YuWaah (GenU India)

As a catalytic multi-stakeholder partnership, YuWaah is dedicated to transforming the lives of 350 million+ young people in India. With 40% of India’s population being youth, the largest in the world, the time for change is now!

With schools shut, rekha continues her studies on her phone. Village Kantivaas,  Banaskantha, Gujarat, India
UNICEF/UN0378322/Panjwani

Launched in 2019, YuWaah (Generation Unlimited in India) at UNICEF has benefited over 76 million young people to date through opportunities for skills development and employment, social innovation and entrepreneurship, career guidance, civic action and volunteering avenues. 

While both the public and private sectors in India have recognized the barriers young people face, efforts to address these challenges have often been fragmented and not youth-centric. 

That’s where YuWaah steps in—working hand in hand with Central and State Governments, the private sector, industry associations, UN agencies, civil society, and young people. YuWaah's vision is to support young people across the country by connecting them to socio-economic opportunities and engaging them as active changemakers.

YuWaah’s Strategic Priorities in India:
 

  • Build pathways for 100 million young people to aspirational economic opportunities
  • Facilitate 200 million young people to gain relevant skills aligned with the future of work and lead productive lives
  • Partner with 300 million young people as change-makers and create spaces for developing their leadership

YuWaah, as a collaboration between the public, private sectors, and youth, integrates youth-focused initiatives throughout its activities, partnerships, and decision-making processes. It brings together partners from various sectors to foster ecosystem transformation. YuWaah acts as a convener, facilitator, and co-creator, harnessing the strengths of its partners to enhance socio-economic outcomes for young people. It also prioritizes listening to and amplifying the voices of youth, striving to understand their needs and aspirations.  

YuWaah identifies and expands a range of solutions to empower young individuals nationwide, helping them access suitable skill development and employment opportunities, thus enabling them to become agents of change in society. 

  • More than 12 million young people have been equipped to embark on aspirational economic pathways by accessing job support and opportunities for work and apprenticeships
  • 370,000 young people have been enabled to to drive successful enterprises by accessing innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities
  • 10.7 million young people have been empowered to make informed choices and pursue the same by accessing career guidance and mentorship
  • 5 million young people have been equipped to navigate their personal and professional lives by accessing 21st century skills
  • More than 47 million young people have been empowered to become active changemakers by leading and participating in social impact opportunities 
Group of girls from India cheerfully posing in front of the camera in a green background
Two adolescents fromIndia working at a table. One is focused on a laptop, while the other adjusts a helmet with electronic components and wires attached.

YuWaah is at its core a platform where youth-centric action is co-created, especially facilitated by young Indians from diverse backgrounds who form YuWaah’s Young People’s Action Team (YPAT). They hold a pivotal role in guiding YuWaah’s governance and strategic priorities by actively participating in board meetings, task forces, and working groups. 

To ensure that the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is influenced by the perspectives of young people, the United Nations in India, along with YuWaah and supported by UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, UNHCR, UNV, and UNEP, appointed the first UN India YuWaah Advocates. These six sustainability champions focus on issues such as gender equality, refugee rights, disability inclusion, and environmental conservation.

Uma waving a peace sign during a conference.
YuwaaH

"There is so much that can be done collectively. I believe that no action or decision made for young people should be taken without keeping them at the centre. I am happy to see that partners of YuWaah are also keeping young people at the centre of co creation of the opportunities that will impact them and support in building young India’s capacities as they partner on every issue, policy or programme."

Umalekshmi R. representing young people at YuWaah ‘s Leaders Council Meeting
YuWaah