Every year, Global Fund for Children presents the Juliette Gimon Courage Award to grassroots organizations that show extraordinary bravery and commitment to children and young people. Often working in difficult environments, these organizations remain rooted in their communities and continue pushing for justice and change.

This year, we’re proud to honor four remarkable organizations: Club des Jeunes Filles Leaders de Guinée in Guinea, Gramin Shiksha Kendra in India, Local Education and Economic Development Organization in Bangladesh, and YOH in the United Kingdom. Each of them shows us what courage looks like in action, whether it’s standing up to harmful traditions, transforming broken systems, or walking alongside young people in crisis.

Club des Jeunes Filles Leaders de Guinée – Guinea

Club des Jeunes Filles Leaders de Guinée (CJFLG) was founded in 2016 by Hadja Idrissa Bah, who was just 18 years old at the time. After witnessing the silence around violence against girls, including female genital mutilation and sexual abuse, Hadja decided to create a space where girls could be protected and supported. With help from feminists and Plan International Guinée, the club opened its first office in Conakry, expanding to 36 branches today.

For CJFLG, courage means speaking out about topics many people are afraid to discuss, especially in rural areas. Whether it’s child marriage or sex education, the girls in the club face these issues head-on, raising awareness and helping their communities understand why things need to change. Over the years, their bold actions have helped prevent forced marriages and supported survivors of sexual violence with care, justice, and healing.

Leadership within the club is built on mentorship and shared learning. Older members guide younger ones, and every girl is encouraged to be a role model in her family and community. CJFLG also works closely with the government, the police, and international organizations to make sure girls get the support they need. These partnerships help CJFLG respond quickly to cases of violence and push for real change, especially in places where girls face the most resistance.

With the Courage Award from GFC, CJFLG plans to expand its work by creating more school-based clubs focused on sexual and reproductive health education. The organization will also advocate for improving reporting systems to make it easier for girls to speak up about violence, and will work with boys and young men on positive masculinity. For CJFLG, this award is not just a recognition but also a powerful motivation to keep going.

Gramin Shiksha Kendra – India

Gramin Shiksha Kendra (GSK) was created out of frustration with the poor quality of government education in rural Rajasthan. Families around Ranthambore National Park wanted something better for their children, but they were often met with neglect. GSK stepped in to imagine a different kind of education, one that was meaningful, inclusive, and rooted in values like care, equality, and curiosity.

GSK began by setting up its own community schools, called Uday Pathshalas, to show what quality education could look like. Over time, its work expanded to include dozens of government schools. The organization built trust with parents, trained teachers, and created learning environments where every child could thrive. GSK has also focused on reaching children from marginalized communities and supporting girls, who are often forced to leave school after eighth grade.

For GSK, courage has meant questioning systems, challenging assumptions, and refusing to accept that change isn’t possible. Whether it’s working with families that others have ignored or questioning the status quo, GSK has always prioritized people over process. The organization has evolved with time, developing new initiatives that prove that a responsive, people-first approach can lead to lasting transformation.

GFC’s Courage Award is a recognition of GSK’s 20-year journey and all the risks it has taken to stand by its values. With the support of this award, GSK plans to continue adapting to emerging challenges, like the rise of AI and social media, and how these could affect education, and help children and young people make sense of a rapidly changing world.

Local Education and Economic Development Organization – Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, thousands of children live on the streets, left behind due to poverty, abuse, and systems that fail them. Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO) was founded to stand beside these children and offer them a safe, caring place to heal and grow. Through shelters like Peace Home, mobile classrooms, and open-air schools, LEEDO helps children, including survivors of sexual abuse, rebuild their lives.

Courage for LEEDO means choosing to show up where others often look away. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many services shut down, LEEDO expanded its work. The organization provided food and hygiene kits and opened emergency shelters for children who had nowhere else to go. LEEDO’s belief in every child’s potential, even in the darkest moments, has always guided its work.

One powerful example of LEEDO’s commitment centers on enabling children’s participation in international sports. In 2019, some of the children LEEDO supported were selected to represent Bangladesh in the World Cup in the UK, but they couldn’t get passports because they didn’t have legal guardians. LEEDO’s founder, Forhad Hossain, went to court to challenge the government’s decision. That act of courage helped them reclaim their identity and stand tall on an international stage.

LEEDO sees this award from GFC as both an honor and an opportunity. The award will help LEEDO expand its programs, build stronger partnerships, and show more children that their lives matter. For the children LEEDO serves, the Courage Award is a reminder that the world sees them and believes in their future.

YOH – United Kingdom

YOH is a community-led charity based in East London and West Essex that accompanies children and young people facing some of the toughest challenges, including poverty, housing problems, school exclusion, gang violence, and trauma. YOH offers long-term, tailored support that helps children find safety and rebuild trust, often when everyone else has turned away.

For YOH, courage means standing with children when others step away. It means entering often overlooked communities, advocating for young people against hostile narratives, and confronting the gangs that exploit children and youth.

Every week, the YOH team visits housing developments known for high levels of crime to connect with young people, many of whom have been pulled into gangs or experienced violence. Girls and boys alike are often dealing with shame, fear, and isolation. YOH doesn’t see these children as problems to fix, but as individuals with potential. The team stays present, even in dangerous situations, offering support without judgment.

The Courage Award from GFC will help YOH deepen its work in two key areas: a community empowerment study and a gang data project that will offer real recommendations for policymakers and peer organizations. Inspired by the award, the organization also plans to launch a Youth Courage Award to honor young people who show bravery in their own lives. For YOH, this recognition shines a light on the quiet but powerful work of standing with children, day after day, year after year.

At Global Fund for Children, we are honored to celebrate and support this year’s Juliette Gimon Courage Award winners. Their stories remind us that courage comes in many forms and that real, lasting change always begins in communities. Congratulations to our winners!