Young Changemakers of India: Students Leading the Future

India’s youth are emerging as powerful changemakers, driving transformation through social entrepreneurship, environmental action, technological innovation, and civic engagement. Many students are tackling issues like poverty, gender inequality, and social injustice by launching NGOs and social enterprises. Others are leading campaigns for environmental conservation, from waste management to climate awareness. With creativity and technological skills, they are designing solutions to real local challenges. Active participation in community service and civic initiatives reflects their rising sense of responsibility. Supported by an education system that now prioritizes skills, innovation, and leadership, India’s young minds are shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.

“If you want to see the future of India, look into the eyes of its youth,” a line that rings true when we see students like Tilak Mehta, who launched a logistics startup at just 13, becoming symbols of early leadership and innovation. With one of the largest and most dynamic youth populations in the world, India stands at a turning point where young minds are not just dreaming big—they are driving real change. From social entrepreneurship to environmental activism and tech-driven solutions, students today are reshaping communities with courage and creativity. This growing wave of youth-led impact sets the foundation for a deeper exploration of how India’s young changemakers are transforming the nation.

The Power of Youth in India

India’s Young Generation: The Driving Force of Change

India’s youth power is one of the nation’s greatest strengths. With over 65% of the population below the age of 35, India has one of the world’s largest young demographics—an energetic force shaping the country’s future. This vast youth population is not just large in number but dynamic in vision. Today, education, technology, and increased social awareness are empowering students to step forward as leaders. Through digital literacy, skill-building programs, and exposure to global ideas, young people are taking charge—driving innovation, promoting social justice, and creating meaningful youth impact in India. They are redefining what leadership looks like, proving that students as leaders can accelerate progress and build a more inclusive, forward-looking nation.

What Makes Students Changemakers?

From Classrooms to Communities: The Rise of Student Leaders

A changemaker is someone who identifies a problem, takes initiative, and works toward meaningful, lasting solutions. Today’s students embody this spirit through the qualities they develop both inside and outside the classroom. Leadership emerges as they take charge of school projects, organize events, or guide peers. Innovation grows when they explore new ideas, create prototypes, or use technology to solve real-life issues. Empathy is nurtured through interactions, awareness campaigns, and social outreach, helping them understand and respond to community needs. Responsibility builds as they participate in civic activities, maintain discipline, and commit to personal and social goals.

Schools play a pivotal role in shaping these young changemakers. Leadership clubs, debating teams, volunteering drives, eco-clubs, and community service programs encourage students to think beyond textbooks and engage with the world around them. Together, these experiences transform classrooms into training grounds for future leaders who are ready to make a positive impact on society.

Real-Life Examples of Young Changemakers

Across India, countless young students are stepping up to create real social, environmental, and educational impact. Their stories show how determined young minds can inspire nationwide change.

  • Environmental Conservation:
    Licypriya Kangujam, one of India’s youngest climate activists, has been urging leaders to take stronger climate action since the age of seven. Through her campaigns and awareness drives, she inspires thousands of students to join environmental conservation efforts.
  • Clean Energy & Innovation:
    Vinisha Umashankar, a Class 9 student, designed a solar-powered ironing cart as an eco-friendly alternative to coal-based irons. Her innovation gained global recognition and showcased how students can merge creativity with sustainability.

Notable Apps by Teenagers in India

vPledge

  • Developed by 12-year-old Prateek Mahesh and 13-year-old Priyal Jain. 
  • A social-cause app: users pick pledges like “plant 10 trees,” “donate food to 10 people,” or “use public transport only.” 
  • Users can share their completed pledges on social media, challenge friends, and earn/redeem points. 

Sudhaar

  • Built by Karan Soin, a 17-year-old from Gurugram. 
  • Helps poor or under-banked people access micro-loans via a mobile app. 
  • His work won him the CSIR Innovation Award in 2020. 
  • His broader mission: reduce the digital divide by building educational tools that are accessible to students across India 

AI App for Health by Siddharth

  • A 14-year-old (named Siddharth) developed an AI-powered app that can detect heart disease in about 7 seconds. 
  • He runs a venture called STEM IT, which helps other students learn to build tech projects. 

Medical Devices Developed by Indian Teenagers

Archit PPH Cup

  • Invented by Archit Patil (then ~17 years old) to measure postpartum blood loss. 
  • It’s made of medical-grade silicone and helps doctors quantify blood loss during childbirth — a critical need, because postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal deaths. 
  • According to reports, nearly 50 hospitals in India are using this PPH cup. 

Alpha Monitor (Dementia-Care Device)

  • Designed by Hemesh Chadalavada, inspired by his grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. 
  • It’s a wearable device (badge or armband) that detects if a dementia (Alzheimer’s) patient falls or strays. 
  • Uses LoRa technology for long-range detection — can monitor a patient for distance more than what Bluetooth or Wi-Fi allows. 
  • The device also tracks pulse and temperature and reminds patients to take their medication. 

HealthVitals

  • Created by teenager Niharika Shukla. 
  • It’s a low-cost, at-home health-monitoring device that can check pulse, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and temperature 
  • Aimed at helping people monitor their vitals more proactively and reducing the barrier to basic health checks. 

Digital Education Initiatives

Many young volunteers across India run community classes, create free educational videos, and help bridge the digital divide for children in rural areas—ensuring that technology becomes a tool for equality.

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion

Student-led clubs and school campaigns promote girls’ education, conduct sanitary hygiene awareness drives, and work to break gender stereotypes among peers.

Mental Health Awareness

Several teen-led initiatives now focus on mental well-being by organising peer-support groups, anti-bullying campaigns, and workshops to reduce stigma around seeking help.

How Students Can Start Making a Difference

Small Steps, Big Impact: The Changemaker Mindset

Becoming a changemaker doesn’t require big resources—just a willing heart and the courage to start. Students can make a meaningful impact through simple, actionable steps. Participating in community clean-ups, tree-planting drives, or waste-segregation initiatives helps protect the environment. Organizing awareness campaigns in school on topics like health, gender equality, or climate change can inspire peers to think and act responsibly. Starting a social media initiative for a cause—such as mental health, education, or sustainability—can spread awareness far beyond the classroom. Volunteering with NGOs, school clubs, and community groups allows students to learn, lead, and serve.

No effort is too small. Every act of kindness, responsibility, and initiative creates ripples of change. When students take that first step, they begin a journey of leadership that contributes to a better, brighter India.

The Future of India’s Youth

India’s young changemakers are not just shaping the present — they are building the foundation for tomorrow’s social, economic, and environmental progress. As students lead initiatives in sustainability, equality, innovation, and community development, they are preparing India for a future that is more inclusive, advanced, and resilient. Technology will continue to amplify their voices, enabling young leaders to collaborate across communities, build solutions at scale, and influence national conversations. With stronger education systems, skill development, and global exposure, India’s youth will redefine leadership and nation-building.

The road ahead is clear: India’s future will be brighter, stronger, and more progressive when powered by educated, confident, and empowered young citizens.

Students today are not just learners — they are emerging as strategic drivers of national development, contributing directly to India’s social, economic, and environmental progress. Through innovation, leadership, and community action, young changemakers are aligning their efforts with major national missions such as Swachh Bharat (cleanliness and sanitation), Swasth Bharat (health and well-being), Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance and entrepreneurship), and Viksit Bharat (a developed India by 2047).

Schools and educators play a critical role in this transformation. At Chrysalis High, initiatives that focus on skill development, digital literacy, problem-solving, and civic responsibility help create an ecosystem where students are empowered to design solutions, lead initiatives, and contribute meaningfully to government-led development goals. This synergy between youth energy and national missions shapes India’s pathway to a stronger, cleaner, healthier, and self-reliant future.

Written By – Ichini Sharmista Shyam,
Academic Coordinator – Chrysalis High

Chrysalis School is a hidden gem that is absolutely amazing. The experience started when we were driving through in search of school for our kids and saw this attractive newly built school.

Our interaction with school alumni assured us that our child will be in the best hands with the teachers and staff. The faculty and staff truly care about the students and are available around the clock to help with student needs.

Cheers!
Yaduveer Singh & Tanu Chaudhary

Chrysalis High, is a great school which develops a good foundation for kids both academically and also in character building. Both the pre primary and now the primary school years for Samay, have been socially nurturing and academically challenging. Our son loves his school, he has come a long way from his nursery days till today, the 3rd grade.

Everyone at school, be it the Principal, Coordinators, teachers or the administrative staff, all have been really cooperative and supportive. Chrysalis also has one of the best parent – teacher relationship!

Overall, Chrysalis High, has been a wonderful experience for both Samay and us till date. We appreciate the great work and looking forward for more!

Regard,
Kavita

I have been a student at Chrysalis High Marq for two school years and from what I have experienced, I can tell you it is a great school. The staff is excellent and the rules help keep the school safe and in order.

There is an equal balance of learning and reviewing the information. There are enrichment activity classes as well to where we have life skill and ink well sessions that help in the refinement and polishing of the mind. Chrysalis has initiated many activities for students. We have engrossing and fun-filled Indoor Champs, Performing Arts classes, Buddy interaction time etc. The teachers in Chrysalis are hardworking and determined . I am so proud and lucky to go to Chrysalis!

Sean Lennon
Grade VIII

In the field of Construction, they say- “ A well-designed and strong foundation keeps the building standing while the forces of nature wreak havoc.” The same purpose that a foundation serves for a building, schooling does for our children- ensures they are wholly prepared for the journey called Life!

Having worked for a few schools in the past, I was aware of the paramount role a school plays in the initial nurturing of a child. While joining Chrysalis, I expected a similar school environment as in my past, but to my astonishment, things were incredibly better. While the academics here are indeed exceptional, even better is the focus on the character development of each child. Teachers know their Children really well, beyond just recalling the child’s name; all thanks to initiatives like PUPA. The teachers nurture children in a way that is not just caring and loving but also instills in them qualities like compassion, collaboration, empathy and many more from an early age. Children are also encouraged in a way that they constantly thrive to develop confidence in their own unique abilities.

Well, what we reap is what we sow; and not just the teachers but the whole team in Chrysalis believes in this fact. We work together tirelessly because we know we are nurturing kids to form a responsible and noble generation for the future!

Anjali E
Faculty, Chrysalis High Marq

Chrysalis High Marq has paved new roads of possibilities of learning and fruitful experiences for both teachers such as myself and the students.

The things that are most satisfying for me are the never ending opportunities to learn, perform out of the comfort zone and most importantly the endless love that I receive from the children. Life is a continuous learning process and Chrysalis High Marq has made it possible by giving me many opportunities to be creative in the way I work. The whole team works as a family by supporting and helping each other at any given point of time .

The motivation, appreciation, support and positivity received by us is in turn passed on to our students. The school believes in the holistic development of all its children and takes all the necessary measures to nurture the young minds in a fruitful way. I am extremely proud to be a part of the Chrysalis High Marq family.

Shivani
Educator, Chrysalis High Marq

I enjoy working at Chrysalis High because this is a place where high energy meets absolute dedication.As a teacher, each day is a new day for me and I fully value the myriad opportunities that enhance my experience.

I also appreciate the unique working atmosphere and  the collaborative culture  that allows me to grow not only as a professional, but also as a person.

The school provides me with a lot of scope to interact with children and their parents, and this gives me an opportunity  to gain deeper insights into ways to help each of them achieve their academic goals.

The school’s vision for children is a guiding principle for all of us. It is indeed a pleasure to work with my immediate superiors who are both-understanding and supportive in all aspects. Together, I am certain that we will have a mutually enriching and exciting academic year ahead.

Anuradha Shankar Venkataraman,
Employee, Chrysalis High Marq

My Voyage at Chrysalis High Marq has been spectacular and overwhelming. The school has positive vibes that makes it a beautiful shelter for not only students but also for the teachers. Here at Chrysalis we are motivated to nurture the young minds in the best possible way.

I learnt number of years of work experience is not that counts, what is more important is the quality one possesses through their learning experience. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and unfaltering curiosity.

Chrysalis High is an impressive organization that makes educators feel supported and equipped. I ’am proud to be a part of this institution that strive to take eloquent steps to transform our care philosophy and values into effective action.

I feel privileged to be an integral part of such a proficient and progressive workforce. Chrysalis oozes integrity and excellence that is t=refreshing and essential in our daily duties.

Chrysalis exemplifies what it means to be an organization that is “To help our children excel by understanding them, guiding them on the right path and strengthening their self belief.”

I have been in Chrysalis High BG Road since 2018. The teachers have laid a strong foundation, helped me improve on my basics in all subjects and played a major role in me evolving into the best version of myself. My school has given me many opportunities to develop my leadership skills and I will always feel grateful about that. I have made many friends in the last couple of years, thanks to the warm atmosphere at Chrysalis High. During online classes our school left no stone unturned and even though our classes were online, they ensured we learnt with the same enthusiasm.

I am very happy studying at Chrysalis High Bannerghatta Road. I got admission during the lockdown period. The online classes were well organized and very interactive.

I gained a lot of knowledge during online classes, and the teachers understood us quickly and were there for us at all times. Even though we didn’t meet personally, the atmosphere at Chrysalis was always very warm and supportive. Even though online classes were new to everyone, our teachers were able to identify where we were lagging, and they provided Individual Support Classes (ISP).

The teachers are very interactive, friendly with us, and support us to come up with our own ideas. Practical explanation of the subject through STEaM is also one of the most exciting sessions in our school. The teachers also covered extracurricular activities and enrichment activities during the online classes. The warm welcome by the teachers to the offline classes made us more excited to attend school and a day at Chrysalis High with my friends and teachers is something that I eagerly look forward to every day.

I started my journey at Chrysalis High in the third grade, and have been studying in the same till now and from all these years, I can say that Chrysalis High has the best staff and curriculum.

PUPA (Prior Understanding of Pupil Attributes) is a unique method used in Chrysalis High to understand a student’s learning ability, skills and emotions. They gain this knowledge from the parents and us in an effort to understand us better. The extracurricular activities, inter-school competitions, sports and cultural days organised help incorporate fun and games along with academics.

The student council and the elections for its positions familiarise a student with a sense of responsibility and teamwork. Studying at Chrysalis High has helped me grow to my full potential and has indeed trained me for the exam called life.

I would like to thank all the teachers and staff at Chrysalis High for making my learning experience the best.

Chrysalis High team integrates compassion into their teaching standards, emphasizes the importance of values and builds leaders through each of their classes and lessons. It allows for a lower student to teacher ratio. Online teaching during difficult times of Covid – 19 was indeed a huge challenge for all schools but the support provided by the school to transcend the challenge of teaching students by providing apt and timely training to teachers in online teaching methodology is commendable. This has been very useful to students as well as their parents. The teachers had worked hard in coming up with innovative methods of teaching to keep the students up breast with subjects with their enthusiasm intact.  It’s been a wonderful journey for me at Chrysalis High so far.  The entire team works in unison with one thought in mind – the betterment of the children.

My sincere thanks to Principal ma’am, Coordinators and last but not least my colleagues for the constant support and love.

Upasana Banerjee –
Primary Teacher

Working at Chrysalis High has been a wholesome experience for me. What stands out for me is the support I receive from the school management in standing by my vision and passion as a teacher.

It would not be an exaggeration in the slightest, if I said that I feel always supported by the principal, coordinator and staff in performing my duties to the best of my abilities. This makes me confident that I would be given room to grow as an educator. It feels great to be part of a group that takes meaningful steps towards turning our philosophy and values into action!”

The values we would love to instill in our students at Chrysalis High are strongly rooted in our hearts by our compassionate and efficient school heads and mentors and model them to our students.

The induction programme has been nothing short of immense learning and much-needed guidance to face all our challenges head-on and it has helped prepare ourselves for the year ahead.

At Chrysalis High, I find myself doing what I love to do, staying true to what I strongly believe in and above all I can see myself as a passionate learner with new opportunities to learn each and every day. To top it all, the love and support my students shower on me is an additional perk without which I cannot be the happy teacher that I am today.

Suhasini. S
Secondary Teacher

Student Safety and School Security

safety-and-security

Safety Always a step ahead!

Chrysalis is inarguably the only school where at no point of time, any child is left without supervision of a female teacher!

CCTV Cameras- Entire premises

  • All classrooms
  • Corridors
  • Outdoor areas

Precautionary measures

  • Presence of a female teacher for all CHAMPS activities
  • Presence of a female teacher in all the classes handled by male teachers

Nutrition

The School serves balanced and nutritious vegetarian snacks and lunch to students who have opted for the facility.

To supervise students during lunchtime, a teacher is appointed for monitoring each table. Children are trained to keep themselves clean and display correct dining manners.

Reverse Osmosis systems for purifying drinking water are available across the campus throughout the day.

Transport

We provide a fleet of well-maintained buses with trained drivers and lady attendants. Special care is taken while appointing the drivers, to ensure that only the experienced and qualified drivers are appointed after undergoing a driving test. The buses are equipped with safety equipment and a first-aid kit in case of an emergency.

Being GPS enabled, the school can locate the position of a bus at any time during commute and in case of a breakdown, can send a replacement bus instantly. To avoid rash driving and speeding, speed governors are installed in all the buses.

Salient Features

  • Well-networked fleet of buses connecting the school to various parts of the city.
  • Trained drivers in each bus.
  • Trained lady attendants to take care of your child in each bus.
  • Mandatory First-Aid kits in all buses.
  • Regular checking by school administration staff to ensure safety of your child.
  • All buses are GPS enabled and for better monitoring, we have in-bus CCTV system complete with camera and recorder.
Indrani-Singh

Ms. Indrani Singh

Chief Vision Officer, Principal, Chrysalis High Marq & Head - Chrysalis Kids

Ms. Indrani Singh possesses a MSc and B.Ed degree to her credit. She has over 10 years of experience in the field of education and has climbed the rungs of leadership with her sheer dedication, hard work and love for her profession. She joined as the Head of Chrysalis Kids in 2013, which is a pre primary school of Chrysalis. Her out of box thinking and her ideology of doing the right thing for the children have helped her to pioneer new processes to make learning an enriching experience for the children. Across a period of seven years, Ms. Indrani Singh has become a flag bearer of Chrysalis vision, especially the PUPA (Prior Understanding of Pupil Attributes) Program. Indrani brought in the idea of Pre-CHAMPS to all Chrysalis schools. Known for her ideation & focus on quality, Indrani leaves no stone unturned to ensure children have a wonderful learning experience at Chrysalis. In 2017, she was made Associate Academic Director – Pre Primary & again promoted to Academic Director – Pre Primary, a role she handles along with the responsibilities of Chrysalis High, Marq. Under her supervision and guidance, many initiatives like Pre-CHAMPS, AwSTEM, Festival of learning were initiated and appreciated by all. Today she handles multitude of responsibilities from heading two schools to overseeing the Pre-Primary Curriculum Team of Chrysalis as the Academic Director. In addition to these profiles, she was recently promoted as Chief Vision Officer to propel PUPA, an initiative of Chrysalis, to greater heights. To this day, her ideas and her sheer determination to always try something different and new makes her a formidable and integral part of Chrysalis. With an unending pandemic looming over us, the future for education looked uncertain. But Ms. Indrani with her belief that learning should not stop for the children, ideated on the perfect balance of online and live class model to suit the learning styles of the children. The plan started with what best would suit the children and also help the working parents who were facing their own challenges and obstacles. The online model started with curriculum videos which the Chrysalis teachers recorded with the right guidance and methodology which was well defined by her. The live classes began with once a week class to slowly introduce the children to digital learning. With children adapting to live class, the sessions increased to add more to their knowledge. Teachers were sensitized about the challenges of live class and how to ensure that they do the right thing for the children and be an integral part in their learning given the circumstances. Providing the right support to parents and the challenges they faced, were also key elements of the whole digital teaching process. Providing individual support to the children was one way to ensure we partnered with parents to provide the right support to the children and ensure that the learning did not stop.