2025
POST EVENT REPORT
Y
Climate
Convening
outh
At the Youth Climate Convening 2024, we came together to honour the memory of
our dear friend Chandra, holding space with tenderness and love. In 2025, this act
of remembrance expanded into a collective space where participants could grieve
those we have lost along the way. As a dedicated corner, the grief table became a
quiet sanctuary for reflection and remembrance, filled with offerings of memory
and love.
1
A Sanctuary of Love and Grief
In Memory of Our Loved Ones
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Executive Summary
Twenty seven young people representing various campaigns, organisations,
collectives and indigenous youth groups came together at Fireflies Intercultural
Centre, Bangalore for the third edition of the Youth Climate Convening. Over the
course of three successive days starting from 10
th
January, 2025 the youths who
primarily work on the intersection of climate and social justice, sat down together
to showcase their works, attended workshops, shared circles and community
baithaks to form meaningful friendship and solidarities across different
movements and spaces.
Brainstorming and identifying the common challenges and roadblocks that young
climate justice campaigners face and the possible ways of helping one another in
different forms and capacities was the raison d’être
1
of YCC 2025.
Introduction to YCC
2024 was recorded as the “world’s warmest year” on record, since record
keeping started in 1880. The extent of loss; not just economic but socio-cultural
due to the rising cases of extreme weather events in the world and our country
remains ever increasing. The impact of climate change felt across geographies
and communities may differ but the need to act, intervene, adapt and mitigate
becomes an immediate need of the hour. For many communities across our
country and the world the phrase “we are a minute to midnight” is increasingly
reduced to “a few seconds to midnight”.
For a better world and to maintain/increase distance from doomsday, the fight
against global catastrophe such as climate change is imperative to our existence.
And most importantly that the fight for a better world, for a better today and
tomorrow cannot ever be an individualistic heroic act, but a collective moral and
ethical necessity.
1
‘Reason to
be/being’
2
The Youth Climate Convening is thus a modest attempt to bridge solidarities
across the Indian subcontinent to accelerate, expand, empower communities by
co-(un)learning and co-sharing experiences and pursue a collective fight for
climate justice by breaking silos and isolations.
YCC started out as a gathering to address the remote nature of the diverse climate
justice movements in the country and collectivize climate action since 2022. This
year, the third edition of YCC was attended by individuals, representatives of
groups, grassroots organisations, and collectives at Fireflies Intercultural Center,
Bangalore in January 2025.
Not only being an inclusive space, it was for many a great opportunity for
participants to resonate with like minded people, to express themselves (knowing
that people will listen to all, accept all and not judge anyone).
However, YCC was not limited to climate-centric work. It also extended to the
fundamental basis of friendship, about knowing people, how they feel, and
empathising on what they are going through. We believe that strong communities
build resilience and hope in times of despair.
3
The Youth Climate Convening is a perfect bonding opportunity for people across movements and states and
understand each other on a personal level for stronger ties and collaborative efforts.
Executive Summary and Introduction02 Purpose of YCC 202504
YCC 2025 · Building Solidarity and Centering Indigenous Youth Leadership05
Diversity & Representation of Indigenous Youth at YCC 202505
DAY 1 · 10 JAN
Workshop | POSH Safety & Wellbeing14
Check-ins and Breaking the Ice12
Intention Setting13
DAY 2 · 11 JAN
Community Agreements17
Workshop | Art of Presence24
Building a Solidarity Wall26
Work Showcase19
DAY 3 · 12 JAN
Community Identity28
Mapping Priorities29
Community Baithaks30 Reflections and Testimonies32
Roadblocks to Youth Leadership24
EXTRAS
YCC 2025 Group Photo & Recap in Photos28 Financial Budget28
Your Guide To
YCC 2025 Report
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5
Purpose* of YCC 2025
Building on past experiences of the two YCC’s, the YCC 2025 was aimed at
building a continuity with the collective experiences from past learning and also
adding on to the understanding of the ever-evolving challenges, needs, and
expectations. And in doing it makes a humble effort and a pledge resolving to
fight, heal and grow together. The broad purpose is listed below:
“The YCC is a youth convening in its truest sense.
To repeat the cliché, it is indeed a convening of
“the youths, by the youths and for the youths””.
The convening as a collective space for introspection whilst sharing one’s
achievements and challenges faced in the previous year.
As a safe space to share our concerns and burnouts to find ways and means
of caring and looking out for each other.
Identifying common resources, issues, challenges across geographies and
cultures to build solidarities and commit to meaningful strategic action
together across geographies.
Building a horizontal common ground for all groups to enable working
together according to needs and demands.
*
‘As collectively discussed and agreed upon during the Intention Setting Session on 10 January, 2025
Self Introspection
Sharing & Caring
Building Bridges
Common Platform
6
Building Solidarity & Centering
Indigenous Youth Leadership
The Youth Climate Convening marked a powerful moment of collective learning,
solidarity, and co-creation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth across
India. Over the past three years, this convening has evolved into a vital space
where diverse youth unite to reimagine climate justice—grounded in lived
experiences, traditional knowledge systems, and shared aspirations for a more
just and equitable future.
This year, a deliberate and thoughtful effort was made to expand space for
Indigenous youth leadership. Young Indigenous people from regions including
Manipur, Odisha, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana brought
invaluable insights shaped by their identities, ancestral wisdom, and the lived
realities of their communities. Their presence deeply enriched the convening,
offering grounded reflections on how Indigenous peoples experience and respond
to the climate crisis.
Alongside them, non-Indigenous youth entered the space with humility and a
genuine commitment to allyship—choosing to listen, learn, and stand in solidarity.
Together, they nurtured a space rooted in mutual respect, recognizing that true
climate justice requires supporting and standing beside Indigenous youth
leadership, not speaking over or overshadowing it.
Indigenous people from various states of India collaborated at YCC 2025, expanding its template for a
National Youth Indigenous Convening, dedicated to indigenous youth and people in India.
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The convening became a site of peer-to-peer learning, where young people shared
how they relate to the climate justice discourse from their varied contexts.
Through open conversations, the group collectively explored how climate
intersects with land rights, migration, identity, culture, education, livelihoods,
agriculture, food systems, gender, and mental health. These intersectional
reflections laid the foundation for a broader, more inclusive understanding of
climate justice, affirming historical responsibility and shared commitment. The
leadership of Indigenous youth from this region is therefore not only essential—it
is transformative.
As a continuous effort, this year’s convening was more than just a gathering—it
was a space of trust-building, emotional honesty, and shared responsibility. Both
Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants expressed a deep commitment to
long-term solidarity rooted in mutual respect, love, and care. Together, they
envisioned climate justice not only as a goal but as a lived practice.
Central to this vision was a strong call to center Indigenous and tribal youth in
climate decision-making processes. Participants emphasized that Indigenous
worldviews—embodied in traditional knowledge systems, community-led
governance, and forest stewardship—must be acknowledged, actively
supported, and protected. The convening also underscored the urgent need for
equitable access to climate finance and philanthropic support for Indigenous
youth-led initiatives, recognizing that real change requires equitable resource
allocation. A co-curated theme that emerged organically through the reflections
was “Intergenerational Indigenous Rights”. Indigenous youth highlighted the
importance of identifying and connecting with peers working at climate, land, and
Indigenous Worldviews intersections. This collective vision led to the ideation of
an Indigenous Youth Convening—an intentional space to deepen shared learning,
honor intergenerational knowledge, and strengthen organizing and solidarity
across regions.
In all, the Youth Climate Convening reaffirmed that when Indigenous youth take
the lead—and non-Indigenous youth show up in solidarity—climate justice is no
longer just a distant dream but a powerful, collective reality in the making. It is a
reminder that those who have contributed the least to the crisis continue to give
the most in protecting our planet—and it is our collective duty to listen, support,
and act alongside them.
Indigenous Peoples’ contributions are essential in designing
and implementing solutions for ecosystems. Traditional
knowledge and heritage can contribute to environmental
assessments and sustainable ecosystem management.
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
8
Participating Groups
THE
ADIVASI POST
INDIGENOUS
PERSPECTIVES
STEP OF
INSPIRATION
INDIA INDIGENOUS
YOUTH NETWORK
REACH THE
UNREACHED
THE
GENDER LAB
HEATWAVE
ACTION COALITION
AMCHE
MOLLEM
LET INDIA
BREATHE
CLIMATE
FRONT INDIA
THERE IS
NO EARTH B
FRIDAYS FOR
FUTURE INDIA
KISAN SATHI
FOUNDATION
9
Diversity at YCC 2025
The YCC 2025 has a special emphasis on Indigenous youth representation, with
nine participants representing their indigenous-led organisations and spaces at
the convening. Here’s a map highlighting the wide reach of YCC participants
across India - based on where they and their campaigns are rooted.
Map Not To Scale.
For Representational Purposes Only
ODISHA
DELHI
UTTAR
PRADESH
MAHARASHTRA
CHATTISGARH
GUJARAT
TELANGANA
GOA
TAMIL NADU
PONDICHERRY
MANIPUR
KARNATAKA
KERALA
N
COLOUR GUIDE
Indigenous participation
Non-indigenous participation
Indigenous & non-indigenous participation
DAY ONE • 10 JANUARY
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Check-ins and
Breaking the Ice
The first day of the Youth Climate Convening 2025 was to ensure participants
reach the venue safely, get to check-in and settle in, followed by a POSH
Workshop and later set the intentions for convening.
Participants from all over the country joined us, bringing with them excitement,
energy, and stories from afar. Upon arriving, the Reception committee of the YCC
catered to greeting them with fruits, tea, coffee and snacks. For many this space
was a medium to transcend virtual friendship to meeting physically each other for
the first time.
Participants later gathered in a circle to briefly introduce themselves, share the
meanings of their names, and mention a sign they associate with. The signs not
only emanated what people associate with but were also a fun way of
understanding and remembering people. From raised fists, to love symbols,
salutations, hugs, flowers, wide-arms, etc. came out together to showcase the
nature of colourful people that introduced themselves.
T’was quite a fun way of getting to know each other!
For an enthusiastic start to the three-day convening, participants were encouraged to go beyond normal
introduction rounds and express themselves using gestures to represent what their name meant
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A broad overview of the previous YCC was shared with the participants first so
as to draw the contours of what YCC stands for. Later participants were asked
about their expectation of why they were there.
Thus, this introductory session was a space where all the participants were
encouraged to share about their own individual intentions for the Convening. In
addition to the individual intention(s), it was also the space and opportunity for
setting a broad collective intention, along with an overview on YCC.
Intention Setting
Participants noted their intentions, experiences and expectations from the convening on a white
board (digitally recreated here), as they reflected upon their values and goals as a part of YCC 2025.
WHY ARE WE HERE
?
R
E
-
A
L
I
G
N
I
N
G
C
O
L
L
E
C
T
I
V
E
P
O
S
I
T
I
O
N
Fun
REAFFIRMATION OF
COMMUNITY
UPLIFTING
EACH OTHER
Travel
ACKNOWLEDGING &
STRENGTHENING
YOUTH SPACES BY
YOUNG PEOPLE
PAIN & OPPRESSION
Meeting people
^
MOVING OUT OF
SILOS
STRONGER
TOGETHER
Connect
Zoom se zameen tak!
Relax
Take & Give support
WE ARE NOT ALONE
BRING ANIMALS
TO THE CLIMATE
CONVERSATION
LEARNING EXCHANGE
STORIES
Hit refresh!
Create a safe space
Unwind
BUILDING
BRIDGES
New Ideas
Making Memories
Build PERSONAL
RESILIENCE
IDENTIFY NEW SKILLS
TO CONTRIBUTE
Solidarity
CRITICAL THINKING
N
E
W
S
T
R
A
T
E
G
I
E
S
Connection to Collab
Personally check in w ppl.
Co-learn
Being hopeful
Fight together
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For a detailed, printable guide on POSH Policies and workplace safety, please scan the QR code on this page
Carrying on from YCC 2024, it is important to continue making our spaces safe
and inclusive. After the participants settled in, the workshop took everyone
through the importance of safe spaces, POSH policies and procedures.
The session was an open interaction with the participants, and the importance of
considering the YCC as a workplace was highlighted, and a POSH structure was
set in place. After providing context on what makes a workplace safe and what
doesn't, it was clearly established that YCC has a zero-tolerance policy for any
instance of bullying, sexual violence and/or harassment. The session focused on
cultivating a safe and empowered space by telling the participants about
identifying, reporting and asking for support for such cases.
As for takeaways, the movement acknowledged a need for legal support and
mental health aid for complainants and respondents. The session also set an
easy-to-adapt blueprint for participants to follow and carry forward the
conversation on POSH safety and wellbeing within their organizations/groups and
social circles using the deck linked below. The workshop also emphasized on
other forms of harassment as well and set up strict guidelines and recourse.
Remember FRIES when you’re discussing and taking one’s consent:
POSH* & Wellbeing Workshop
THE F.R.I.E.S METHOD OF ENSURING CONSENT
Freely Given Reversible Informed Enthusiastic Specific
*
Prevention of Sexual Harassment (& Bullying)
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To understand the importance of a bullying/harassment-free workplace, the
workshop defined all the essentials first. Here’s a quick recap:
Takeaways from
the POSH Workshop
An environment in which people come together to achieve a shared professional
goal. It is a space that fosters growth, productivity, harmony, and is underpinned by
consensual and ethical interactions within a professional work atmosphere.
An Ideal Workspace
Bullying/harassment can often start in subtle ways that are difficult to spot. Being
aware of these red flags can help you seek support/safety early on:
Your or a person’s
consent and choices
are invalidated
Your or a person’s
personal boundaries
are not respected
There’s a power
dynamic imbalance
between people
How to identify bullying/harassment
Physical contact
and/or advances
Demand/request for
sexual favours
Sexually coloured
remarks
Definition of Sexual Harassment as per POSH Act
Unwelcome physical verbal/non-verbal
conduct of sexual nature
Showing pornographic
content
Steps to take in instance of bullying/harassment
Speak up.
Seek help.
Document all possible means of evidence – screenshots,
video, photos, etc. – to support your stance & claims.
Reach out to your seniors to address
any harmful behaviour
Seek mental health support from
friends/therapists/trusted people
DAY TWO • 11 JANUARY
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Community Agreements
A village is formed by a set of norms that are collectively agreed upon by each
participant. Similarly in the making of our very own village i.e. YCC, Community
Agreements is a space for collective ideation and reflection on how we can make
our space accessible and comfortable for all the participants. These agreements
aimed to provide a safe and affirmative space for everyone sharing the space. It
was to help set clear boundaries, trigger warnings, do’s and don’ts and was the
source of guidance throughout the convening and kept the checks and balances
ensuring respect, love and solidarity. The key agreements included:
• Active and Respectful Listening: Be fully present, avoid interrupting, show
empathy, and ask questions with sensitivity while acknowledging diverse ways of
listening, especially for neurodivergent individuals.
• Sharing and Holding Space: Balance giving and taking space—speak for the
collective while allowing others to share their thoughts. Respect everyone's
unique processes and perspectives.
• Mindfulness and Accountability: Be mindful of your words, actions, and their
impact. Take responsibility for what you say and do.
• Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment: Maintain a non-judgemental space that
respects everyone’s backgrounds, be considerate of working staff, and mindful of
the presence of dogs.
• Minimize Digital Distractions: Switch phones to silent mode and be mindful of
device usage during community sessions.
• Respect people’s privacy and safety: Post pictures on social media after ensuring
consent from people present in photos, and after the convening is complete.
Mindfulness
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• Being able to make body movements without disrespecting anyone speaking.
• Translating and helping others understand due to language barriers.
• Communicating through signals if not comfortable in person.
• Reaching out to well-being co-ordinators when needed.
• Asking for support when needed.
• Informing co-ordinators if more time is needed to relax before re-engaging.
• Maintaining safety and privacy of what is discussed, ensuring confidentiality of
work-related information.
• Extending sympathy and empathy as it takes courage to speak out
Communications & Discussions
• Taking flexible, responsible, and non-judgemental
water and bathroom breaks.
• Participating in stimulating and re-energising
activities after lunch.
• Understanding there is no designated space, and
individuals can move around and take space as
per their needs.
• Being punctual to sessions or at least trying to be,
without being judgmental if someone is late.
• Giving trigger warnings before or while discussing heavy topics.
• Voicing concerns if anything becomes overstimulating or too much to handle.
• Avoiding delving into more details of a trigger warning subject once stated.
• Taking a 20-second breather after giving a trigger warning.
• Having the option to leave if a trigger warning is concerning.
Trigger Warnings
To ensure timely and accessible support, contact details of the convening’s organizers were
shared with all participants in advance.
Miscellaneous
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This session aimed to create an opportunity for Collective Listening and Learning
from each other in a peer-peer learning approach. Different Youth Groups shared
their journey specially focusing about their work in 2024, their wins and
challenges, also highlighting priorities for 2025. Slideshows, short documentaries,
photographs, graphs, campaign videos, music albums, witty humour, etc., were
presented over a span of 10 minutes each. An additional 5 minutes were allocated
for questions, answers, discussions, and suggestions with fellow participants.
Indeed, the longest event yet the most important one, it helped the participants
get an in-depth understanding of the various movements and people’s
backgrounds, while helping them identify potential collaborative opportunities.
Here’s a brief of the work showcase done by respective organisations:
Work Showcase
Pallavi, a native of Bastar, has been actively engaged in research, advocacy, and
programmatic interventions to address structural challenges faced by indigenous
communities. Through Mano Bastar, they have been focusing on advancing child and
adolescent mental health in tribal residential institutions. Their work advances climate
justice by strengthening indigenous resilience through mental health support,
education equity, and biodiversity conservation, ensuring sustainable and just
adaptation to climate change. In addition to her work in education and mental health,
Pallavi organizes the Dandakaranya Nature & Wildlife Group, a community-led
conservation collective focused on addressing snake-human conflict.
Pallavi Dehari
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Indigenous Perspectives, an organization that provides space for action-research on
local responses to globalization process is based out in Manipur. Their work currently
focuses on the intersection of environment, development, climate change and
indigenous people. They presented on the current state of wetland governance, oil
spill, pony conservation, the need for a disaster waste management plan and last on
the ongoing struggle of the fishers in Loktak Lake.
Indigenous Perspectives
The Adivasi Post is an alternative platform that started after a video mocking an
Adivasi house helped trigger people. TAP, today is active in calling out acts of
discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices that the Adivasis face across the country.
In doing so, they hold perpetrators accountable and set the narrative straight on the
issue and challenges faced across.
The Adivasi Post
Step of Inspiration (SoI) is an Adivasi youth group based in South Gujarat that seeks to
empower youths through education, rights advocacy, and skill building. In 2024, SoI
organised a exposure visit to Delhi and Kerala, celebrated Babasaheb Ambedkar’s
birthday, erected Birsa Munda statue amongst other programmes such as leadership
training, one day dialogue with children, community awareness meetings on 5th
Schedule, PESA Act, Forest Rights Act, etc. Further SoI through fundraising, created
25 public libraries across five different units. SoI has also successfully organised
Adivasi Diwas and Indigenous Day and have created songs for the celebrations.
Step of Inspiration
20
As fertilisers made inroads and degraded the quality of land, Kisan Sathi Foundation
(KSF) was founded to make people more aware of their values of land. The Foundation
focuses on the techniques of Natural farming and climate resilience farming. In doing
so, it attempts to control outward migration of farmers to the city and create more
rural employment.
Kisan Sathi Foundation
Reach The Unreached (RTU) is an independent entity/platform that believes to pass-
on-the-baton to work on the intersection of climate change, housing rights and
gender. The organisation primarily focuses on issues of homelessness, menstrual
health, public washrooms, sexual abuse, etc. They help women file petitions and take
lead. They have been successful in urging the Government to install shades in bus
stops in Chennai.
Reach The Unreached
Heatwave Action Coalition
Heatwave Action Coalition (HAC) focuses on campaigning about the rising
temperatures and the need for Heatwave Action Plan for cities. It actively documents
red alerts in its members’ respective regions and is engaged in drafting letters, written
submissions and memos to authorities urging tangible action. HAC conducted various
surveys on the impact perceived due to rising heat, such as menstruation and
heatwaves. HAC also attended and spoke at the Rising Heat Convening, 2024.
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Amche Mollem (AM) is a people’s movement advocating protection of Mollem’s
forests and campaigns for informed and sustainable development. The movement
approaches issues using different contours such as science, legal jurisprudence and
art. Currently, Amche Mollem is preparing an ambitious “Amche Legal Dictionary”;
wherein it will break down jargon and elaborate on definitions with context and
feedback mechanisms.
Climate Front India (CFI) today has active parallel chapters in Jammu, Chandigarh,
Vizag and Hyderabad. CFI mobilises people for cleanups and climate campaigns. They
have been active and vocal in the fight to stop destruction of 38,000 trees in Raika
Forest (Jammu), to clean and save river Tawi (Jammu), the cutting of Hasdeo forest,
Joshimath land subsidence, Navy radar project in Damagundam Forest etc.
Amche Mollem
Let India Breathe (LIB) is a decentralised communication collective that uses
technology to amplify ground voices across various media channels. Conceived first
as Let Mumbai Breathe, they’ve evolved into their present form in consideration of the
need for a greater common environment in India. They work on making climate-
related information more accessible by translating and simplifying technical terms
into local language. They support various movements across Goa, Ladakh, Great
Nicobar, Maharashtra, etc. LIB is also known for identifying and clarifying potentially
misleading environmental claims, including instances of greenwashing.
Climate Front India
Let India Breathe
22
Fridays For Future India (FFFI) is a youth-
led movement actively advocating for
climate and social justice. FFFI had their
first physical convening at Karnataka in
November 2024 — where they also
unveiled their turtle mascot Bhumi
(they/them) — and their active volunteers’
strength has grown five times from where
they started. They are currently actively
engaged in the Save Musi River Campaign
in Telangana, Ajmer’s Anasagar Lake
Campaign (Rajasthan) amongst many other
inter-movement collaborations along with
peaceful climate marches and events.
“We’re basically a meme page”—that’s how There Is No Earth B (TINEB) introduces
itself. But that doesn’t capture everything, as they aspire to build a better present and
future through collaborative climate action(s). They are a volunteer-driven community
guided by inclusive, organic, and decentralised values, aiming to serve as a bridge
between the people and the government. Their climate actions include regular
cleanup drives, waste audits, and creating art from waste. Their advocacy efforts
range from running digital campaigns and email petitioning to directly engaging with
authorities on the ground to drive meaningful change.
Fridays For Future India
There Is No Earth B
Workshop: The Art of Presence
From Inner Strength To Public Stage
• Observe people closely and
learn from them.
• Speaking to a camera is still
public speaking (except eye
contact: one vs many); hence
forget the camera and the
cameraperson.
• Treat yourself as a viewer and
a listener. Practice speaking
to a mirror and with friends.
• Audiences keep changing.
Be yourself no matter what.
Practice
Content
• Draw the line between confidence &
arrogance. Show humility and openness
to learning new things!
• Be humble; accepting your limits. It’s not
possible for anyone to know everything.
• Listen. Even if you're absolutely right.
Then maybe you can say “I understand
what you're saying.” Avoid negative
responses or flat rejections.
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SUSHANT SINGH
officialsushantsingh
Saavdhan India-famed Bollywood actor and public speaker Sushant Singh shared
insights from his extensive experiences on how to reflect from our personal
journeys, explore our inner strengths and how to present ourselves with impact
and confidence. Drawing from a rich tapestry of his personal competitive
experience in the film industry, the actor talked about body language, signs,
movement, camera and audience consciousness. It was indeed an inspiring
session for the participants with the actors' hands-on session where he answered
and discussed participants’ queries. Pointers from the workshop are noted below:
24
• Instill confidence by using body gestures infused
with energy and movement.
• Maintain contextual energy while speaking.
• Most of us become conscious of our hands.
Express yourself freely.
• Avoid folding hands. Make yourself approachable
with open arms.
• Pause and reflect for a moment before you
respond to a question.
Movement & Energy
Sushant Singh’s interactive workshop helped participants with their questions about public speaking and
recording themselves on video to share on-ground voices for climate justice.
25
At the Youth Climate Convening, building solidarity was envisioned to be
participatory. To imagine how our individual aspirations, motivations, and visions
cross paths with each other. In the youth climate justice space, people enter with
varied aspirations and motivations, often rooted in love and care for the people
and the planet. To align and unite our efforts, the Wall of Solidarity made us
visualize how deeply interconnected we are as young people.
Building a Wall of Solidarity
Participants were encouraged to share their aspirations, both personal and regarding climate justice in India.
The participants were asked to reflect on their
journey, and the facilitators gave prompts to note
their core motivations and aspirations. These notes
were collected and read to the participants for
reflections and meaningful discussions. Similar
notes were placed together to form larger groups.
This exercise helped us better understand our
movement and place aspirations together to
formulate working groups to map out our priorities.
The notes were grouped under Building a
Movement, Environment Protection, Better Future
Rooted in Care, Self Care, and
Fighting for Socio-Climatic Justice. These groups transitioned into our mapping
priorities session the next day.
The wall was speaking to us - telling us a collective story of young people striding
forward shoulder-to-shoulder to imagine a just world and working together for a
kinder world for everyone.
DAY THREE • 12 JANUARY
27
The session started off with a quick recap of the Community Agreements, followed
by the session on Community Identity. This session explored the concept of
community identity, emphasizing its importance in shaping collective strength
and shared purpose. Participants reflected on their values, histories, and
aspirations, deepening their understanding of their unique identities and
contributions to broader movements.
Participants were divided into five teams and were given a chart to map their
individuality, community and the world. Later on, the teams presented diagrams of
what they had come up with. Interestingly without any prompts from the session
facilitator, teams came up with their own team names. Hasmukh Sathi, JHAR
(Bushes), Golu Kachap (Round Turtle), All 10’s (Amoeba), & Team Vibes - locating
themselves in (and out of) our community and the world, while being creative.
Community Identity
This session helps further refine the narrative of who we are as a collective, who
we aspire to become, and how we can achieve this together. This session was
also an opportunity to pause and reflect, how far we have come in the convening
before we step into the important session of the Youth Climate Convening i.e.
setting priorities for 2025 and building collaborations.
Teams of four-five people each were assigned to define a community based on three aspects — me,
community, and the world — and present the intersections between each aspect.
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The Roadblocks to
Youth Climate Leadership
This session debriefs the insights, experiences & challenges shared by different
groups, highlighting key takeaways and common themes. It served as a reflective
space to connect the dots between various perspectives and foster mutual
understanding. Following the debrief, participants engaged in identifying on
ground challenges faced.
1. Anxiety
2. Bandwidth and Energy Issues
3. Physical Distance
4. Self Involved
5. Fear of risks
6. Lack of third spaces
7. Remoteness
8. Lack of support from allied groups
9. Misalignment of objectives
10. Lack of unity, support, & resources
11. Exclusionary, gate-kept spaces
12. Lack of international solidarity
13. Echo chamber
14. External dynamic situations
15. Notions of perfect activism
16. Changing dominant narratives
17. Lack of equitable resources and
concentration of gate-kept power
18. Unwillingness for inclusivity
19. Improving cross-regional knowledge and
content
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Where Are We Now?
See Index Below
No. of People Experiencing an Issue
Burnouts, difficulty reshaping mainstream narratives on sustainability and
progress, and exclusionary practices emerged as participants’ top concerns
29
After the exercise where teams creatively juxtaposed their individuality,
community, and the world, the session moved forward. It built on the past two
days of intention-setting, sharing, and collaboration across youth groups, while
recognizing the need for solidarity. Focusing on connecting ideas and shared
challenges, a breakout session was held where participants were split into a
division of four teams. The four teams were clubbed after identifying priority key
goals and actions for 2025.
Mapping Priorities
Participants chose their core priority, teamed up with people who had chosen the same and set specific,
quantifiable objectives to work upon together throughout 2025.
Through collaborative discussions, teams worked together to define strategic
priorities and actionable steps that will guide their collective work in the
upcoming year, aligning participants' efforts toward a unified collective vision.
CORE PRIORITIES MAPPED BY PARTICIPANTS
1. Intergenerational Indigenous Rights
2. Movement Building 4. Campaigning for Socio-enviro Climatic Justice
3. Mental Health and Wellbeing
30
Recognising the need for regenerative time and deeper connections for the
participants, the agenda of the convening had reserved community baithaks.
Community Baithaks are dynamic spaces for collective reflection, discussion,
games and laughter. During the convening, several themes of common interests
emerged and the young climate campaigners created baithaks to delve deeper
into them. This gave participants a space to talk more openly about challenges
they face and how they can build synergies and collaborations to strengthen their
impact and work. Over the course of the convening, several community baithaks
were organised by the participants.
Community Baithak
The community baithaks were not limited to
just work and discussions. On the second day of
the convening, a long and endless game of Uno
- No Mercy (dubbed Uno on Steroids) began.
The match saw several colours - of the cards
and the people (pleasant and spirited colours,
of course) and had people exchanging shock
and laughs. The match did come to an end
(thanks to some ‘sorcery’) but not before three
hours of non-stop playtime.
With people shuffling in and out of different teams for day three’s sessions, ample breaks between team-
building exercises doubled up as mini–Community Baithaks on their own.
01
Amidst the fun and play, the community baithaks also became an important part
of our well-being. Day three witnessed a community baithak which helped
participants create a non-judgemental space to share their personal challenges, to
grieve and mourn and more importantly take care of each other in a state of
vulnerability. Breaking barriers of language, geography and identity, young people
opened hearts and made each other feel safe and a part of this community. It is
important to remember that we are never alone, we share our struggles and
understand each other even if we haven’t walked in each other’s shoes. We are a
community of people who love and care!
“We only survive by taking care of each other.”
GRACE LEE BOGGS
31
32
The Youth Climate Convening 2025
concluded with a session which
offered space for participants to
reflect on their experiences, share
feedback, and offer testimonials on
the journey they've undertaken
together. It also served as a moment
to express gratitude, say goodbyes,
and acknowledge the connections
made throughout the event. Not just
Reflection and Testimonies
The outdoor sessions that were conducted on the amphitheatre; an open environment under the centuries
old banyan tree emerged as a fan favourite.
“Honestly, I was nervous before
attending YCC as it is my first
experience stepping out of my
state. But now that we’re parting
I'm so dearly gonna miss the
whole experience”
sharing of the overall participants’ experiences of the convening but it was also a
space to highlight what more could be done or be mindful of so that organisers
could take note and work upon.
Participants shared valuable feedback with the Youth Climate Convening
organizers, emphasizing the need for safe spaces for young people, especially
indigenous youth in India. They stressed the importance of expanding such spaces
and challenging dominant narratives by bringing in climate justice perspectives
shaped by caste, class, gender, disability, and indigenous experiences.
33
For the organizers, the reflection session
was the perfect place to understand the
effectiveness of planning, execution and
shortcomings. The strict adherence to
stipulated time and the adaptability of the
sessions according to the needs of the
participants helped the overall smooth flow
of YCC 2025.
“The highlight for me
was the people. I feel
replenished and am taking
a lot of things back.”
Most participants were keen for upcoming convenings to have more days, for more community baithaks and
dedicated sessions to explore inter-group and inter-personal collaborations.
Here’s a visual representation of how participants rated the convening on a scale
of 1 to 10:
0 5 10
9.06
AVG. RATING
ON YCC 2025
For a value-driven, serious-sounding bunch of youth striving for climate and social justice…
YCC 2025 Group Photo
…Two minutes is all the you have between our professional selves and cartoony versions
25 01 11 · 13:12
25 01 11 · 13:14
34
YCC 2025 Recapped
Friendship goals: find someone
who’ll react like this for every
single thing you have to say.
Maybe’s it’s the sun. Or inflation. Whatever
it is, double check your expenses, folks.
WHOLESOME
100
35
YCC 2025 was about being
yourself, be it bringing your
own (sike) beats…
Woof Woof?
…or your own
‘off-road’ macro
photo session
36
They had only three circles to play with (to represent what community meant to them and where
they had a place in it), and yet the folks at YCC 2025 were limitless with artistic expression ✿
37
Once more, burnouts were
too relatable for folks :/
Nothing beats the early
morning sun’s lighting for
a good portrait shot of self
2 years in a row, Step of Inspiration
lives up to its name for perfect portraits
Tune into our playlist
Replay the songs played at YCC 2025’s
community baithaks, handpicked and
recommended by our saathis >”<
Notes on being a good listener: don’t interrupt,
engage respectfully, show empathy and hold space
38
Coolness lv.
100
1
COMMUNITY
, ,
JAL, JANGAL, ZAMEEN
E
M
P
A
T
H
Y
&
H
O
P
E
Unite in
Solidarity
Jai Johar
Go Reels
Sey Reality
Cry &
Grieve
Support &
Regenerate
Connect
and bond
Justice Kindness
Report Published By
Pluriversity Solutions(OPC) Pvt. Ltd.