Yuvoday Initiative Transforms Bastar: Empowering Communities and Youth for Lasting Social Impact in Chhattisgarh

Yuvoday, an initiative launched on September 23, 2020, is transforming the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh by empowering the local community. With a team of over 8,000 young volunteers, Yuvoday aims to bridge the gap between the government and the community while channeling the energy of the youth towards positive change. The organization works in partnership with UNICEF, the Bastar district administration, and local communities to improve health, nutrition, and resilience in the region, making it free from malnutrition and more resilient to COVID-19. Additionally, Yuvoday promotes local culture, tourism, and helps provide education and health services to all.
Volunteers in Yuvoday receive regular training to raise awareness about various issues, including adolescent health, mental well-being, maternal and newborn care, education, and environmental protection. As of 2024, Yuvoday has registered 8,226 volunteers, with over 1,200 actively engaged in various activities. The organization has made significant contributions, such as raising awareness about clean drinking water among more than 28,000 people, educating over 18,000 individuals about malaria prevention, and promoting proper handwashing techniques to more than 19,000 people.
In the education sector, Yuvoday volunteers have organized more than 2,300 Mohalla classes, ensuring access to education for children in remote areas. They have also focused on nutrition, educating mothers at Anganwadi centers about nutritious diets like “Tiranga Bhojan” and building 18 nutrition gardens. Over 6,000 mothers have been made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding.
Yuvoday volunteers have also made significant efforts in the field of health and hygiene. They have informed 7,706 women about menstrual hygiene and emphasized the need for menstrual hygiene kits in schools. Additionally, they have focused on the cleanliness of public toilets, encouraged 446 pregnant women to get vaccinated, and taught 18,672 children the importance of handwashing. The volunteers have also helped more than 16,000 individuals who lacked ration cards, Ayushman Bharat cards, or caste certificates.
Following the success of Yuvoday in Bastar, the initiative has expanded to nine other districts in Chhattisgarh, including Kondagaon, Bijapur, Bilaspur, Kabirdham, Dantewada, Rajnandgaon, Jashpur, Durg, and Janjgir-chapa. This community-driven program brings positive changes wherever it reaches, demonstrating the power of youth-led initiatives in driving social change and empowering communities.