Bold, Brilliant and Rising: Two Young Leaders in Conversation

Zainab: Hi Lara, I’m so glad to finally meet you! I’ve read your articles and was so inspired. I’d love to know more about you, where you’re from, what you’re doing now.

Lara: Thank you! It’s inspiring to meet you too. I’m based in North Texas and have been involved with She’s the First for about four years. My activism focuses on education as a fundamental human right. I know you work in climate policy, which is amazing. Tell me more!

Zainab: I’m based in Delhi, India. I started as a climate advocate in the justice space, then moved into policy consulting, especially at the intersection of climate and gender, which is close to my heart.

Lara: That’s incredible. I don’t know many climate consultants this young!

Zainab:. Lots of young people volunteer in these spaces, but it’s rare to make it a full-time job. I’m grateful I get to, and I want other girls to know it’s possible.

Lara: I get that. Sometimes I’ll be on Capitol Hill lobbying for education and still feel no different from my classmates. Often it’s just about getting the opportunity.

Zainab: Okay, quick-fire questions! First, what’s your comfort food?

Lara: Easy! Pão de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread. Warm, chewy, perfect. My parents sometimes make it while I’m studying. You?

Zainab: Dal and rice. Protein-packed, not too spicy, pure comfort.

Zainab: Dream travel spot?

Lara: Japan. I want to see the cherry blossoms in spring, and I’m obsessed with stationery. I’d be in big trouble in a Hello Kitty store.

Zainab: Same! I’d love a Japan layover just to shop for stationery. But my real dream is Istanbul. 

Zainab: What’s one thing you’d do if you were a world leader for a day?

Lara: I’d make education a guaranteed human right everywhere.

Zainab: I’d set up a global wealth redistribution system so developing countries have the resources they need.

Lara: You’ve already accomplished so much at a young age. What’s a project you’re really proud of?

Zainab: My work often starts with digging into complex climate policies to make them understandable. I love bringing creativity and storytelling into these formal spaces so more people can engage. I’ve found that once people see how they connect to these issues, they care, and that’s when real change starts. For me, “justice” means different things to

different people, and we should celebrate that. What’s worse is when people have no opinion at all. I want to help young people reflect, define justice for themselves, and bring those ideas into the conversation.

I’d love to hear more about your work with She’s the First and what it’s been like so far.

Lara: Most of my activism has been through our She’s the First chapter at Plano Senior High. We’ve organized period product drives, donated to local domestic abuse shelters, and hosted events like “Why Feminism Matters,” where students wrote their personal reflections. 

We also host monthly meetings on current events - everything from gender violence to female genital mutilation. And earlier this year, I got to take my advocacy to Capitol Hill to lobby for international basic education and foreign assistance for children. It was part of a partnership with the Global Campaign for Education, a coalition of organizations fighting for equitable education. Beforehand, we researched policies, tailored our pitches, and practiced. On the day, I met with representatives and senators alongside other youth advocates like Helena Donato-Sapp and Divine Erzico.

My pitch was for them to join the Basic Education Caucus. Helena spoke about funding for international basic education, and Divine talked about foreign assistance for children. The best part was hearing everyone share their personal stories, like Divine’s experience growing up in a refugee camp during the Rwandan genocide and advocating for disability justice, or my own family history.

My grandfather grew up in poverty in Brazil, raised by a single mother, and was the first in our family to get a degree. That opportunity changed everything for the generations after him, including me. Connecting those lived experiences to policy showed just how personal these issues really are.

Zainab: Wow, I relate to your story so much. My mother was the first in her extended family to earn a degree. I think about that a lot. If she hadn’t, her perspective and the way she raised me might have been completely different. Her education gave her the confidence to support me in ways other parents in my community might not have.

Even now, many people around me don’t understand what I do, or what climate policy even means. But that confidence she passed down has shaped my work. I can’t imagine how much harder it would have been if I’d been the first to graduate.

Lara: It’s amazing how much one degree can change a family’s trajectory. I’m so glad your parents could pass that confidence on to you. It really shows.

Zainab: Thank you! That means a lot. Your education work reminds me of a project I worked on -  creating a global coalition of organizations focused on climate education. The idea was to reduce duplication and bring groups together to push for stronger, more relevant climate curricula. One of our biggest actions was sending letters to education ministries in over 80 countries, advocating for climate change to be part of national curricula and for it to be locally relevant. In India, for example, we still see textbooks showing melting ice and polar bears, even though we have neither. What we do have - heatwaves, floods, rising sea levels - isn’t emphasized, so people don’t always connect these realities to climate change.

We also saw how climate education often ignores the justice perspective. It’s not just about a warming planet; it’s about the inequalities people face because of it. In many places, young girls are hit hardest, missing school due to climate-related challenges like a lack of clean water or sanitation.  If they’re the ones most affected, they should be central to the conversation, but too often, they’re not.

That’s why I think spaces like She’s the First and Girl Rising matter so much. They don’t just talk about inclusion, they live it. They make sure girls’ voices are heard, respected, and part of the solution.

Lara: One of my favorite things about She’s the First is the joy. Whether it’s our CEOs, our outreach staff, or new interns, everyone’s genuinely happy to be here and excited to help girls. In a world that can feel overwhelming, that energy is a breath of fresh air.

Zainab: I feel the same about both our organizations. It’s rare to have spaces where you can easily talk to leaders without hierarchy getting in the way. In so many fields, especially climate work, that’s not the case. Here, you feel part of a community.

Lara: Yes, when girls are centered and have the autonomy to shape the culture, it’s a game changer. Even before I did any big advocacy work, I could join a call with leadership and just talk. You know you’ll be heard, respected, and safe.

Zainab: As we wrap up, here’s a cheesy question, what message would you give to your younger self, or to a girl halfway across the world?

Lara: I love a cheesy question and I’d answer with: don’t underestimate your value. You don’t have to run a global conference to deserve a seat at the table. The work you do locally -  a donation drive, a community meeting - matters. If you’re a girl, you’re already an expert on what girls in your community need. Your voice matters, and you don’t need permission to use it.

Zainab: I love that. Girls often undervalue themselves and their work, even when they’re shaping perspectives and creating real change. My advice is -  own your voice. Don’t be afraid to be the only one raising your hand or asking the “stupid” question. Chances are, many others were thinking it too. And remember, it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Be yourself, stay courageous, and know that your uniqueness is your strength.

Lara: That’s beautiful. I agree. You don’t have to have a master plan. I joined She’s the First by chance and fell in love with it. Follow what speaks to you, and you’ll be fine.

Zainab: Sometimes the right destination finds you.

Lara: Exactly. It’s been amazing talking with you. You give me so much hope for the future.

Zainab: Thank you. This has been such a joy. I feel like I’ve gotten to truly know you, and I’m inspired by your work. I hope this is just the start of us working together.

Lara: Me too. The more we collaborate, the greater our impact.

Lara: But thank you so much. Have a wonderful day.