UNFPA & Population First to host International Youth Day with Change Champions for exemplary contribution during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Mumbai, 10th August 2020: 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 the Covid-19 pandemic.

The virtual event on the eve of International Youth Day, "Candid Conversations with Change Champions" will be live streamed on 11th Aug 2020 5pm onwards on the UNFPA Youtube channel and also on Facebook.

The conversations will explore what it takes to be a change champion. We will hear 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 in India and around the World how young people have risen to the occasion of helping their communities stay safe; many volunteered door-to-door bringing 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, 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 Representative, 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, 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 Bakshi, Founder, Crossbow Miles Movement, Deepak Ramola, Founder & Artistic Director, Project Fuel, Dharavi United and Archana Soreng, 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 about 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 society such as 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 from Dharavi who have been representing Hip Hop Music since the age of 14 years. They are popular for their multilingual rapping in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu and recognized in the world of rap as ‘7BantaiZ’ and ‘Dopeadeliez’. They are playing a crucial role in supporting frontline workers to create awareness through their rap songs on Covid-19 and related precautions. There would be a short performance by Dharavi United Rappers with a live painting by N. Ghanapriya, a self taught visual artist from Chennai. Ghana’s artistic practices seek to populate the world with images that provoke conversations and connection.

Odisha-based, Archana Soreng is a climate activist from India who has been invited to be a member on a UN advisory group on climate change comprising of young leaders from across the globe to 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 such as Ms Shibani Gharat, Mr Yogesh Pawar, Ms Sunita Bhuyan and Ms Jayashree Nandi.

The event will also be live streamed on PLUC TV.