On the International Youth Day of 2024, here’s giving tribute to young founders who are wonderfully nation-building through their outstanding initiatives. They are the pioneers of societal change, actively working on pressing issues with their creative solutions. Their initiatives represent the true essence of defiance and positive changes. Let us take you through these remarkable leaders who are constructing the future and bringing positive changes to the world.
MITTI Cafe was started by Alina Alam, who strongly believed that people with disabilities should be able to be productive and established a platform to help them prove themselves. MITTI Cafés, which the physically and mentally challenged people run, have always given the message of inclusion and rights of the disabled. Alina has received several awards for her work including the Forbes 30 under 30 and the Commonwealth Youth Award.
Zubin Sharma started Project Potential to tap the unexplored potential in the most underinvested districts of India. Thus, initiatives like eArthshala operating in the rural regions of Bihar within Project Potential aim to support the local youth to become active agents of sustainable development in their communities. The kind of rural development approach that Zubin adopts is to awaken social innovations for local issues to create an impact in the regions that deserve it the most.
When creating the Muskaan Dreams, Abhishek Dubey had the vision of improving the education system in India and inculcating elements of e-learning within schools. The organization constructs libraries, sets up information technology centers, and conducts training sessions for government school teachers reaching out to thousands of children enrolled in these schools. Muskaan Dreams has been funded by organizations such as Hindustan Zinc, which proves the educational sector’s increasing impact.
Richa Gupta is an educator by profession and is the founder of Labhya Foundation which aims at the enhancement of the capabilities of young and marginalized children. Labhya collaborates with state governments to deliver its programs in government schools and impacts millions of children. Richa has a vision to help the underprivileged and to offset identified multiple issues that poor children have to face in their day-to-day lives and to break the cycle of poverty.
Naveen Kumar Atchayam establishedAtchayam Trustpurely to eradicate begging in India. His organization gives a peaceful life to homeless beggars, the elderly, and other people with mental or physical complications sheltering them. The Associated National and State Youth Awards paved the way to honor Naveen Kumar for his dedicated social activism and consuming vision to optimize the lot of their country.
Santosh More started Mantra4Change to alleviate and redesign mass education in India. Launched in Karnataka, initially, Mantra4Change started working in three schools only and later expanded its outreach to more states improving education practices among leaders and schools. In his practice, Santosh encourages education leadership and brings new programs to the students that have the potential to empower the learning process and therefore affect millions of children in India.
RightWalk Foundation helped in the accession of the Right to Education (RTE) in Uttar Pradesh and now she is working on the Apprenticeship Act to check unemployment in youth. Policy advocacy, capacity building, and post-implementation support is what her organization has been diligently working towards. Through Samina’s hard work, large numbers of public policies have borne fruits, hence showing the intensity of policy advocacy in a civil society organization in achieving social reform.
Bipin Dhane through Ayang Trusthas been trying to rehabilitate the flood-affected population of Majuli Island in Assam. Since the creation of THE HUMMINGBIRD SCHOOL at Ayang Trust has had education needs as well as the needs of livelihood and the development of the community on the Island. Because of Bipin’s rootedness in the community, Ayang Trust has been able to make this difference ranging from helping families during floods or assisting in the literacy needs of children in the community.
Mahesh Jadhav started the Mahesh Jadhav Foundation for AIDS-affected children. Although he started his career as an entrepreneur, Mahesh continued to work for the cause of social welfare, adopting orphans and poverty-stricken HIV-positive children. His organization has expanded since its inception and it now helps thousands of children, offering them a chance at a dignified life; he has been honored with many awards such as the National Award for Child Welfare.
These young founders are impacting the youth and entire communities they serve positively; they also act as role models to emulate. For this International Youth Day, it’s all about their hard work, commitment, and the positive change they are bringing into this world.
