The Plan Youth Leadership Academy is a yearlong program designed to help young activists take their leadership to the next level.
Are you a change-maker in your community?
Plan USA’s Youth Leadership Academy will give you the tools you need to create the change you want.
Here at Plan International USA, we believe that young people are today’s leaders. Our Youth Leadership Academy is a yearlong program focused on providing global leadership and advocacy tools to young activists through training and mentorship.
Through this hybrid program, you’ll participate in a weeklong in-person intensive training in Washington, D.C. Afterward, you’ll work with your cohort, mentors and Plan staff on a monthly basis virtually as you design and implement a project in your own community associated with one of the sustainable development goals.
What will I learn?
We’ve trained over 500 young leaders in the last 15+ years. Here’s what some of them had to say about how the YLA experience shaped them.
Meet the mentors
As a part of your community project, you’ll be mentored by one of the members of Plan’s Youth Advisory Board. Take a moment to get to know them!
Your leadership project
As part of Plan’s YLA program, you’ll design and implement your own project to address the social justice issue of your choice. Here are a few examples of what past participants have done.
After the YLA
After the yearlong YLA experience, you’ll join a network of 500+ alums and stay connected to opportunities from Plan. Wondering what recent alums are doing now?
Participating in Plan’s Youth Leadership Academy was the single greatest catalyst I had for my political and community involvement. Before this, I was aware of social issues and strongly believed in advocating for change, but wasn’t doing so myself. Through the work I did on my leadership development project, I began working with multiple climate organizations and getting involved with politics.
What alums are saying
about the YLA
- 89%
- felt they have the ability to motivate others thanks to what they learned.
- 90%
- learned practical and useful skills that they still use today.
- 93%
- strongly believe that young people have a role to play in changing social norms.
About us
Plan International USA is a girls’ rights organization. Powered by supporters, we partner with adolescent girls and their communities around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety.
Youth Leadership Academy FAQs
Do I need any previous experience in activism to join the YLA?
No! As long as you have an interest in becoming a change-maker in your community, and can make the commitment, the YLA will give you all the tools you need. The YLA will build your knowledge of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and gender equality issues and will lead you through the process of creating your own project related to one of these goals.
Who leads the sessions and workshops throughout the year?
Who participates in the YLA?
How does financial aid work?
What does the $500 program fee fund?
What is the application process like?
What does the schedule look like for the residential Academy in Washington?
