Two Birmingham students had the opportunity to represent the city on a global stage when they attended the Global Youth Ambassadors Leadership Summit in Chicago.

Elizabeth Ajayi from St Paul’s Girls School in Edgbaston and Aklima Khatun from the Broadway Academy in Perry Bar earned the chance to participate in the week-long conference, which is aimed to develop and support young female leaders of the future.

The event was launched in 2016 by former First Lady Michelle Obama and is attended by women aged 14 to 16 who live or go to school in one of Chicago’s global sister cities.

Professor Jo Andrews, who is the Birmingham City Ambassador for the summit, said: “Participation in the event is competitive and Birmingham was the only one of Chicago’s many sister cities to secure not one but two places at the all-expenses paid conference this year.”

Sahdia Ali, the Broadway Academy teacher, who accompanied the students on their trip, described the event as an “amazing programme” which was aimed at enabling the young women from across the globe to “flourish in their own communities”.

The headteacher of St.Paul’s. Dr Dawn Casserly, added that Elizabeth’s experiences at the conference inspired other girls to “smash through the glass ceilings and aspire to become the best they can be”.

Heather Law, from Birmingham City Council’s European and International Affairs team, said: “The European and International Affairs Team are delighted that Birmingham schools are benefitting from our partner sister city relationship with Chicago.

“This is the second year in a row that at least one Birmingham student has secured a place on the programme and we are hopeful that Birmingham will once again be represented next year.”

Pictured: Elizabeth and Aklima with Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Anne Underwood