WYA

Advocacy Academy

The Advocacy Academy (AA) examines pressing global issues central to our work, internationally and nationally. The Advocacy academy examines international law, research data and best practice in assessing policy issues such as reproductive rights and maternal health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, sustainable development and population control.
  • Online program
  • Open to all WYA Members
  • Certificate upon completion

WYA Advocacy Academy

The WYA Advocacy Academy (AA) is a dynamic training program designed to educate World Youth Alliance members on the most pressing global policy issues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to develop person-centered responses.
  • Understanding: Gain intellectual tools to meaningfully participate in global discussions surrounding human dignity.

  • Framing: Frame and tackle issues critical to social development, from the protection of life at all stages to the promotion of strong and stable families.

  • Communicating: Communicate holistic and ethical ideas effectively to shape local and global policy, engage in meaningful public discourse, and inspire change.
Schedule
Participant's Profile
Opportunities
Program Overview
Training Fee
Global Batch 3 - 2026
English

Program dates: Sep 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 14
Time: 8:00-10:00 am Eastern Time
Application Deadline: Sep 5, 2026
Limited spots are available.

Questions? Email wya@wya.net!

To enroll, please click the 'Enroll Now' button.
If you do not see the button below each course: note that you must be logged in to your account to obtain enrollment access. If you are not logged in, you can log in or sign up below.
Upon completion, participants will be eligible to apply for the WYA Advocacy Training and Fellowship. Alumni may also be selected to represent WYA in parliaments, local institutions, and international organizations, as well as at advocacy briefings. These opportunities will enable you to take a more active role in shaping policy discussions and advancing the principles of human dignity globally.
After being accepted into the program, you’ll complete the enrollment process, including payment of the program fee. The course is designed to guide your learning through three main components:

Weekly Discussions: Each week, participants will have group discussions based on the assigned session readings. These sessions offer an opportunity to share insights, ask questions, and engage more deeply with the material.

Reflection Questions: At the end of each session, participants will answer a set of reflection questions to help reinforce their understanding and encourage personal engagement with key concepts.

Final Exam: To complete the course, they will take a final exam that assesses overall comprehension of the material covered.
There is a 20 USD training fee (20€ for WYA Europe trainees) to participate in the Advocacy Academy. The fees collected will directly support the work of the regional offices, especially in providing scholarships to accepted trainees, and growing the other educational programs such as the Certified Training Program, Internship Program, and the Human Dignity Curriculum.

Note: All payments are final and non-transferable.
The WYA Advocacy Academy is intended for WYA members wishing to actively engage in global policy debates and, therefore, equips them with the knowledge to develop person-centered responses within their local communities as well as multilateral fora. 

The training is offered to anyone who has signed the WYA charter and is interested in becoming an advocate for human dignity. A useful (but not required) preparation for the Advocacy Academy is WYA’s Certified Training Program (CTP). You may learn more about the CTP and enroll online at learn.wya.net/CTP. 
“Our coordinator offered relevant information and encouraged critical thinking throughout the course. Even with protests happening around the country, we vigilantly concluded the course. I appreciate the opportunity to learn and engage with the organization.”
Mary Akinyi Otieno (Kenya)

“What I’ve learnt through the program is already making a big difference in how I live out my experience as a WYA member and Chapter President! It’s helping me understand more deeply how to promote and defend human dignity in a way that’s not only effective and applicable to society, but also inspiring and true to who we are. The tools and knowledge I gained are directly helping me to grow and strengthen our Chapter.”
Lourdes Jazmín Velásquez Albarracín (Argentina)
“Thank you for the opportunity to take part in WYA, and for giving young people a place where we can develop our critical thinking and where we can continue our training and learning about humankind and human rights. It has been a pleasure to learn and listen from such enriching perspectives. I hope I can continue my journey on these matters with WYA.”
Beatriz Pérez Rivas (Spain)

“This program has allowed me to understand and analyze policies and practices from a perspective that fully respects human dignity, based on concrete data and facts. I greatly value WYA’s work, as it is essential for young people to have access to information that is not biased by ideologies and to learn to defend human rights, always keeping in mind that these rights are not unlimited and must respect the rights of others. Human dignity is the cornerstone of this vision.”
María Gabriela Huancas Torres (Peru)