GREAT people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Wangar? Muta Maathai left their mark in the world through advocacy and powerful words that helped to shape today’s society and guide humanity.

Today, people like Malala Yousafzai and Yara Shahidi continue to champion the rights of people, particularly youth. Though her aim is not to be exactly like them, 20-year-old Sadiya Ariah Yahya is a young and upcoming youth advocate, who also has a deep interest in feminism, social activism, volunteerism, debating, writing and dancing.

The University of Guyana student has been championing the rights of young people for a few years and her aim is to ensure that youth continue to push the boundaries and have their voices heard.

“I would like to be able to set up outreach programmes in various areas in Guyana to focus on the arts and empowerment of the youth. I would like to create safe spaces where youth can come and express themselves fully with no judgement,” said Yahya.

As she moves along in life, the young advocate hopes to be financially stable enough to develop her own community outreach project for less fortunate young people.

“I have always known that I wanted to do more but what truly motivates me are the young people who I work with…I learn from them, create genuine bonds with each other and they have the drive to do more and be more. Whether we are working on a mural for an art project or just having a conversation about their day, it reminds me why I do what I do and intend to continue it,” said Yahya.

The young advocate has been living her dream so far, participating in several social activities such as an Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign through Queens College and the Ministry of Social Protection; Youth Parliament; a USAID Community Outreach Programme and much more.

While her long term goal is still in the making, in the fairly short term, she sees herself graduating from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. Following that she aims to take a year to travel around Guyana to explore the wonders.

On the lighter side, Yahya enjoys dancing. From the age of six years old, she found her love for dancing. Being able to dance for close to 14 years at Lets Dance Studios allowed her to not only express herself but be versed in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern and even Indian dancing techniques.

Developing her skills and enhancing her knowledge has been not been a walk in the park, but for persons who share similar aspirations, Yahya advised them to start now no matter how small they think their idea or project is.

“It will make an impact. I used to be under the notion that I had to wait until I was older and had everything together before anything I did would matter but I was wrong. As youths, we have the capacity to make an impression and influence others to do the same so never second guess what you do,” she said.