For Maddison O’Gradey-Lee, co-founder of the Orygen Global Youth Mental Health Fellowship, effective advocacy starts with trust and lived experience. The fellowship was born out of consultations with young people who felt isolated and unsupported in their mental health work. In response, O’Gradey-Lee and her co-founder designed a six-month program led by and for youth with lived experience, providing mentorship, skills development, and a community of peers. The aim: to help young advocates see themselves as capable leaders and recognize advocacy as a viable, long-term career path.

The fellowship responds to the problem by:

- Co-designing with youth to ensure programs reflect their real needs.

- Building agency through mentorship, training, and peer networks.

- Fostering resilience by helping participants process and take pride in their lived experience.

Nearly 100 fellows from 47 countries have completed the program, many collaborating across borders, launching new initiatives, or leading policy labs with governments and universities. Alumni frequently describe the fellowship as the first place where they felt “not alone” in their work—connected to others who understand and share their mission.

O’Gradey-Lee’s reflections highlight how centering youth voices and dismantling power imbalances can transform advocacy programs. She emphasizes flexibility and adaptation across cultural contexts, noting that meaningful impact often unfolds over time rather than within predetermined outputs.

Coordinating global programs can strain small teams, and bureaucratic hurdles slow policy engagement. Despite these challenges, O’Gradey-Lee remains optimistic: when young people are trusted to lead and given room to adapt, she says, “that’s when the most meaningful change happens.”