YSI Conference 2018: Honesty & Inner Voice
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
The Youth Social Innovation (YSI) Conference began not with a grand plan, but with a single question asked by students at Srushti Degree College during the year of Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary:
In February 2018, that question gave birth to the very first YSI Conference — a humble gathering of 25 students and faculty from 5 colleges affiliated with Bangalore North University.
Event Details
Conference Name | YSI Conference 2018 |
Theme | “How might we instill honesty among peers?” |
Date | February 23, 2018 |
Location | Srushti Degree College, Bangalore |
Format | In-person |
Participants | 25 students and faculty |
Institutions Involved | 5 colleges under Bangalore North University |
The Challenge That Started It All
Campus life had been shaken by an incident — a student’s phone was stolen. Not just any phone, but a cherished gift from her father. The theft left behind more than loss; it shattered trust.
Students asked:
Can trust be rebuilt? Can honesty be restored without punishment or fear?
Inspired by Gandhian values — especially “Be the change you want to see in the world” — they decided to act.
They launched the YSI Idea Challenge 2018, asking:
“How might we solve a problem of dishonesty arising on campus and instill honesty among peers?”This became the foundation of all future YSI conferences.
Innovative Models Born in 2018
Two powerful student-led models emerged from this inaugural conference.
1. Treasure Box – Building Trust Through Shared Responsibility
Team: Pallavi, Poornima, Manjunath, Chaitra
College: Srushti Degree College
The Problem
After the theft, suspicion grew. Students stopped leaving their belongings unattended. A culture of distrust took root.
The Solution
They created the Treasure Box — a shared space where students could contribute personal valuables and borrow items responsibly, recording every transaction in a register.
Over four weeks, no item went missing.
The Impact
- No further thefts were reported in the class.
- Relationships improved as trust was visibly restored.
- Students learned that honesty grows through opportunity, not enforcement.
“I did not think that our idea of treasure box was simple and silly. I was surprised to see it bring change in our classroom.”
— Pallavi, Srushti Degree College
2. United Stars – Fostering Honest Communication Among Youth
Team: Sandeep, Sonika, Lakshmi, Dhanashekar
College: Kairali Niketan Golden Jubilee College
The Problem
A tragic misunderstanding between a couple led to suicide and an attempted suicide on campus. The team wondered: Could honest communication have prevented this pain?
The Solution
They designed United Stars, a multi-step model to encourage open dialogue:
- Created a questionnaire to identify students needing emotional support
- Referred them to counseling services
- Conducted awareness sessions using videos and group discussions on trust, transparency, and healthy relationships
The Impact
- More students sought help before crises escalated.
- Misunderstandings decreased due to increased empathy.
- A new culture of speaking up began to take shape.
“Honest communication is necessary in every relationship because it builds positive connections between people.”
— Sonika, Kairali Niketan Golden Jubilee College
Conference Highlights
Chairperson: Ms. Jane Sahe, Former Faculty, Azim Premji University
“YSI removed the hierarchy and brought students and faculty together as co-creators of a new campus culture.”
Chief Guest: Prof. Lakshma Reddy, Principal, SJES College
Praised the initiative as a much-needed step toward ethical education.YSI Student Fellow: Tony (Srushti Degree College)
Key Insight Explored:
Wellbeing begins with truth. When students connect with their inner voice — their conscience — they naturally move toward integrity.Reflective Practice Papers: Each participant wrote about their journey, turning action into insight — a tradition continued in every YSI conference since.
Why YSI 2018 Mattered
This wasn’t just a one-day event. It was the spark that lit a movement.
From YSI 2018, we learned:
- Real change starts with student agency, not top-down programs
- Trust can be rebuilt through small, doable actions
- When students are given space, they don’t just fix problems — they transform culture
- Co-creation works best when rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and timeless values like Satyam (Truth)
As Lakshmi Hariharan, Curator of YSI, says:
“YSI gave a platform where students talked, and adults listened.”
And so, it began.
Legacy of YSI 2018
- Inspired 4 more annual conferences (2019–2022)
- Laid the foundation for the vision: “Co-create beautiful possibilities”
- Proved that even one honest conversation can ripple across a campus
- Became the blueprint for future YSI Design Challenges
The Treasure Box remains a symbol of what happens when young people lead with courage, care, and conviction.
