Reimagining Youth Engagement through Peer Leadership, Health Advocacy & Healthy Campus
By Aanvi Chauhan Community Action Team, Nada India Foundation
As a CAT member myself, I’ve seen this shift firsthand. My name is Aanvi Chauhan, and as a young woman from Shimla and a part of the Nada India Community Action Team, I’ve come to realize that meaningful youth engagement isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about trusting our voices, experiences, and energy to shape healthier communities.
We see young people not as passive recipients but as active stakeholders, problem solvers, and torchbearers of healthier, more informed communities. The Community Action Team (CAT) model is Nada India’s response to this shift—an inclusive framework that empowers youth to move from awareness to advocacy, and from conversation to community transformation.
Why Mobilizing Youth Matters—Right Now
India’s youth face a unique paradox. On one hand, they’re more aware and connected than ever; on the other, they battle loneliness, stress, substance use, misinformation, and lack of access to judgment-free health services. They are both the most impacted by public health challenges and the most capable of addressing them.
Nada India Foundation recognized this early on. Through CATs, we harness the power of peer-to-peer communication—because health messages shared by a friend, a classmate, or a fellow volunteer are often more trusted and impactful than top-down lectures.
One of the most inspiring aspects of working with Nada India is the leadership style of its Chairperson, Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan. His approach is inclusive, democratic, and deeply human. Mr. Vatsyayan leads not by command but by connection. Whether you’re a new intern or a long-standing CAT member, he makes sure no one feels left out of the mission. He creates a space where youth aren’t just included—they’re essential. He often reminds us that youth are not incomplete adults, but individuals with full potential, insight, and the power to lead social change. Nada India’s policies reflect this belief: young people are encouraged to lead projects, make decisions, face real-world challenges, and learn by doing—all with supportive guidance. That’s why mobilizing youth under this model isn’t just timely—it’s transformative.
In the age of social media, rising mental health issues, and digital misinformation, mobilizing youth as advocates for themselves and their communities is not optional—it’s urgent.
The CAT Model: From Awareness to Action
The Community Action Team (CAT) model is not just a structure—it’s a way of thinking, doing, and leading from the ground up. Rooted in Nada India’s youth-centred philosophy, CATs guide young people through a transformative 3-step process that enables real impact:
Talk: It starts with courageous conversations. CATs break the silence around pressing issues like menstruation stigma, substance abuse, mental health struggles, and sexual and reproductive rights—often in peer-to-peer settings where voices are heard, not judged.
Walk: This isn’t symbolic—it’s literal. CAT members take to their campuses, communities, and social spaces to conduct surveys, hold listening circles, document gaps, and build solidarity with frontline health workers. They walk side by side with the people they serve, gaining ground-level insights that inform the next step.
Task: Insights lead to action. Whether it's hosting an awareness drive, co-designing health info kits, creating visual campaigns, or engaging with local authorities for better services, CAT members move from awareness to accountability.
A powerful example of the “Walk” and “Task” in action is Nada India’s “100 Steps Challenge”—a simple, inclusive health campaign that invites everyone to take just 100 steps a day for their personal well-being. What starts as 100 steps becomes 200, then 500—each step is a commitment to self-care and a reminder that well-being begins with small, consistent actions.
Deepika, a CAT from Kurukshetra and an intern with Nada India, beautifully captured the essence of this campaign. She quotes: “Small steps make big changes.” She shared her personal struggle with staying active during a post-exam break. After being consistent with exercise in college, she experienced a complete pause during her two-month holiday, feeling lazy and inactive. This challenge helped her ease back into physical activity, not as a chore, but as a mindful act of self-care. Here’s what she said
“कॉलेज के समय मैं थोड़ी बहुत एक्सरसाइज करती थी, लेकिन एग्ज़ाम्स के बाद 2 महीने का ब्रेक मिलते ही सब बंद हो गया और मैं बहुत सुस्त हो गई। कोई शारीरिक गतिविधि नहीं होती थी। फिर सर सुनील ने मुझे ‘100 steps challenge’ दिया और मैंने उसे स्वीकार किया। डेली वीडियो बनाने की वजह से मुझे चलना पड़ता था, जिससे मेरा आलस कम होने लगा। धीरे-धीरे ये आदत बन गई। यह अनुभव बहुत ही सकारात्मक रहा क्योंकि पहली बार मैंने कोई टास्क 7 दिन तक लगातार किया। अब मुझे एहसास हुआ कि its true “small steps lead to big changes in life.”
Through this challenge, CAT members inspire their peers, families, and communities to prioritize movement—not for fitness fads, but for mental clarity, emotional balance, and sustainable health. The challenge has become a symbolic and practical way to promote personal responsibility and collective motivation.
In essence, this campaign turns something as basic as walking into a daily act of advocacy. It brings the CAT philosophy to life: health isn’t just taught, it’s practiced—and led by example.
Nada India’s Ideology in Action
Nada India Foundation stands for more than just health interventions—it stands for inclusion, participation, and transformation. At its core, Nada’s ideology emphasizes youth leadership, harm reduction, open dialogue, and community-based advocacy. The CAT model brings this ideology to life by handing the mic—and the mission—to young people.
Across India, CATs are not just spreading awareness—they are creating change through action. Here are a few powerful examples that reflect Nada’s ideology in motion:
From Shimla: CAT members including myself and fellow peers, have taken part in a range of meaningful activities rooted in community interaction.
I, Aanvi Chauhan personally had the opportunity to conduct an interview with an ASHA worker named Sudha Krishan in Shimla. Listening to her speak about her responsibilities—from distributing polio drops to escorting patients to hospitals—made me understand how crucial frontline health workers are in rural and semi-urban healthcare delivery. Her story deserved to be heard, and I felt honoured to document it. "When I listened to her journey, I realized that-real healthcare warriors don’t wear white coats—they walk miles, knock doors, and serve silently. Their stories must be heard."
Similarly, CAT member Sharanya Mahajan from Shimla took a strong initiative by interviewing a young woman named Akriti Yadav, the senior manager- outreach and advocacy (women , environment and animals) of Lafiduce organisation on women empowerment, focusing on her experience in breaking gender stereotypes and promoting education for girls in her community. Her powerful words still resonate with me and many others who are reading. Sharanya also shared a podcast of the interview on YouTube spreading the message of women empowerment. She believes “Empowerment is not given; it’s claimed—one decision, one step at a time.”
Yuvika Kaul, another CAT member from Shimla, conducted a sensitive and deeply inspiring interview with a former drug user. By sharing his personal journey of recovery, he not only broke stereotypes but also reminded us all that healing is possible with the right support system. Yuvika reflected on the experience by saying, “When we listen without judgment, we create space for change. Recovery begins not in isolation, but in understanding.”
From Jamshedpur: The CAT members here also took campuses, communities, and social spaces to conduct surveys and walk side by side people, talking to them and hearing them out.
One such example is the local climate change awareness survey conducted by CAT member Krrish Tiwari in Jamshedpur. Speaking to over 40 people of different age groups, he uncovered not only generational gaps but a surprising lack of awareness among adults regarding basic environmental threats. As Krrish said during our youth forum, “We can't fight what we don’t understand—climate literacy should be as essential as health literacy.” This highlighted how today's youth understand that well-being isn’t just personal—it’s planetary.
Take a look at Shimla in 1865 and in 2012. The amount of development but mind my words “We paved the way to tomorrow with concrete, but buried nature’s heartbeat beneath it."
Another inspiring CAT member Srishti Darshan Sinha from the same region also led an interview on blood donation. She interviewed a friend of hers who donated blood for the first time. She described the experience as joyful and fulfilling, not painful or intimidating—challenging myths and encouraging others to do the same. Srishti herself has donated blood and she agreed to what her friend mentioned. Her words were simple but powerful: “You might not know the person you’re helping, but somewhere, someone gets to live because you cared.” That’s the essence of peer-led advocacy.
From Nada’s National Youth Forums: Events organized around days like World Environment Day, International Day Against Drug Abuse, Blood Donation Day, International Yoga Day, Plastic Bag free Day, etc. are no longer ceremonial observances—they’ve become learning labs and leadership platforms. Youth discuss lived experiences, propose campus policies, conduct street plays, and lead panel discussions. These forums are building confident, well-informed young leaders who know how to listen, speak, and act.
These diverse stories—across hills, cities, campuses, and colonies—are the real-life reflections of Nada India’s ideology. They show that when youth are trusted with responsibility and supported with the right tools, they do more than raise awareness—they shape mindsets, shift narratives, and strengthen communities.
Peer Leadership: A Tested Catalyst for Change
One of Nada’s core beliefs is that peers influence behaviour more than professionals—especially when it comes to taboo or emotional topics. Whether it's menstrual hygiene, mental well-being, body image, or sexual health, young people often look to each other before they look to a textbook or a clinic.
What sets Nada India’s CAT model apart is its emphasis on the “adult-to-adult relationship.” Interns, CATs, and youth members are not treated as children or students—but as equal participants. This fosters mutual respect, encourages personal responsibility, and builds long-term confidence. The CAT model harnesses this reality. By training peer leaders in communication, empathy, and advocacy, we build a multiplier effect. Each CAT member becomes a local resource person, reducing stigma, improving awareness, and creating pathways for others to follow.
Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, who mentors all of us with immense patience and insight, believes in pushing us out of our comfort zones. He says, “If you want to lead society, you need to first understand your place in it. And for that, you need to be treated as an equal.” That’s what Nada India gives us—a real-world experience, where we are respected, held accountable, and supported. This adult-to-adult dynamic helps CATs become true peer leaders—not just campaign volunteers. It gives them the insight of their own existence, the courage to lead change, and the space to fail and learn.
And the impact is visible—not just in numbers, but in stories. Youth forums led by CAT members are now platforms for storytelling, shared lived experiences, and collaborative problem-solving. From surveys that map out mental health needs on campus to campaigns demanding accessible sanitary facilities, youth are stepping into roles once reserved for professionals. Personally, I’ve seen the way my own classmates open up during informal listening circles. Sometimes, just being heard without judgment can be the first step toward healing.
The Healthy Campus Vision
A healthy campus is not just about physical infrastructure. It’s about open dialogue, inclusivity, access to accurate health information, and peer-driven support systems. Under the CAT model, Nada India works with colleges and student bodies to make campuses safer and healthier.
This includes:
· Youth-led health clubs and forums
· Training sessions with community health experts
· Health days focusing on stigma, safety, and sustainability
Campuses become microcosms of community change, where what works at the student level can be scaled to society.
From Voices to Vision: The Road Ahead
At its heart, Nada India’s CAT approach is about co-creation. We don’t design for young people—we design with them. And in doing so, we’ve seen remarkable shifts—from silence to speech, from confusion to clarity, from helplessness to health leadership.
Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan’s ideology continues to shape this journey. He believes that youth engagement should not end at participation—it must evolve into ownership. He often shares:
“The role of a mentor is not to give answers, but to ask better questions—and let youth discover their strength through real experiences.”
This philosophy has taught me personally that leadership is not about speaking the loudest, but about listening deeply—to people, to stories, to the needs around you. Whether we’re organizing forums, conducting interviews, or designing campaigns, we’re learning how to lead with empathy, awareness, and courage.
The journey from talk to walk to task is not a one-time campaign—it’s a culture shift. A movement that centres the power, intelligence, and empathy of youth in every health discussion.
In a time where the world needs more resilience, more compassion, and more community-led change, young people—supported by models like CAT and the ideology of Nada India—are stepping up.
And our message is simple:
Trust them, train them, and walk with them.
Because when youth lead, entire communities heal.
Thankyou!
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