Youth voices drive change in unique ways. They contribute essential perspectives to intergenerational activism that inform new resources, connections, and our SASH Club (Students Against Sexual Harassment) project.
Contact us to participate as a youth leader at SSAIS and SASH Club.
Neža R.
“Sexual violence is a global pandemic that requires prompt collective action. Education, destigmatization, and accountability of perpetrators are crucial if we want to improve the situation for people experiencing sexual violence globally and fight against rape culture. In the words of Gisele Pelicot: ‘Shame must change sides.’”
Neža is a student at Vanderbilt University, originally from Slovenia, Europe, studying political science, gender and sexuality studies, and legal studies.
Maya B.
“As a current student, I have a resounding awareness of sexual violence and exploitation that happens all around me. When my theater director was arrested for sexual violence my junior year of high school, it was a wake-up call about how prevalent this issue is in schools. There is a major stigma surrounding discussion of sexual assault, especially in educational spaces. Not talking about sexual assault doesn’t erase its existence. Reclaiming the narrative means giving power to survivors and shaping schools where students feel protected. Informing communities of the extent of this problem is so important in the fight to keep kids safe!”
Maya is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Political Science and Education Studies. With a passion for educational policy and student equity, she is excited to engage youth activists in her role at SSAIS. She is involved in a variety of student organizations, including a policy initiative where she collaborates on a project about mental health initiatives in socioeconomically disadvantaged schools. She is currently conducting her own research study titled “Reporting Sexual Assault in Secondary Education.” Maya hopes to pursue further education in public policy and delve into legislation that protects youth throughout her career.
Ligaya S.
“From coaching young athletes to making mini documentaries about youth, I have seen the power of youth and believe they’re our hope for the future. However, for youth to make positive change, they must be protected.
“I have heard first-hand of the trauma and injustice that follow sexual assault. No one, especially children, should be forced to endure these harms. Working with SSAIS offers the opportunity to protect youth in today’s world, which often feels hopeless. The power of youth inspires hope.”
Ligaya, a high school junior, will be using her experience creating youth-focused documentary videos, which includes serving as a creative director for a drug prevention campaign (HelloFuture), to advance the work of SSAIS and SASH Club. In her spare time, Ligaya is a year-long athlete as she plays volleyball, basketball, and runs track. She also enjoying paddle boarding and jumping into Lake Washington and of course eating amazing food.
Watch Ligaya’s reel on youth leader Jocelyn.
Rose G.
“My interest in SASH club stems from a commitment to justice and the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected everywhere, especially at school. For me, it is important to approach the issues of sexual harassment and assault through an intersectional lens. I hope to connect the fight against sexual violence with broader efforts around disability rights, racial equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and educational access.
“I’m the secretary of my high school’s SASH Club and am planning to work on research, blog posts, and videos to help educate others and cultivate a supportive community that cares as much about this cause as I do.”
Rose is a sophomore and a member of Girl Scout Troop 404. She enjoys art, swimming, reading, writing, word games, puzzles, and playing with her dogs.
Nora H.
“When you’re young, people assume you don’t notice how systems that are supposedly made to serve you actually fail you. But I’ve always noticed. I’ve seen classmates get harassed in the hallway and told to “just ignore it” by their peers. I’ve watched teachers enforce the harassment by making classrooms a place where women with developing bodies are uncomfortable when hearing comments about their fluctuating weight or their ‘assets.’ And I’ve felt the weight of staying quiet because speaking up feels like shouting into a void.
“That’s why I started my SASH Club. Sexual violence isn’t just something that happens in the dark. It happens in our classrooms, at lunch tables with close friends present, in group chats; and too often, no one speaks out against it. There’s a serious lack of education around consent, gender-based violence, and students’ rights. Survivors are expected to keep their heads down while the people who harm them face no real consequences. We’re told to just be careful instead of being protected.
“Through SASH Club, Lincoln Charter is working to flip that narrative. We have held informational tables for Denim Day and Transgender Day of Visibility, lead open discussions, and have worked to educate our members and peers about the everyday behaviors that make people feel unsafe. Most importantly, we’re building a culture where students know they matter. Where silence isn’t the default, and justice isn’t out of reach. We shouldn’t have to fight this hard to be heard, but until the system changes, we’ll continue to raise our voices.”
Jane G.
“I’ve been the president of my high school’s SASH Club since I started it as a freshman. Throughout my time in high school, I’ve worked to create a space where students can talk honestly about consent, boundaries, and respect, topics that are too often ignored in schools. This work is personal to me, and it’s rooted in a belief that every student deserves to feel safe, informed, and empowered.
“One of the biggest challenges my club sees is the lack of comprehensive sex education, especially around sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual assault. Many young people are left in the dark about their rights under Title IX and what consent actually means. Education shouldn’t be something we have to fight for, but until it’s universal, I’ll keep fighting.
“What matters most to me is creating real, lasting change by reaching people while they’re still young, before misinformation and silence have the chance to cause harm. Through SASH Club I’ve led workshops, shared educational content, held events, set up fundraisers for nonprofits, and built a community that prioritizes support and intersectionality. The conversations we start go beyond sexual violence. They touch on race, disability, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the many ways identity affect people’s experiences.”
Jane is a senior at Jordan High School, North Carolina. Along with activism, Jane is passionate about theatre and the arts. She sees storytelling as a powerful tool for social change, allowing for connection, reflection, and imagining a better world. Whether on stage or in a classroom, Jane uses her voice to make people think, feel, and care.
Tvisha M.
“I align with the mission of SSAIS and SASH Club because I believe that nothing should hinder one’s education. Sexual harassment and assault are significant obstacles that should not be part of any student’s experience. I care a lot about working to address these issues.”
“I’ve recently created Virtual SASH Club—a SASH Club where the meetings can be held online to facilitate discussions for students all around the world. If you’d like more information, or want to join, follow @virtualsashclub on Instagram!”
“I’m currently researching sexual harassment faced by female students pursuing STEM and possible solutions for an online article.”
Tvisha is a high school junior from Mill Creek, Washington, who’s always been interested in advocacy and STEM. Tivisha is eager to explore leveraging technology to support causes she’s passionate about.
Isabella A.
“From a young age, I’ve been passionate about making a positive impact in others’ lives and knowing I’ve somehow helped. As an intern at SASH Club, I am eager to contribute to their mission by understanding and addressing students’ experiences. I aspire to bring meaningful change to my peers through the SASH Club project.
“In my role as a youth leader, I’m excited to co-manage an Instagram account of supportive allies by providing valuable information through research, guides, and videos. I deeply admire SASH Club’s mission and the safe, supportive community it fosters. Meaningful conversations are important to me, and I am eager to be able to do this within the SASH Club community.”
Isabella is a high school senior eager to contribute new ideas in a collaborative environment. When she’s not going to community college or working, Isabella engages in volunteer work, playing instruments, tutoring, and tennis.
Ahlam A.
“In my culture, conversations about sexual assault are taboo. Now that I’ve found my voice, I feel it’s my responsibility to amplify the voices of those with similar experiences and backgrounds. Otherwise, we encourage silence among victims of sexual assault, and silence is the enemy of our time. Volunteering with SSAIS and SASH Club has solidified my commitment to this cause.
“My first project involves bring the SASH Club project to my high school beginning in 2024.”
Ahlam, a high school junior, was born in Saudia Arabia and moved to the U.S. for middle school. She loves spending time with her family and close friends. One of the ways Ahlam connects with her Ethiopian/Sudanese culture is by cooking dishes from her childhood. She plans to publish a cookbook and visit her hometown in the Middle East.
Jocelyn C.
“I became involved with SSAIS to help young people become educated on sexual assault awareness and to help people who have been affected by sexual violence. I began working with SSAIS and SASH Club in April of 2024. I run the new TikTok accounts, write scripts for vertical content, and belong to a new independent virtual SASH Club. I recently participated in a Title IX youth panel webinar with our partner, MOASH.”
Read Jocelyn’s blog “Why We Need to Educate Students About Title IX” in the Women’s Media Center.
Jocelyn is a high school senior in Washington state. In her free time she enjoys writing and spending time with family.
Mailey M.
“After an experience of sexual violence, I realized that I had to do everything in my power to prevent at least one person from having to suffer the way I did. This realization sparked my activism in sexual violence prevention, and I discovered SASH Club. My school SASH Club now has over 40 members who are all dedicated to ending the tragedy that that is sexual violence in our school community.”
Mailey is a high school senior currently researching the prevalence of sexual harassment in central Mississippi suburban public schools. She wants to determine the best sexual violence prevention program to implement in her high school. She is also a volunteer peer tutor and is involved in her school’s theater program. Mailey is planning to pursue forensic pediatrics to further help young victims of sexual violence.
Here’s a sampling of contributions from our former youth advisors:
Kathryn LaLonde: Change in Schools Starts With Listening to Students (Ed Post), video interview
Minnah Stein: articles in Our Bodies Ourselves and Ms, a video segment from “Sexual Harassment: Not in Our School!“, and video interviews with Emily Lindin and Lauren Allen
Cate Bikales: A New Way to Combat High School Sexual Harassment and Assault (Women’s Media Center)
Chellie Labonete Mendoza: video on starting a gender equity club