UNFPA & Population First to host International Youth Day with Change Champions for exemplary contribution during Covid Pandemic
Mumbai: On the 11th of August, Population First and UNFPA are marking the International Youth Day by acknowledging and celebrating the youth change champions for their resilience shown in COVID-19 pandemic.
The virtual event on the eve of the International youth Day, “Candid Conversations with Change Champions” will be live streamed on 11th Aug 2020 from 5pm onwards on UNFPA You Tube channel ( youtube.com/c/unfpaindiaofficial) and also on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/unfpaindia).
The conversations explores what it takes to be a change champion. We will see four change champions from four different fields from across the country sharing their journeys.
“The United Nations Population Fund recognizes the tremendous potential of young people as champions of change. These past few months we have witnessed both here in India and around the World how young people rose to the occasion of helping their own communities stay safe, many volunteered door to door brining much needed information and other services, including assisting the elderly in their families and community. UNFPA is committed to ensuring that young people have the Life Skills Education to address psychological vulnerabilities they face as part of growing up, and during these challenging times in particular. We help them discover their talents and skills as true changemakers within their families, schools, work and society”, shared Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, Country Director, UNFPA India.
Dr. A L Sharada, Director, Population First shared, “In these Covid times young people have been in the forefront of reaching out to vulnerable people with services and relief. We need to celebrate the youth who are combining their passion with their desire to make a difference and build a better world. We are showcasing them to the large number of youth, around 20000, joining from across the country to inspire and motivate them to be the change makers, to build a world they dream of”.
The four change champions who will be sharing their inspiring journeys are Srishti Baksi, Founder, Crossbow Miles Movement, Deepak Ramola, Founder & Artistic Director Project Fuel, Dharavi United and Archana Sorengo, Member, Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, United Nations.
Delhi based Srishti Bakshi is an influential change maker and thought-leader who embarked on a journey from Kanyakumari to Srinagar across India. Her walk was aimed to sensitize citizens on gender- based violence and gender Inequality in our country.
Deepak Ramola, through his initiative Project Fuel has impacted more than 54,000 lives, through his ‘LIFE LESSONS’ across the age group of 4 years to 96 years, belonging to diverse sections of the society like the autistic, spastic, underprivileged, physically challenged, orphans, tribals, sex workers, victims of human trafficking, doctors, engineers, architects, immigrants, refugees, etc.
Dharavi United is a rap crew straight out from Dharavi who have been representing Hip Hop since the age of 14 years. Popular for their multilingual rapping in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu and Recognized in the world of Rap as 7BantaiZ and Dopeadeliez. They played a crucial role in supporting the frontline workers to create awareness through their rap songs on Covid-19 and the precaurions
While Orissa based, Archana Soreng is a climate activist from India who has been invited to be a member on an UN advisory group on climate change comprising of young leaders from across the globe who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as part of the Covid-19 recovery efforts.
The four Change Makers will be speaking to influential personalities in various fields like Shivani Gharat, Yogesh Pawar, Sunita Bhuyan and Jayashree Nandi.
The event will also be live streamed on PLUC TV.