Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)

YUVA's Habitat Facilitation Centres aim to provide an adequate habitat for people by ensuring access to legal identity documents, social welfare and entitlements, basic services, and necessary training. It helps individuals obtain identity documents and access social protection programmes. YUVA also focuses on basic services like water, electricity, and waste management. The organisation conducts training sessions to educate people about laws, policies, and schemes. Its efforts have led to the growth of a people's organisation called Shehar Vikas Manch, which works on housing rights and community development. It has successfully advocated for access to land titles for people in informal settlements, benefiting millions of marginalized individuals. YUVA collaborates with communities, academic institutions, Governments, and experts to create a knowledge base that informs policy-making and bridges the gap between community experiences and policy implementation.

YUVA collaborates with informal workers to form collectives, empowering them to voice their needs and fight for their rights. It provides training and connects workers to campaigns and networks to amplify their impact. YUVA helps workers access welfare frameworks and legislations designed for their protection, as many are unaware of these rights. It assists migrant workers and labour collectives in accessing social protection and welfare, contributing to the welfare targets of state authorities. YUVA's ground-up research and advocacy efforts provide valuable insights into policy implementation and help improve policy formulations., YUVA aims to raise public awareness and support for informal workers. It engages in city-wide events and campaigns to highlight the contributions of informal labour in urban environments. It encourages solidarity among urban citizens and promotes the rights of informal workers for a better future.

YUVA's Anubhav Shiksha Kendra empowers youth in Maharashtra by providing them with leadership and governance accountability skills since 1993. Through this initiative, youth explore the concepts of democracy, citizenship, gender, and social justice, becoming confident and informed citizens who lead campaigns and advocacy efforts. YUVA's initiatives aim to enhance the skills, personality, and employability of marginalized youth through skill training and holistic development. It also encourages youth participation in governance through capacity building and advocacy. YUVA's work with youth provides valuable insights for policy-making at various levels.

YUVA focuses on creating child-friendly communities and cities, advocating for children's rights to life, participation, protection, and development. It collaborates with major networks to strengthen strategic inputs for child rights-based policymaking. YUVA's Child Resource Centres provide a safe space for children's learning, interaction, and holistic development. These centres offer educational sessions, life skills training, and interactive activities, serving as important hubs to address education gaps and support deprived children who are out of school, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape.

YUVA conducted a mapping activity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to identify the most vulnerable built environments to various climate hazards. It prioritizes its work in the affected informal settlements. YUVA aims to support urban poor communities in adapting to climate vulnerabilities and building resilience through community-led vulnerability assessments and local adaptations. It is partnering with local communities to design green spaces that address social needs and ecological concerns. The organisation also focuses on agricultural interventions to support sustainable farming practices, non-farming activities, and watershed management. By promoting organic farming and alternative livelihoods, YUVA helps farmers improve their livelihoods and lead dignified lives.

YUVA has actively engaged with various stakeholders at regional, national, and international levels to generate knowledge and promote dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 8 and 11. It is a part of the Working Group of 'Wada Na Todo Abhiyan' (WNTA), a national platform of civil society organisations focused on governance accountability and poverty elimination. YUVA emphasizes people's participation in planning and governance, as seen in their role as the campaign secretariat for the 'Hamara Shehar Mumbai Abhiyaan'. This campaign fostered inclusive and people-centric planning during the revision of Mumbai's Development Plan, involving over 60 organisations and giving disadvantaged groups a platform to voice their needs. YUVA also facilitates the formation and strengthening of 'Mohalla Sabhas' and 'Mohalla Samitis', promoting decentralization and decision-making at the community level.

YUVA has been organising the ComplexCity festival since 2018, with the aim of promoting a narrative shift and bringing different sections of society together. Through curated walks, competitions, theatre, and other creative initiatives, the festival provides a safe space for conversations, questions, and creative expressions. By facilitating structured interactions and dialogue, ComplexCity encourages people to reshape a more inclusive narrative of the city. The festival also seeks to engage civil society in city-building processes and use the knowledge and insights generated to advocate for progressive urban policies and generative city spaces. With the support of a vibrant civil society, ComplexCity promotes freedom of expression, respect for diversity, and inclusivity in urban environments.