Join the Young India Wellness Campaign: Empowering Youth for Healthy and Green Campuses

 

Healthy Campus by Nada India Foundation and National Association of Professional Social workers in India. Join the Young India Wellness Campaign: Empowering Youth for Healthy and Green Campuses

At Young India Wellness (YIW), we're on a mission to create emotionally connected, powerful, and revitalized campuses by fostering youth advocacy centered on three key aspects—self, health, and policy. The YIW campaign, in collaboration with universities and educational institutions across India, seeks to build a generation of health advocates who not only address physical wellness but also promote emotional, mental, and social well-being in a holistic manner. We invite young people and universities to be part of this transformative journey.

A Collaborative Path to a Healthier Future

Over the past years, YIW has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at creating healthier campuses. Our efforts extend beyond just talking about change; we focus on taking actionable steps that make a lasting difference. The campaign has emphasized youth engagement in advocacy and wellness, leveraging the power of young minds to champion important causes like the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the regulation of harmful substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Through our Go Green and Healthy Campus Campaign, we’ve seen active participation from students, faculty, and administrators in embracing healthier lifestyles, reducing environmental harm, and promoting sustainable campus environments. As a result of these efforts, we have successfully integrated well-being, emotional resilience, and health advocacy into campus life.

Advocacy at the Core: Connecting Self, Health, and Policy

The heart of our advocacy approach focuses on empowering youth to connect with themselves, understand health challenges, and influence policy change. YIW’s journey begins with self-advocacy—encouraging young people to become the voice for issues that impact their health and well-being. This step is not just about raising awareness but about taking concrete action.

In Health Advocacy, we provide capacity-building workshops where youth are trained to become caregivers, educators, and health ambassadors. These advocates are equipped with the skills to implement health-focused programs in their communities and universities, ensuring they make real changes in the field of public health. Furthermore, we encourage Policy Advocacy, pushing for legislative reforms and supporting youth activism at local, state, and national levels. Whether it’s raising awareness about the COTPA Act 2003 (which regulates the trade of tobacco products) or advocating for amendments that address public health concerns, YIW ensures youth voices reach decision-makers.

Empowering Young Advocates: Training and Action

The YIW campaign operates through a structured sequence of actions—Identify → Train → Empower → Engage → Activism. We start by identifying vulnerable youth and reaching out to communities, universities, and schools to incorporate them into our campaign.

Through our partnership with V-Lead Academy, we conduct periodic training sessions that cover various advocacy domains such as Train-the-Trainer (TOT), media advocacy, and community engagement. These programs are designed to nurture confident, proactive health advocates who can lead on-campus wellness programs and engage with the broader community.

Empowerment comes from creating safe spaces where young people can express themselves, build confidence, and understand that their concerns will be heard. We ensure that their thoughts are taken seriously and that actionable steps follow. The final stage, youth activism, is where young leaders are encouraged to engage in policy debates, organize community events, and become the driving force behind local and national health movements.

The Role of Universities: Collaboration for a Healthier Campus

Universities play a crucial role in shaping the future of health advocacy and well-being. By partnering with YIW, educational institutions can empower their students to become advocates for healthy living. We believe that health is the foundation of education, and by promoting a DATE (Drug-Free, Alcohol-Free, and Tobacco-Free Environment), universities can cultivate a campus culture that supports healthy choices.

Additionally, our focus on healthy food, active life, and education emphasizes the importance of a balanced lifestyle that nurtures both body and mind. YIW also encourages schools and universities to adopt environmentally friendly practices and engage in Go Green initiatives, further supporting the health of the planet and the well-being of their students.

Call to Action: Be Part of the Change

YIW invites universities and young people from across the country to join us in this important mission. By participating in the Young India Wellness Campaign, you become part of a nationwide movement aimed at building healthier, greener, and more empowered campuses. Together, we can advocate for stronger public health policies, promote emotional resilience, and create a positive, sustainable impact on our communities.

Let’s shape a future where our campuses are places of well-being, empowerment, and revitalization—where students, faculty, and administrators work together for a healthier India. Join the Young India Wellness Campaign today and be the change you want to see.

Together, we can make a difference!