I would love to be part of the Festival of the Girl’s Youth Advisory Board because I genuinely love everything about Festival of the Girl. The first event I attended was online during the pandemic and I have loved coming in person ever since. I enjoy feeling confident, strong and proud of who I am and also helping other girls feel the same. I am always excited about trying new things and enjoy sharing ideas and working with others, and I think it's important that girls have a voice in things that matter to them.

I love science, technology, engineering, art, maths (STEAM), Muay Thai, going to the theatre, coding, playing with Lego, learning to knit, learning new languages, reading, writing stories, drawing, playing the clarinet, cooking and carrying out crazy science experiments. I feel that the range of activities Festival of the Girl covers is important for girls to know they can be great at all of these. It has definitely helped me explore new things and find more interests and passions. I think Festival of the Girl will help close the gender gap in so many areas by exposing girls to things like STEM, sport, the army, emergency services, film, and more and I would be honoured and proud to be part of that mission.

Yusra Salahuddin