Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI)
Nurturing youth leadership through learning, practice, and community action
Young Gamechangers Initiative, Jatni block of Bhubneshwar
A Capacity-Building Collaboration with WHO and UN-Habitat Supporting Youth-Led Action
YGI is a youth leadership and community engagement programme implemented by AaKAS in collaboration with partners such as WHO, UN-Habitat, and local institutions in Jatani, Odisha. The initiative focuses on identifying, training, and mentoring young people to understand local development and health challenges, engage with communities, and translate learning into responsible action. AaKAS played a key role in designing and delivering structured training, facilitating field exposure, mentoring youth groups, and guiding participants through real world problem identification, planning, and community-based interventions. Through the Young Gamechangers Initiative, AaKAS has introduced digital health literacy components, preparing youth to support telemedicine initiatives in their communities. YGI emphasizes learning by doing, strengthening youth capacity to engage with communities thoughtfully, ethically, and sustainably.
Young Gamechangers Initiative, Jatni block of Bhubneshwar
A Capacity-Building Collaboration with WHO and UN-Habitat Supporting Youth-Led Action
YGI is a youth leadership and community engagement programme implemented by AaKAS in collaboration with partners such as WHO, UN-Habitat, and local institutions in Jatani, Odisha. The initiative focuses on identifying, training, and mentoring young people to understand local development and health challenges, engage with communities, and translate learning into responsible action. AaKAS played a key role in designing and delivering structured training, facilitating field exposure, mentoring youth groups, and guiding participants through real world problem identification, planning, and community-based interventions. YGI emphasizes learning by doing, strengthening youth capacity to engage with communities thoughtfully, ethically, and sustainably.
Four Pillars of the Young Gamechangers Initiative (Jatni)
UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat contributed a systems and community-development perspective, helping young participants understand how local challenges connect with broader urban and community contexts. This strengthened their ability to work with communities in a structured and participatory way.
World Health Organisation
Through coordination with the World Health Organization, the initiative integrated public health thinking, ethical engagement, and evidence-based approaches. This enabled young game changers to apply scientific reasoning and responsible practices in community work.
AaKAS
AaKAS led the identification, training, and continuous mentorship of young participants. Through structured learning, field exposure, and guided practice, youth were supported to transition toward independent and responsible community action.
Jatni Municipality
The Jatani Municipality supported the Young Game Changers Initiative by facilitating local support and linking youth participants with municipal processes, helping ground the initiative within the local governance context.
“The most powerful lessons don’t come from classrooms alone; they emerge when learning meets lived experience in the field.”
From Training to Collective Action: The Yuva Shakti Club Journey
Through the JYS Club, youth moved from guided activities to taking collective responsibility for community-level initiatives. The club enabled young leaders to plan, engage, and act together, demonstrating a shift toward sustained and independent action rooted in local context, shared values, and practical experience.
Formation of the JYS Club
Youth-Led Community Engagement
Sustained and Independent Action
Jatni Yuva Shakti Club
The Jatni Yuva Shakti Club is a community-based youth collective formed under the Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI) to provide a structured platform for young people in Jatni to engage with local development, health, and social issues. The club brings together motivated youth who have undergone orientation, training, and field exposure to work collaboratively with their communities. Through regular meetings, community interactions, and guided activities, members learn to observe local challenges, engage responsibly with residents, and participate in small but meaningful actions that strengthen community awareness and participation.
The club was created to ensure youth engagement continues beyond short-term trainings by providing a stable space for learning, mentorship, and collective action. It enables young people to stay connected, apply what they learn in real community settings, and contribute thoughtfully to local issues through sustained participation.
Jatni Yuva Shakti (JYS)
The JYS Club is a community-based youth collective formed under the YGI to provide a structured platform for young people in Jatni to engage with local development, health, and social issues. The club brings together motivated youth who have undergone orientation, training, and field exposure to work collaboratively with their communities. Through regular meetings, community interactions, and guided activities, members learn to observe local challenges, engage responsibly with residents, and participate in small but meaningful actions that strengthen community awareness and participation.
The club was created to ensure youth engagement continues beyond short-term trainings by providing a stable space for learning, mentorship, and collective action. It enables young people to stay connected, apply what they learn in real community settings, and contribute thoughtfully to local issues through sustained participation.
From Training to Youth-Led Change on the Ground
Youth Moved From Participation to Ownership
Young participants transitioned from being part of guided activities to taking ownership of community engagement. Decision-making, planning, and coordination increasingly shifted to youth themselves.
A Collective Platform Took Shape
The formation of the JYS Club created a shared space for collaboration, peer learning, and collective action. This platform enabled continuity beyond individual involvement and strengthened collective identity.
Community Engagement Became Youth-Led
Youth began engaging directly with community members, facilitating discussions and initiatives grounded in local realities. This marked a shift toward leadership that was both context-aware and community-rooted.
Experiences That Shaped the Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common queries regarding our initiatives and organization.
What does AaKAS stand for and what is its core focus?
Aarogyam Knowledge to Action Society (AaKAS) is a non-profit organisation working to translate public health research, field experience, and community knowledge into practical, scalable health solutions for rural, tribal, and underserved urban communities.
Where does AaKAS primarily work?
AaKAS has its operational offices in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), with long-standing field experience across rural, tribal, and urban underserved communities. While our teams are based in these locations, our work and collaborations extend nationwide, with initiatives and partnerships across states such as Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, depending on project needs. Through institutional partnerships, we support implementation, research, and capacity-building efforts across multiple regions in India.
Why does AaKAS emphasise research so strongly?
Because solutions that are not grounded in evidence often fail at scale. AaKAS integrates implementation research, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), field evaluations, and learning loops to ensure interventions are effective, context-relevant, and sustainable.
Does AaKAS only work on research projects?
No. Research is a tool, not the end goal. Our work spans program design, field implementation, capacity building, policy support, and system integration, ensuring research findings translate into real-world impact.
What kind of health issues does AaKAS focus on?
We work across:
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- Palliative care and home-based care
- Musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
- Women, adolescent, and community health
- Climate and health
Health systems strengthening and digital health
Who does AaKAS collaborate with?
AaKAS has collaborated with organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, IIPHG, PHFI, academic institutions, local governments, and community-based organisations, depending on the nature of the project.
Can institutions or researchers partner with AaKAS?
Yes. We actively collaborate on research studies, pilots, evaluations, and implementation partnerships, especially where field realities and system-level learning are critical.
How can individuals contribute beyond donations?
Individuals can engage with AaKAS through:
- Volunteering or internships
- Field research and documentation
- Capacity-building initiatives
- Youth leadership and community engagement programs
- Technical or strategic advisory roles
Does AaKAS offer internships or field learning opportunities?
Yes. AaKAS provides field-based learning, research exposure, and mentorship opportunities for students and early-career professionals interested in public health, community engagement, implementation research, and health systems. Over the years, we have worked with and mentored students and professionals from institutions such as TISS Mumbai, TISS Hyderabad, IIPHG, Ashoka University, and other academic and training programmes. These engagements are closely integrated with ongoing field initiatives, allowing participants to learn through real-world public health practice.
Get In Touch With Us!
Phone
+ 91 7383677661
aarogyam.kas@gmail.com
Address
Ahmedabad- SG building, Gota, S. G. Highway, Ahmedabad
Indore- 13, Narmada Nagar, Behind SBI, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 453008