A software engineer in the making, Adinath has been associated with Magic Bus India Foundation from an early stage of his life as a Community Youth Leader and has been passionate about social work since a very young age. In recent years, he has found his interest lean towards climate action and knew he needed to actively contribute to the cause.
Aijaz Ahmad, is a courageous and inspiring youth leader from Badgaum in Srinagar, Kashmir. As a trans person, Aijaz has faced significant challenges and marginalisation within his community, yet they have emerged as a powerful advocate for social change and inclusivity. Their journey of self-discovery and empowerment began during college years, where they found the freedom to embrace their identity and build confidence. Driven by a deep-seated desire to create a positive social impact, Aijaz has dedicated themselves to addressing critical issues related to gender, health, and climate change.
Akhina Mohan VK is a dedicated environmentalist and community leader based in Kannur, Kerala. With a lifelong passion for nature and plants, Akhina pursued a master's degree in environmental science to deepen her understanding of ecological issues. Her commitment to environmental protection was further solidified during her involvement in relief work following the devastating floods in Kerala in August 2018, which served as a transformative experience for her.
Alok is a passionate advocate for rural development and local governance, residing in Sitamarhi, Bihar. With a deep interest in understanding the cultural, political, and ecological significance of rural India, Alok has dedicated his efforts to empowering local communities and asserting the relevance of grassroots governance. Inspired by the Anna Hazare Movement, he made a significant career shift from engineering to community engagement, where he designed a learning journey focused on understanding the realities faced by rural populations.
Anjali is a social worker currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work from University of Lucknow. With a history of volunteering spirit as a part of the NCC and for other organizations, Anjali has been an active member of the civil society since a young age.
Ankush, is a passionate young leader dedicated to social change and community development in New Delhi. His journey began in 10th grade when he initiated a clothing drive to support a Pakistani refugee community, which opened his eyes to the challenges faced by underprivileged children in his vicinity. This experience ignited his desire to make a tangible impact in the lives of those around him. Ankush's involvement with Pravah, an organisation focused on youth engagement and social action for Clean Air Fellowship, further fueled his commitment to community service.
Arunavha, originally from Guwahati, Assam, now makes his home in Samsing, West Bengal. His extensive travels through the remote villages of Northeast India ignited his passion for sustainable, community-driven tourism, which led him to co-found the Muhaan Collective. Arunabha prioritises sustainable, community-led tourism that empowers locals, conserves cultural heritage, retains community land ownership, and creates sustainable youth livelihoods to combat outward migration and foster community development.
Ashutosh Singh, is a passionate community leader and change-maker based in Mumbai, with over eight years of experience in grassroots activism and social engagement. He is deeply committed to addressing the pressing issue of climate change and has been actively involved in community action through the Magic Bus Foundation, where he has built strong trust and influence within his community. With a PhD in Education, Ashutosh’s notable achievement in career was winning the Water Hero Academy competition, which led to an invitation to Manchester City to receive recognition for his contributions.
Having done his bachelor’s in economics, Dabhi Gaurav Kumar has been involved with the Adivasi Sarvangi Sangh, which focuses on saving water and tribal development. He has an in-depth understanding of climate issues that relate to agriculture and believes that the world needs to and is turning its attention towards organic farming and aims to educate the people of his community about such organic practices
Dimum Pertin, is a passionate young social entrepreneur based in Dambuk, Arunachal Pradesh, dedicated to empowering women from tribal communities through her initiative, Gepo Aali. An Agro-ecology scholar , she is dedicated to empowering local women farmers by building a network of "Agripreneurs." Her motivation stems from personal experiences, particularly the challenges her grandmother faced in accessing native healthy food in her old age. Dimum's work focuses on promoting indigenous varieties of millets, aiming to preserve traditional farming practices and enhance local food security.
After completing his master’s in social work from Loyola College, Chennai, Joel is currently working at the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban communities (IRCTC) as a program manager. He actively works with restelled communities.
Currently pursuing her bachelor’s from Government College, Kishangarh, Jyoti works as a community leader at Magic Bus Foundation. Belonging to a farming family and community, she sees extreme importance and value of that work and wanted to bring that to the children too.
Karan Kumar Nagaar, currently pursuing Bachelors of social work & Arts, belongs from Haryana and embodies the principles of restorative justice and serves as a powerful example of personal growth and redemption. As an ex-prisoner himself, Karan’s experiences have fueled his passion for advocating for the rights and rehabilitation of prisoners, emphasising the importance of second chances and societal reintegration. He is actively involved in the Eco Reform initiative, where he focuses on creating awareness and inspiring action among local communities regarding environmental issues.
Lakshya, is a dedicated neurodivergent professional deeply engaged in the realm of social impact. Based in New Delhi, they focus on addressing intersectional issues with a strong emphasis on fostering kindness and nurturing youth leadership. Lakshay is passionate about the urgent need for collective action to combat the Climate Crisis, believing that collaboration among diverse groups is essential for creating meaningful change.
Laldawnpuii is a Mizo living in the state of Tripura. After setting up Zamzo, a non-profit organization in 2019, plantation and awareness drives on organic farming have been a regular feature at the organization.
Currently pursuing her master’s in social work from Lucknow University, Mahak has been an active participant in the climate action movement having organized a workshop involving young people to raise awareness on micro-plastics and their disposal. Through this initiative, she reached out to 50 young people on alternative methods of plastic disposal that are safe, effective and help the environment.
Manish Saini, is a dedicated and proactive young leader from a rural community in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with over nine years of experience in the social sector. His journey into social activism was inspired by his father's work in the field, which instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility towards his community from an early age. Manish with double masters in commerce and social work and a PhD in rural development, has actively participated in various initiatives focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), life skills, and climate change.
Founder of volunteer-based non-profit ‘Pahchan Foundation’, Siraj leads a group of young volunteers in cleaning the Ganga River near Titagarh and has been appointed IN India YuWaah Advocate for climate change of the very first cohort of UN India of six young people.
Having done their master’s in social work from Bosco Institute, Dibugarh University, both Momee and Tulika have been active in climate action. Momee’s course took her towards organic farming, where she learnt how farming can address health, environment and sustainability-related concerns of her village. A project coordinator at RIGBO, Tulika is of the belief that we must know the roots of our food chain and how we impact it.
Monuwara Begum is a 23-year-old social activist and environmental advocate based in Dakhingaon, Guwahati, Assam. With a strong commitment to instigating positive change within her community, this young post graduate in social work, has dedicated herself to promoting climate action and sustainable practices. After completing her graduation, she became actively involved with YUVA, where she has worked on various initiatives aimed at fostering social change, work rights, women empowerment and environmental awareness.
A graduate from Anna University, Rajeshwar had been a part of the relief effort by Makkal Pathai when Ockhi cyclone had hit his district in 2017, providing food and other necessities and helping fix damaged roads. Having been turned towards social work, and becoming more and more aware of organic farming and renewable sources of energy, he eventually quit his job and started practicing sustainable living and raising awareness.
Narendra Pawar, also from Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, is a passionate individual who has been actively involved in teaching sports and dance to young children at Agrini Public School for the past 10 years. He is very geographically rooted in Seoni and possesses a deep understanding of the local geography & context, informing his work and engagement with the community. His passion for imparting his knowledge of the natural & geographical ecosystems has driven him to contribute significantly to the development of the young, through the organization.
A young farmer from a marginalized community in Jharkhand, Naveen understands the impact of climate change, especially on poor farmers since his own crops have been previously adversely affected by changes in rainfall patterns and extreme heat in Jamshedpur. After an accounts honors degree from Kolhan University, Naveen led young people in his community to work towards cleaning and desilting ponds in the area.
A bachelor’s in science graduate from Swami Vivekanand College, Ujjain, Nidhika currently works at Mera Gaon, Meri Duniya as a Sparsh Leader and is extremely enthusiastic about contributing to the fifth space.
Nikita Sahu, is a passionate and dedicated young leader from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, who has devoted her efforts to advocating for child rights and promoting constitutional values in rural areas. Coming from a humble background, with her father working as a street fruit vendor and her mother as a homemaker, Nikita understands the challenges faced by marginalised communities and is motivated to make a difference.
Omen Pertin, a dedicated 22-year-old agriculturist and co-anchor of the Gepo Ali initiative hails from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Deeply rooted in her community, Omem possesses a profound understanding of local issues and geography, which informs her commitment to creating climate-resilient farming practices. Growing up in the region, she has witnessed significant changes in food practices and is passionate about preserving traditional agricultural knowledge.
As part of her GreEntrepreneur journey, she decided to get into the formal educational spaces in her community and start engaging with teachers, students and management to inspire them to set up nutrition gardens. During this period, she reached out to 2 schools, and convinced the authorities to set up nutrition gardens she calls ‘Nutri Clubs’. That didn’t stop there, she also galvanized the members of her community to come together and hold dialogues on effects of climate change in their lives and the ways to mitigate that.
Currently pursuing his master’s in sociology from University of Lucknow, Pawan has always been passionate about the climate crises and was a part of the Clean Air Fellowship, under which he reached out to more than 2,500 people and trained them in vermicompost preparation.
Currently pursuing her Bsc from Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, Prachi found a deep connection to nature when she was younger because of her brother. She joined her brother’s NGO, Paryavaran Society where she acquired skills required to rescue animals, especially reptiles.
As a student at Delhi University, Prakhar is the coordinator of Eco-Club, the Environment Society of his college where he conducts plantation drives in and around the college campus. He started ‘Young Influx’ which is an online youth-focused platform, where he publishes stories of youth working in the climate sector.
Pratap Kumar Deo, hails from Chhamunda village, a tribal-dominated rural area in Jujomura block of Sambalpur district, Odisha. He is an enthusiastic young leader with a strong passion for community work, particularly in the fields of climate change and sustainability. With a post graduation degree in Rural development & extensive active citizenship experience through his involvement with the organisation Patang, Pratap has been dedicated to grassroots initiatives for many years. He is a self-starter who embraces responsibility for his community and learns through hands-on experiences.
Priyanka Kumari is a dedicated youth community leader and advocate for women's empowerment based in Sitamarhi, Bihar. As the first woman in her family to complete her 10th-grade education, Priyanka has always been driven by a desire to create opportunities for herself and others. Her educational journey led her to Miranda House at Delhi University, where she was inspired by the culture of freedom and empowerment for women.
After starting work with Patang, Rashmita, who is from Nua Adhapara village in Sambalpur, got to know the relationship between forest conservation and its impact on climate change. Passionate about forest conservation, she wanted to uphold community and individual forest rights and that’s how her journey as a changemaker started.
Rubi has always had an interest in social work, and has had a special interest in topics relating to the environment. From a low-income family, Rubi has done her bachelor’s and is passionate about mobilizing young people to affect change.
A graduate from Anna University, Rajeshwar had been a part of the relief effort by Makkal Pathai when Ockhi cyclone had hit his district in 2017, providing food and other necessities and helping fix damaged roads. Having been turned towards social work, and becoming more and more aware of organic farming and renewable sources of energy, he eventually quit his job and started practicing sustainable living and raising awareness.
Currently pursuing his bachelor’s, Saddam Husain belongs to the extremely marginalized Van Juggar community of Uttarakhand. He got associated with team Maee in 2019, where he learnt the importance of environmental protection and works twice a week with the local youth and team Maee towards the protection of wild animals.
Sangam Kumari, is a young and enthusiastic environmental advocate from Jamui, Bihar, with a deep-rooted connection to her agricultural heritage. Coming from a farming family in Simultala, Sangam has witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change on her community, including rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. She has actively participated in initiatives aimed at conserving natural resources and empowering local farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural methods.
Shabaz is a master’s in social work graduate from IGNOU and has been engaged in social impact work since 2012. Having witnessed grave injustice and issues such as domestic violence, gender discrimination, malnutrition and child labour, he decided to start Sky Trust with Zahida for the betterment of marginalised communities.
A local from Ahmedabad, Yasar has been working on the issue of climate change for the past two years and has worked with various youth groups and has led campaigns with a local organization Urja Ghar.
Shirish Chouriya is a dedicated youth leader committed to inspiring grassroots environmental protection through Wild Roots Nursery & Nature Community Resource in Kurai village, Madhya Pradesh. He aims for environmental conservation by nurturing rewilding, agroforestry, and promoting forest-based livelihoods. He has also recognised gaps in the public education system and has leveraged his international exposure to enhance educational opportunities at Agrini Public School.
Shivam Kumar is a dedicated wildlife conservationist and passionate advocate for biodiversity based in Rohtas, Bihar. With a background in Mathematics, Shivam initially pursued a career in banking but made a pivotal decision to redirect his efforts towards wildlife conservation after witnessing the cruelty and neglect faced by animals. This life-altering experience ignited his commitment to protecting wildlife and promoting environmental awareness.
Shivani Kumari is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and women's empowerment, hailing from Jamui, Bihar. Growing up in Bokaro, Jharkhand, she witnessed the adverse effects of industrialization on rural communities, including pollution and health issues. This experience ignited her commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices and improving the livelihoods of marginalised communities, particularly women.
Shraddha, is a passionate community leader from Kurai village of Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, who has transformed her personal challenges into a driving force for change. Despite facing obstacles that prevented her from pursuing higher education, she emerged as a strong advocate for climate action and environmental conservation. As the sole earning member of her family, Shraddha has taken on significant responsibilities while nurturing her love for education and community service.
Shreyansh Srivastav, also from Delhi, is an emerging young leader committed to social justice and community empowerment. He has demonstrated his commitment to social causes by organising blood donation camps and, in partnership with an NGO, a job fair for people with disabilities. Passionate about his work, he is also eager to integrate climate initiatives into their organisation.
Sneha Chauhan, is a dynamic and passionate young leader from a remote village in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. Coming from a farming family, she has demonstrated resilience and independence from a young age, supporting her education through part-time jobs while actively engaging in community service. With a strong background in social activism and masters in sociology, Sneha has been an active member of the National Service Scheme (NSS) during her college years, where she honed her leadership skills and commitment to community development.
Snobin Prakash K, is a certified safety engineer and passionate advocate for climate action, residing in Kannur, Kerala. With a strong background in risk assessment and hazard prevention, Snobin has developed a keen understanding of the environmental challenges facing communities today. Having left his job to focus on climate action, Snobin has been actively involved with Alarmo since its inception, working alongside Akhina to engage the community in environmental initiatives.
Currently working at Sundarban Green Environment Association in the mangrove plantation and conservation project, Soumya is passionate about preserving the biodiversity and ecosystem of the Sundarban delta.
Suneel Sagar is a dedicated youth leader from Khetrajpur village in Sambalpur region of Odisha. He has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including poverty and marginalisation. Despite these obstacles, Suneel has demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness, passion, and determination. A self-taught individual, he has continued his education through scholarships and has worked part-time jobs since the 8th grade to support his family. Suneel has volunteered with an organisation called ABCD (Any Body Can Develop), where he ran free tuition classes for children in his slum.
Pursuing his master’s in social work from University of Lucknow and working with an organization called Climate Agenda, Uday has always been an enthusiastic participant in the climate action space. He has been a part of ‘signing an oath’ campaign where 5,000 people had signed an oath to work to stop climate change and wants to work at a policy level to get to the goal of zero emissions.
Vicky, a self-taught visual artist and social entrepreneur from Kalimpong, leads Muhaan with a vision to connect communities through tourism. As a founding member of the Neora Valley Sustainable Ecological Society, Vicky collaborates with forest communities to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about ecological issues. His artistic endeavours not only highlight the beauty of the region but also emphasise the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
From an underprivileged family in Baramulla, Kashmir, Zahida faced several challenges as a young person. Youth Groups of IGSSS gave her the chance to discover herself and a space to engage with the community and in 2017, she registered for an organization under the name of Stand for Kashmiri Youth Trust (SKY Trust), where she is now the president.
Belonging to a family of farmers, Tushar has done master’s in social work and volunteered throughout college through NSS on tree plantation, education of children and floor relief in areas like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Raigad.
