YOUTH ACTIVIST SERIES

THE BODY SHOP X PLAN INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA YOUTH ACTIVIST SERIES

Since 2019, The Body Shop has proudly supported Plan International Australia’s Youth Activist Series, a leadership program supporting young people as they become future leaders and change-makers. Together, Plan International Australia: The charity for girls' equality, and The Body Shop will support the next generation of leaders and activists and provide a platform to campaign for the issues they care about. By putting young people at the centre, we’re amplifying their voices to create the change we need to see in the world. Youth are the leaders of today, and the future.

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY

From April 20th to October 2021, $5 from every purchase of The Body Shop’s Shea Nourishing Body Lotion will be donated to YAS to fund the 2021 program and empower young people who are campaigning for equality. The Body Shop’s Shea Nourishing Body Lotion is enriched with Community Trade shea butter from Ghana, handcrafted by women who have used shea butter to intensely nourish dry skin for generations.

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WHAT IS PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S YOUTH ACTIVIST SERIES?

The Youth Activist Series (YAS) is a leadership development program for young people of all genders and identities between the ages of 16 and 24. It’s an opportunity to develop valuable skills, forge lifelong friendships and channel their passion for gender justice campaigning, speaking truth to power to create change.

WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM?

Over the course of the program, the Youth Activists will receive intensive training in gender equality literacy, advocacy and government relations, media and public speaking, communications and content collection, so they can go out into the world and tackle inequality head on.

MEET THE 2021 YAS LEADERS

9 remarkable young Australians have been announced as the 2021 YAS leaders, an incredible group committed to creating long-lasting social change and fighting for equality, human rights and the environment.

OLIVIA (SHE/HER)

Olivia is from Sydney and is studying a Bachelor of Arts/Laws, majoring in Politics and International Relations. With a strong social conscience and through her experience with public speaking, debating, and YMCA NSW’s Youth Parliament, Olivia has learned to raise awareness for issues she believes require action.

JAZMIN (SHE/HER)

Born in rural Vietnam, with an upbringing between Singapore and Australia, Jazmin is currently studying Security. She is passionate about actively making a better future for her generation, and for generations to come. She wants to use this passion to create a more equitable world, from which everyone can benefit. Jazmin has an interest in foreign languages and cultures, and loves wearing turtlenecks.

SIENA (THEY/THEM)

Siena is a queer mental health advocate from regional NSW. Studying Game Design, they are passionate about improving representation in gaming and wider media. Siena believes a crucial component of achieving gender justice is developing a coordinated government response to address gender-based violence.

MARGARET (SHE/HER)

Margaret is a Greek-Australian artist and activist, who mainly works in theatre and film as a director, actor and writer. She is a proud intersectional feminist who is deeply passionate about telling stories that put women at the forefront. Margaret works in pursuit of genuinely feminist stories in her art, exploring controversial issues such as pornography, abortion rights and sexual harassment.

HARLEEN (SHE/HER)

Harleen, born in Melbourne, is 16 and currently in year 11 striving to empower youth to find their voice and speak out on things that matter. She has a passion to see and live in a more equitable world, where diversity is celebrated and cherished.

SANDHYA (SHE/HER)

Sandhya is a Malaysian-Australian student and proud advocate for gender justice. She envisages a world in which all young people are empowered to make informed decisions about their lives and our collective global future. Through her work with Plan International, she hopes to amplify youth voices and ethnically diverse perspectives in the movement for greater social equity.

KAYSHINI (SHE/HER)

Kayshini is a young IT professional, currently working in a leading Global Technology Consultancy Services firm. She is passionate about technological change and innovation. She also has a strong interest in gender empowerment in STEM careers.

BEATRICE (THEY/THEM)

Beatrice is a university student studying arts and science. They are interested in environmental science and sustainability, gender studies and Southeast Asian languages. As a non-binary person, Beatrice is passionate about deconstructing the gender binary and feels strongly about taking action to move towards a more equal and sustainable future globally.

ELIZABETH (SHE/HER)

Lizzie is currently studying environmental engineering, with a particular interest in resource allocation, waste management and environmental health. Coping with climate change brings many challenges and Lizzie shares the view that diverse voices and perspectives must be central in decision making, as solutions need to reflect who they represent.

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA

Put simply, Plan International Australia is the charity for girls’ equality. They tackle the root causes of poverty, support communities through crises, campaign for gender equality and help governments do what’s right for children and particularly for girls. They believe a better world is possible. An equal world; a world where all children can live happy and healthy lives and where girls can take their rightful place as equals.

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