2020
Alia Abbas
- Age: 19
- | She/her/hers
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For effective and sustainable change to transpire, it is necessary that women and men of any age have the same opportunities, rights, and obligations. To eradicate the challenges of the world, women and children's voices must be empowered and heard everywhere.
- Alia Abbas
Bio
Alia Abbas was born and raised in the United States. She is currently attending Brashier Middle College Charter High School. Alia is a Yemen Affairs Unit for U.S. Embassy Sana’a Youth Commission Chair and Link Crew Leader Student mentor.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
Once thrown into the dark world of misogynists and domestic and drug abusers at the young age of 18, my mother fought to save me. I want to dedicate my life to do what she did to eradicate female inequality and empower political participation.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
I spearheaded a social justice initiative digitally by sensitizing youth on insecurities through engaging articles and podcast episodes, publishing a magazine to share stories of refugee lives, and I am currently developing a campaign to empower civic engagement amongst refugees through workshops initiatives, political participation, and an alternative economic app.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
Immersing myself in an array of languages, food cultures, diverse TV shows, and Olympic sports spectating, tweeting, and growing my network. I also love research and data analysis of refugees, international relations, and conflicts.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Urdu (Advanced/Native)
- Arabic (Intermediate)
- Korean (Elementary)
- Spanish (Elementary)
- Urdu (Advanced/Native)
Publications:
Speaks On:
- child hunger and education
- increasing civic youth engagement
- refugee and asylum seeker rights
- solutions to immigration reform
