EVENT OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

National Youth Day 2026 Event by Dholakia Foundation sought to create a meaningful platform for students of SDJ International School, where young voices could be heard, ideas could be exchanged freely, and critical thinking could take shape. The objective was not to instruct, but to inspire, not to provide solutions, but to encourage questioning and exploration. The program aimed to help students recognize their role in shaping a sustainable and responsible future.

A Space Where Youth Voices Took the Lead

SDG-BASED LEARNING & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

As the session unfolded, a sustainability-focused activity aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was facilitated, wherein students were divided into groups and each group was assigned one SDG. The students were encouraged to identify local challenges linked to their respective SDGs and propose solutions through their own forms of expression. The space naturally transformed into a vibrant hub of youthful energy and collaboration. Students on the fl oor, leaning into conversations, sharing materials, and shaping ideas collectively. The environment encouraged openness where curiosity led the way and every contribution found space.

Across the room, students could be seen deeply engaged discussing, sketching, debating, and refi ning their thoughts. The focus was not on perfection, but on participation. Ideas took form through colours, symbols, and shared understanding, refl ecting how young minds interpret sustainability through their own lived experiences.

Leadership That Felt Natural, Not Taught

CREATIVE EXPRESSION & EMERGING LEADERSHIP

As ideas took shape, students began presenting the Sustainable Development Goals one by one, using creativity as their language of expression. They translated their understanding into drawings, symbols, and written refl ections, sharing insights from both personal and collective perspectives. With the active participation of over 60 students, the session became a vibrant exchange of ideas, interpretations, and viewpoints around sustainability.

Leadership emerged naturally throughout the process. Without formal instruction, students demonstrated leadership through teamwork, active listening, problem-solving, and shared responsibility. Some confi dently presented their ideas, while others ensured inclusivity and encouraged collaboration within the group. Together, they refl ected a shared model of leadership showing that leadership is not about standing ahead, but about moving forward together.
 

From awareness to responsibility

 

REFLECTIONS, WAY FORWARD & HIGHLIGHTS

By the end of the session, a noticeable shift had taken place. Beyond increased awareness, there was a deeper sense of responsibility. Students began to recognise that sustainability is not merely a topic to be studied, but a conscious choice refl ected in everyday actions.
This collaboration between Dholakia Foundation and SDJ International School reaffi rmed a shared belief that when youth are trusted with ideas, they respond with purpose. National Youth Day 2026 was not the conclusion of an initiative, but the beginning of continued thought, action, and impact.