Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) works towards creating a humane, just, and equitable society based on the principles of social justice, gender justice, environmental sustainability, honesty, integrity, secularism, and democracy. Guided by its vision of a society free from oppression and exploitation, YUVA facilitates people’s collectives, strengthens participation in governance, and engages in advocacy and policy dialogues to ensure dignity, security, and peace for all.

Major Interventions:

Poverty Alleviation: YUVA addresses the multi-dimensional nature of poverty, focusing on access to secure housing, dignified livelihoods, and basic services. It works closely with urban poor communities to uphold the ‘Right to the City’ and facilitates access to entitlements, legal support, and social protection schemes. It strengthens community leadership and supports grassroots collectives to advocate for land rights, resist forced evictions, and participate in inclusive urban planning.

Dignified Work for All: YUVA partners with informal workers, such as construction workers and street vendors, to promote fair wages, welfare benefits, and just working conditions. It enables workers to form and strengthen collectives, connects them with social security schemes, and supports capacity building for financial independence.

Child Rights Friendly Communities and Cities: YUVA fosters environments where children are recognised as equal stakeholders. It facilitates children’s collectives, promotes participation in decision-making processes, and supports access to safe spaces for learning and play. Through campaigns, creative learning initiatives, and community protection mechanisms, YUVA advances child rights and protection.

Youth Empowerment for Active Citizenship: YUVA empowers young people to claim their social, economic, political, and cultural rights by building leadership skills, promoting constitutional values, and encouraging participation in governance. It also integrates climate justice into urban development, promoting nature-based solutions, community-led greening, and resilience building in vulnerable settlements.