The Impact of Youth Social Innovation
Ripple Effects Across India
What started as a local experiment has become a replicable model for student flourishing aligned with:
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 – Emphasizing holistic development and learner agency
- UN Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 3 (Wellbeing), SDG 4 (Quality Education)
- Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) – Rooting innovation in cultural wisdom
Colleges across Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Delhi, and Odisha have adopted YSI principles. Some have even started campus clubs to sustain the momentum.
Expansion over the years;
The Youth Social Innovation (YSI) Conference is not measured in attendance numbers alone — it’s measured in transformed lives, revived campuses, and ripples of change that continue long after the final session ends.
Since 2018, YSI has empowered over 100 students and faculty from 25+ colleges across India to co-create wellbeing on their campuses — not through top-down programs, but through student-led action rooted in truth, empathy, and beauty.
These are not abstract ideals. They are lived experiences — simple yet profound models that have restored trust, rebuilt connections, and reimagined what education can be.
2018
Students and Faculty
25
Institutions:
5 colleges across Bangalore
Innovative Models:
5
2019
Students and Faculty
11
Institutions:
11 institutions across India
Innovative Models:
11
2020
Students and Faculty
49
Institutions:
7 colleges across India
Innovative Models:
13
2021
Students and Faculty
79
Institutions:
19 colleges, 5 universities across India
Innovative Models:
26
2022
Students and Faculty
108
Institutions:
15 colleges, 9 universities across India
Innovative Models:
25
Voices from the Ground: Moments of Transformation
We went to teach children who were challenged — but returned as students of resilience, joy, and what it means to be truly capable.
— Shalini, YSI Fellow, 2020
Co-creating wellbeing happens when we deeply look into the problems, and it will direct us to the actual place of a problem arising, leading us to a simple solution.
— Mehrufa, Jame ul Uloom Institute
When I saw how my skills could uplift others, I realized what flourishing truly means.
— Niveditha, Srushti Degree College
Our friendship has grown. We have become friends for a lifetime.
— Yashaswini, Govt. First Grade College
Impact continuous beyond YSI -
Dhanush – Turning Campus Projects into Community Service
Dhanush participated in the 2018 YSI Conference, where he worked on rebuilding honesty among peers. Inspired by Gandhi’s principle of “Be the change you want to see”, he continued serving his community. In 2023, he was awarded the Young Social Innovator Awardee by the state government for his sustained outreach work.
Tony – Respecting Life, Even in Death
Tony, a 2019 fellow, noticed a dead stray dog lying unattended on his street. Remembering the values of dignity and service from YSI, he reached out to BBMP officials and arranged for its respectful burial. His action sparked conversations about compassion in urban spaces.
Lavanya – Solving a Blocked Drain Through Collective Action
In 2020, Lavanya led a digital detox project at her college. That same spirit of collaboration helped her solve a long-standing issue in her neighborhood: a blocked drain causing flooding. She brought residents together, drafted a letter to the corporator, and got the issue resolved within weeks.
Institutional Impact: How Campuses Changed
YSI doesn’t just transform individuals — it reshapes institutional culture.
Faculty See Students Differently
The teacher-student barrier gave way to one of friendship… Empathy and being non-judgmental is what I learned.
— Debamitra Ray, Faculty, Srushti Degree College
Students helped me look at my problem from their perspective.
— Padmavathi, Maharani Cluster University
The Road Ahead: Sustaining the Legacy
The seeds planted at YSI continue to grow. Now, we’re working to ensure this impact lasts:
Document & Share Models
Creating toolkits, videos, and print resources so more campuses can replicate successful ideas.Establish YSI Campus Clubs
To keep projects alive beyond graduation and build intergenerational continuity.Train More Fellows
Expanding the fellowship program with stipends, mentorship, and certification.Measure Our Impact
Conducting structured studies to show how YSI improves mental health, connection, and purpose.Scale Nationally
Partnering with universities and NGOs to bring YSI to underserved institutions.
Lakshmi Hariharan, Curator of YSI:
“The beauty of YSI lies in how many caring people it attracted. How young people who wanted to change others ended up changing themselves. How shared understanding emerged through honest, heartful conversations.”
