Amanda Amaeshi (FP 2022) is an award-winning activist, campaigner, and writer, specialising in gender equality, anti-racism, and youth voice and political participation. A former pupil of Dollar, the 20-year-old British Nigerian is currently studying LLB Law at University College London (2022-25).
From an early age, Amanda has been keen on speaking out about social issues. In 2017, she won the Young Reporters for the Environment competition, writing about problems and potential solutions concerning food waste in Scotland. Amanda’s advocacy journey began when, as a Year of Young People 2018 ambassador, she spoke out on issues that mattered to young people in Scotland – such as youth involvement in politics, young people’s rights, and the importance of celebrating young people’s achievements. As a member of the Girlguiding Advocate Panel (2019-22), Amanda spoke out on issues affecting girls and young women in the UK, through blogs and live radio interviews, and by giving speeches at events to audiences of CEOs, politicians, and other key decision makers.
As well as continuing her role as a Young Spokesperson for Girlguiding Scotland, Amanda is currently a Council Member of Phase Two of the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls in Scotland. She is also a Trustee for the Young Women’s Movement and a Youth Project Assessor for the National Youth Agency in England, and was an Anti-Racist Education Ambassador for Intercultural Youth Scotland (2023-24). In these roles, Amanda consistently engages in collaborative policy and practice evaluation to drive positive change.
Whether assessing the quality of anti-racist education initiatives or gender equality policy, or ensuring the effective delivery of youth projects, Amanda demonstrates an unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and intersectional practices across various sectors. Amanda has also written guest articles on feminism and young people for leading Scottish newspaper The National. Through her writing, Amanda aims not only to offer fresh perspectives and challenge existing views but also to inspire readers to engage in collective action against societal injustices.
