Youth for Social Development (YSD)

Youth for Social Development (YSD) is dedicated to improving the lives of the rural and urban poor, with a focus on Dalit and Adivasi populations, as well as children, youth, and women, who form the cornerstone of the initiatives. YSD has addressed critical issues related to governance, participation, basic services, child and youth development, and climate justice. YSD facilitates sustainable social and economic development through research, policy analysis, advocacy, participatory community action, and empowerment, with an emphasis on promoting good governance and active citizen participation.

Major Interventions:

Child Rights & Development: YSD aims to improve social protection for children by fostering child-friendly Gram Panchayats. It enhances child resilience and participation by engaging vulnerable children and their families in local decision-making and development planning. Through the formation of "children and adolescent collectives," the program builds capacity for advocacy and safe living conditions, addressing disaster and pandemic risks. Additionally, it promotes child rights and facilitates structured engagement between children, families, and local authorities to ensure access to survival, development, protection, and participation. This model advocates for the effective use of resources and recognizes children's voices in community development.

Strengthening Rural Local Governance and Accountability: This program empowers marginalized communities in Odisha by enhancing participation through baseline surveys and micro-planning in mining-affected villages. It strengthens rural governance by educating communities about their rights, encouraging active local decision-making, and holding officials accountable using social accountability tools. Capacity building for marginalized groups, including Dalits and women, promotes their engagement in participatory planning and budgeting. By forming and training citizen groups, the program enables contributions to Gram Panchayat Development Plans and active participation in Gram Sabha meetings. Through comprehensive data collection and micro-planning, YSD identifies deficiencies in basic services and proposes solutions aligned with the use of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds.

Quality Education for All: YSD has launched Community Learning and Support Centers (CLSCs) in disadvantaged and marginalized communities in Odisha. These centres, staffed by Community Education Facilitators, identify and support dropout children, child labourers, and those with irregular school attendance, especially in slums and remote rural areas. By providing foundational learning in reading, writing, numeracy, and English, along with teaching and learning materials, CLSCs help bridge the learning gap and prepare children aged 6-12 for regular school. Additionally, the Kishori Shakti initiative empowers adolescent girls with education, employability, life skills, and awareness of health and gender issues, fostering their holistic development.

Environment and Climate Justice: The NGO is creating citizen awareness about the environmental and health hazards of waste and e-waste in collaboration with local authorities. By engaging communities and stakeholders, YSD educates on the harmful effects of waste, loss of biodiversity, and environmental challenges while promoting the concept of a 'sharing community' for sustainable consumption and lifestyle. Through demonstration models like e-waste bins and walls of sharing, the initiative encourages practices such as sharing rides, books, and food, and using bicycles for commuting.