Empowering Future Leaders

Written By Malak Foundation

Welcoming Engagement with Global Voices: Building Pathways for Youth to Shape the Future

At the Malak Foundation, we believe that meaningful change begins by empowering young people not only to be heard—but to actively shape the systems that influence their lives.

We are pleased to share that we have recently commenced engagement with Global Voices, a leading youth-led organisation dedicated to equipping young Australians with the skills, knowledge, and platforms needed to influence policy, diplomacy, and decision-making at the highest levels.

This engagement marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue focused on building a collaborative program that will directly benefit young people from our communities—particularly those from diverse, underrepresented, and migrant backgrounds.

A Shared Vision for Youth Empowerment

Global Voices operates at the intersection of youth leadership and global policy engagement. Their model is both practical and transformative—moving beyond theory to real-world participation.

Through their programs, Global Voices:

  • Upskills young people in policy, diplomacy, and advocacy

  • Provides pathways to engage with international multilateral forums such as the Y20 (Youth 20), the United Nations General Assembly, and Climate COPs

  • Supports participants to develop evidence-based policy proposals addressing real legislative gaps

  • Connects fellows with policymakers, advisors, and industry leaders through Canberra-based briefings and training programs

At its core, Global Voices is built on a powerful principle: equipping diverse voices with the tools to influence systems of power.

This aligns strongly with the Malak Foundation’s mission to create inclusive pathways for participation, representation, and leadership.

From Conversation to Collaboration

Our recent discussions with Global Voices CEO, Indigo Atkinson, have been highly constructive and forward-looking.

What began as an exploratory conversation has quickly evolved into a shared ambition: to design a program that bridges grassroots community engagement with national and global policy participation.

The focus is clear—creating structured opportunities for young people in our communities to:

  • Understand how systems of power operate

  • Develop the skills to engage with those systems effectively

  • Contribute to policy conversations that shape their future

  • Represent their communities on national and international platforms

A powerful example of what this journey can look like is Global Voices alumna Adjoa Assan, who represented Australia at the Youth 20 (Y20) Summit. Through her experience, Adjoa engaged directly in high-level international policy discussions and negotiations, contributing to the development of recommendations presented to global leaders. She also documented her journey through a YouTube series, offering a rare and accessible behind-the-scenes perspective on how young leaders participate in global governance processes. Her experience can be viewed here:

Her story demonstrates the tangible outcomes of programs like Global Voices—where young people transition from observers to active contributors shaping global conversations.

Why This Matters Now

Across Australia and globally, there is a growing recognition that sustainable solutions require inclusive decision-making.

However, access to these spaces remains limited.

Many young people—especially from culturally diverse communities—face structural barriers, including:

  • Limited exposure to policy and governance pathways

  • Lack of mentorship and institutional access

  • Underrepresentation in national and international forums

This collaboration seeks to address these gaps directly.

By combining Malak Foundation’s deep community engagement with Global Voices’ policy and diplomacy expertise, we aim to create a pipeline that is both accessible and impactful.

Looking Ahead

While this initiative is still in development, the direction is clear.

Together, we are working towards a program that will:

  • Identify and support high-potential young leaders from our communities

  • Provide structured training in policy, advocacy, and leadership

  • Enable participation in national and international forums such as the Y20

  • Support the development and publication of policy proposals

  • Foster long-term pathways into leadership, governance, and public service

Importantly, this is not a one-off opportunity—but the foundation of a sustainable ecosystem for youth empowerment and representation.

A Commitment to Long-Term Impact

At Malak Foundation, we see this engagement as part of a broader strategy to ensure that our communities are not only supported—but are actively shaping the future.

The collaboration with Global Voices represents a powerful step in that direction.

We look forward to continuing this journey, deepening the partnership, and co-designing a program that delivers real, measurable impact for young people.

Learn More & Connect

To learn more about Global Voices and their work, visit:

If you are a young person interested in policy, leadership, and global engagement—or a partner organisation interested in collaboration—we invite you to connect with us.

Together, we can build pathways that turn voices into influence—and ideas into lasting change.

Malak Foundation https://www.malakfoundation.org
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