In February 2020, Global Fund for Children stood in solidarity with the migrant and refugee community in Tijuana, Mexico.

Alongside our peer organizations, we co-hosted “Gender, Childhood, and Youth on the Move,” a transnational conference that brought together over 75 civil society organizations to advocate for the rights of migrant children and youth.

Over the course of three days, leaders and activists working with and for migrant communities hosted panels and activities about the migration crisis, with a focus on gender and youth.

“We have to believe in young people, and young people have to believe in themselves – we’re not the future, we’re the present.”
– Nancy Pérez, President of Jóvenes por el Cambio in Guatemala

The conference also created time to visit the wall that stands between the United States and Mexico. Participants walked alongside the wall and took time to pause and reflect.

The “Gender, Childhood, and Youth on the Move” conference was an important experience not only for Global Fund for Children, but for me. As a young woman and Nicaraguan-American, being in a space surrounded by smart and strong Latinas left me feeling inspired and moved. Their courage to mobilize and share their work and experiences gave us the unique opportunity to better understand all the complexities surrounding migration. It opened the floor for listening, learning, and action. As part of our commitment to the Adolescent Girls and Migration initiative, we are committed to continuing our efforts to best support our partners.