UNICEF Young Advocates
Passionate youth leaders championing the rights of every child
As part of UNICEF’s commitment to child and youth participation, they share their perspectives, provide feedback, and take part in advocacy efforts that uphold the rights and well-being of children and youth. They help ensure that UNICEF’s programmes, communication, and advocacy in the country are informed by the voices and lived experiences of young people. Our young advocates help drive positive and lasting change for every child as they contribute to strategic discussions and champion the issues that matter to them.
UNICEF will announce officially our engagement with UNICEF Young Advocates after a period of collaboration to learn if UNICEF mission and values aligns well with the individual’s advocacy and ensuring a good fit. The young advocate will then sign an agreement to serve a two-year term with defined workplans to advance our shared goals. They can take part in internal meetings to advise UNICEF or public-facing events to engage their peers, communities, other like-minded groups and/or decision makers.
UNICEF also works with other youth leaders on an informal, event-based or project-based approach.
2025-2027
Sofia Michiko Yamamoto, 18
Michiko is an 18-year-old student leader and youth advocate passionate about child rights, climate action, mental health, and education. Dedicated to empowering children, she has represented Filipino youth in national and regional platforms, including the 8th ASEAN Children’s Forum, UNCRC Dialogue on General Comment No. 26, Philippine National Children’s Conference, YOUth are the Future by SM Prime and WWF Philippines, and consultations on the DepEd Child Protection Policy and Magna Carta of Children Bill.
Michiko actively participates in multiple UNICEF initiatives as a U-Report volunteer, contributing through content co-creation, attending workshops and programme consultations, encouraging other young people to speak up, and amplifying youth voices in important conversations. She also served as a youth panelist on World Children‘s Day 2024. A recognized “Child Champion” Awardee of the Council for the Welfare of Children, Michiko continues to advocate for a kinder, fairer, and better world for every child.
Al-Jehad Guiaman, 20
Jehad is a passionate social work student and child rights advocate committed to advancing children’s welfare, meaningful participation, and social inclusion. With a strong belief in the power of youth engagement, he strives to create safe and supportive environments where every child can thrive and be free from violence and full of opportunity.
Jehad currently serves as the Secretary General of the Societal Adolescent–Youth Alliance, Inc., leading initiatives on child protection, mental health, and climate resilience. He actively works with UNICEF Philippines as a youth facilitator and U-Report volunteer, supporting child consultations and legislative advocacy that strengthen child and youth participation in governance. He has also facilitated engagements between UNICEF and the Bangsamoro Government, ensuring that youth voices are meaningfully represented in policy dialogues and community action.
Through his collaborations with UNICEF, Jehad continues to promote child participation and inclusive decision-making at both the community and policy levels. He continues to advance child and youth-led advocacy with optimism, believing that every child and young person holds the power to inspire lasting change.
Rhay Janssen Ocay, 21
From a small town in Asingan, Pangasinan, Rhay grew up believing that having a disability should never limit one’s dreams. Now 21, this youth leader with a disability has become a strong advocate for children and young people to be seen, heard, and included in decisions that shape their lives.
As a Political Science student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Rhay uses his lived experience to champion accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful child participation. He is currently working with UNICEF Philippines in drafting a Guidance on the Meaningful Participation of Children and Youth with Disabilities, a framework that ensures participation is not tokenistic but truly rights-based and empowering. In 2023, he helped lead the Rappler Accessibility Audit of Train Stations, which shed light on the barriers faced by commuters with disabilities and inspired calls for inclusive transport nationwide.
Through his work as Head of SEALNet Project Philippines: Access for All and Co-Convener of the KASALI, Rhay empowers young people with disabilities to lead change—building stronger, kinder, and more inclusive communities.
2024-2026
Fatima Darwissa Mansul, 17
At just 17 years old, Darissa or “Dar” from Cotabato City, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has already carved a path as an inspiring leader and advocate. As a student, she consistently excels academically, while actively taking on roles as a campus leader and journalist. Her passion for writing and public speaking shines through her participation in school speech competitions.
Beyond the classroom, Dar is a force for positive change in her community. She serves as a child representative on the Bangsamoro Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children, where she helps ensure that children’s voices and best interests are represented in decision-making processes.
Dar's leadership extends to her engagements with UNICEF’s Mindanao Field Office, where she has served as a facilitator during the 2025 Consultation Workshop with Children on Child-Friendly Local Governance and the 2024 Children’s Congress. She is likewise an active member of the UNICEF Regional Young People’s Action Team 2025.
In her free time, Dar volunteers with various non-government organizations and supports initiatives that champion the rights of children, youth, and the environment. Her dedication to uplifting marginalized groups reflects her deep commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive future for all children in Bangsamoro.
Joshua Villalobos, 23
Joshua is the Secretary-General of a youth-led movement called Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) based in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Because of his work for environmental justice and its impact on protecting children’s rights, UNICEF supported him to be a resource speaker at the 2025 Open Government Partnership Summit and the 2023 global climate negotiations (COP 28) in Dubai. He was also nominated in 2019 for Amnesty International's Ignite Awards for Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender.
Joshua addressed education leaders at the 3rd National Climate Change Conference and co-chaired the University Student Government’s Environment Committee, leading the successful push for the University to become the first in the Philippines to declare a climate emergency and spell out their commitment to climate mitigation and adaptation.
Currently, he campaigns for just energy transition, climate action, climate education, human rights, and the inclusion of children and youth in decision-making tables. He is also a member of the UNICEF Regional Young People’s Action Team 2025.
Joshua believes that when young people are given space and capacities, they can be effective builders of a better world.