All images edited by Mayomikun, YAN Member.}

Abu Bakarr

Sierra Leone

Gender Equality

Passionate about climate change and gender equality. Former President of the Children’s Forum Network, Koinadugu District, and Founder & Executive Director of Youth Actions for Environmental Conservation and Climate

Anna

Uganda

Nutrition Advocate

Passionate about youth nutrition and early childhood development. National Youth Coordinator for the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network Uganda, contributing to national nutrition policy and representing Uganda at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris.

Cornelius

Niger

Child Protection

Passionate about child rights and ending early marriage. Organises meetings so children can speak up about issues affecting their wellbeing.

Dola

USA (Bangladesh)

Ending Child Marriage

Passionate about ending child marriage and gender justice. Helped stop over 700 child marriages; has spoken at the White House and UN Geneva.

Isatu

Sierra Leone

FGM & Girls' Empowerment

Passionate about ending FGM and empowering girls. President of the Children's Forum Network, Falaba District.

Jess

UK

Human Rights

Passionate about human rights, global inequalities and tackling public sexual harassment. Developing an initiative called UncalledFor to address public sexual harassment and engaging with MPs across Manchester to raise concerns about public safety for young girls in local areas.

Mara

Romania

Youth Participation

Passionate about youth participation and digital advocacy. Contributed to Romania's first Law on Children's Participation, 2024.

Maria

Bangladesh

Child Rights Advocate

Passionate about child rights, climate action and social justice. Represents nearly 150,000 children in Bangladesh, has reached over 100,000 people through awareness initiatives, helped stop 30 child marriages, and supported 46 students in returning to school.

Măriuca

Romania

YAN Member

Bio coming soon.

Mayomikun

UK

Comms & Campaigns

Passionate about AI, educational equity, and girls' empowerment. Delivers creative campaigns with industry and government partners.

Monika

Bangladesh

Girls' Rights

Passionate about girls' rights and menstrual health. Helped stop 16 child marriages and trained 3,000+ adolescents on menstrual hygiene.

Nishli

UK (from Sri Lanka, living in Scotland)

Gender & Wealth Equality

Passionate about gender and wealth equality and speaking up on conflict, war and genocide. New to activism, having turned 16 this year, with more opportunities to get involved now opening up.

Peter

Kenya

Youth Advocate

Passionate about youth empowerment, social accountability and ending FGM.

Rahul

Nepal

Inclusion & Arts

Passionate about art as advocacy and disability inclusion. His artwork inspires children to pursue their dreams despite challenges.

Williams

Sierra Leone

Child Protection

Passionate about child protection and community advocacy. Addressed the Global Partnerships Conference and met the UK Deputy PM.

Are you ready to make noise?

If you're aged 15-24 and want to channel your experiences into real policy change, at the UK government and beyond, YAN is for you. No experience necessary. Just your story and your drive.

To join the Youth Advocacy Network please fill this application form.

Fill the form here

WHAT IS GOING ON

Current and upcoming projects

Food Systems Research Programme

YAN members from different countries are conducting participatory research into food systems reform, exploring how policy failures drive child hunger and what real solutions look like.

Running May 2026 to January 2027, young people are receiving dedicated training and support to develop their own original research.

Follow us in this journey. The answers are coming!

Global Partnerships Conference 2026

YAN member Williams addressed the closing plenary at the Global Partnerships Conference (May 2026) and joined a ministerial roundtable with the UK Deputy Prime Minister, making the case for child-sensitive, youth-informed development policy at the highest level.

Watch his closing plenary speech here.

10-Point Plan for Change

World Vision contributed to the co-creation of the 10 Point Plan for Change, a landmark document developed with young people and civil society organisations calling on world leaders to put children and youth at the centre of global decision-making.

Read the 10-Point Plan here.

FCDO Youth Advisory Mechanisms and Care Reform Taskforce

YAN members have participated in FCDO youth advisory mechanisms including the Global Campaign on Children's Care Reform Taskforce, contributing young people's perspectives to the UK government's work on care reform and child protection at an international level.

Learn about the campaign here.

OUR HISTORY

What we have been up to

Since 2023, YAN members have been at the centre of some of World Vision UK's most significant advocacy moments, from Downing Street to Parliament and beyond.

MAY 2023

It Takes a World Changemakers Campaign Week

Young people met with MPs and FCDO representatives and delivered a Call to Action at 10 Downing Street, making the case for an end to violence against children.

JUNE 2023

Annual Intergenerational Dialogue with World Vision UK Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership

Young people called on World Vision UK leaders to strengthen child participation in decision making, advocacy, and engagement with donors and supporters, directly shaping the organisation's direction.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Creation of the Youth Advocacy Network

YAN was formally established as a direct response to young people's recommendations from the intergenerational dialogue, creating a permanent platform for youth engagement with World Vision UK leadership and the UK government.

NOVEMBER 2023

World Children's Day Social Media Takeover

YAN members took over World Vision UK's social media channels for the day, sharing their stories and perspectives directly with World Vision UK's global audience.

NOVEMBER 2023

Call to Action at the Global Food Security Summit

The network collectively produced a Call to Action presented to high-level decision-makers at the UK Government-hosted Global Food Security Summit.

MARCH 2024

First Ever Youth Participation in World Vision UK Recruitment

Abu Bakarr and Williams joined the interview panel for the recruitment of World Vision UK's Child Participation Advisor, marking a historic first for the organisation.

JUNE 2024

World Refugee Day Event with Sanctuary Foundation

A young advocate from South Sudan who fled to Uganda spoke as a panellist at the World Refugee Day event, broadcast to over 200 schools across the UK.

THE NETWORK IN ACTION

Gallery

A glimpse into the work, events, and moments that make up the Youth Advocacy Network. Images coming soon.

Dola speaking at the Strong World at the HER VOICE. HER FUTURE. — Dola speaking at HER VOICE. HER FUTURE.

Monika attend the Youth-Led Plastic Waste Management Seminar as the Special Guest, organized by World Vision Bangladesh in Dhaka on 30 June 2025.

In 2023, Abubakarr represented young people from Sierra Leone at the inaugural African Climate Summit in Nairobi, joining youth voices from across Africa to advocate for climate action.

Williams Closing Plenary speech at the Global Partnerships Conference 2026

Rahul's artwork highlights youth participation in the Youth Advocacy Network UK, divided into four sections representing climate change, social media, child rights, and child protection.

Cornelius recording content for the ENOUGH campaign, 2024 (World Vision's campaign for nutritious food for every child.)

Peter represent Migori County at the Kenya Budget Circle, contributing to public participation in shaping the country’s budget priorities.

Support the Youth Advocacy Network

Behind every young advocate is the funding that makes their voice possible. Your support keeps YAN running, from research and training to getting members into the rooms where decisions are made.

Donate