The National Conference on Youth in Social Change 2026 brings together young people, educators, social change makers, professionals, and organisations to explore the role of skills in creating meaningful and sustainable social change.
Theme: “Skills for Social Change”
Creating social change requires more than good intentions. It requires the right skills, the confidence to act, and the willingness to use one's abilities for the benefit of others. This year’s conference aims to encourage young people to recognise that every individual has the potential to contribute to society when knowledge, skills, empathy, and a spirit of service come together.
The conference will provide a platform for participants to listen, learn, engage, and experience. Through keynote addresses and conversations with social change makers, participants will gain insights into how individuals and organisations have translated their skills and ideas into meaningful action.
A key feature of this year’s conference will be hands-on skill-training sessions, enabling participants to learn practical skills that can be useful both in everyday life and in volunteering and community engagement.
Conference Highlights:
- Keynote Addresses by Social Change Makers – Inspiring perspectives and experiences from individuals who have created meaningful impact in society.
- Panel Discussion – An interactive conversation exploring why skills matter for volunteers and how young people can use their knowledge, abilities, and interests to contribute to social change.
- Hands-on Skill Training – Participants will have an opportunity to choose one practical skill-training session. Proposed sessions include CPR, First Aid, Culinary Arts, Self-Defense, Photography, and Design Thinking, conducted across various institutions of MAHE.
- Connecting Skills with Service – Opportunities for participants to understand how personal and professional skills can be applied to volunteering, community initiatives, and social causes.
- Ideas, Inspiration and Networking – A platform for young people to interact with social change makers, peers, institutions, and organisations and discover new possibilities for contributing to society.
From Learning to Action
The conference seeks to reinforce a simple idea: everyone has something to give. Giving need not always be financial—it can be one's time, skills, knowledge, creativity, or expertise.
By connecting skill development with volunteering and social responsibility, the conference hopes to inspire young people to move from awareness to action and become active contributors to positive change.
The conference will also promote the spirit of Daan Utsav – the Festival of Giving, encouraging participants to discover their own ways of giving and contributing to their communities.
The key takeaway from the conference will be not only inspiration, but also the understanding that when skills are combined with empathy and a willingness to serve, every individual has the capacity to make a difference.
Important Dates:
Last Date to register for the conference: September 15, 2026
Last Date to send entries for Poster : September 15, 2026
Conference: September 17, 2026