Josephine Maharaj (she/her) is an 18-year-old advocate for child and youth rights based in the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabe nation, known today as Ottawa. She first began her journey with Children First Canada as a participant in their Young Canadians Parliament program in 2022. Then, she joined the Youth Advisory Council where she advocated for youth rights. In late 2025, she testified before the Senate to advocate for a National Strategy for Children and Youth. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in the Honours Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (B.Co.M.S.) program at Carleton University.