Yuva Rural Association believes that rural youth do not get the required opportunities for their growth. These youth lack quality education, employment opportunities, and information. They do not have the proper skills to compete in this developing economy and hence fall behind in this economic race. They are also exploited based on caste, social status, educational status etc. Therefore, our organisation aims to empower these youth and build their capacities to have a secure future. The following programme is being undertaken for youth development:

The Counter Trafficking Group (TCTG)

The youth have a considerable social influence to bring about remarkable changes in Anti-Human Trafficking Works. Human trafficking is not a topic that is widely discussed. Through creating awareness among youth, they can mobilise in large numbers both online and offline to create awareness and make it a mainstream issue. Youth can and are inclined to effectively identify problems and advocate for change with relevant stakeholders through various modes like letters, meetings, idea-sharing sessions, conclaves, campaigns etc.

YRA is working towards building collectives/clubs in colleges and communities across Nagpur city, which will focus on making the city safer for young girls and women in general. The AHTCs provide a unique platform for college students to understand the issue, disseminate information, raise awareness and prevent human trafficking in their communities/surroundings. It is also unique because it allows students to engage proactively with Government bodies, police and local NGOs’

The Purpose of the following is that the  Clubs / Collectives will be oriented and sensitised to the issues of human trafficking in Nagpur that affect the safety of women and girls in the city.

Anubhav Siksha Kendra (ASK)

The Anubhav Siksha Kendra programme is being undertaken for the empowerment of the youth of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Some of the objectives of the programme include exploring and building the perspective of youth on the realities about self and society, helping youth in exploring and accessing the opportunities of learning and generating insights for development, teaching values in youth to be responsible citizens and skill and capacity building of the youth for preparing them for employment opportunities. Under this programme, the youth start from being an Anubhav Mitra (concerned citizen) to being an Anubhav Sahayogi (start playing the role of change agents in the society) to finally being an Anubhav Sathi (become leaders and start forming their events/programmes and organisations).

This programme has increased awareness amongst youth regarding core values such as gender equality, environmental justice etc. It has improved leadership qualities amongst youth and resulted in the development of knowledge and perspective regarding various social issues. There is an increased awareness regarding issues and opportunities available to youth.

Men’s Engagement in Gender (MEG)

Yuva Rural Association believes that men’s involvement and initiative to address gender discrimination at the individual level, family, and other institutions of which he is a regular part is an excellent strategy to achieve gender balance in society. The objectives of this process include converging all the efforts of state-level and grass-root level players on gender equality with a focus on men’s involvement and initiating a massive attitudinal change process concerning gender equality in rural society, especially amongst active male counterparts.

Between January and December 2011, a project on combating HIV/AIDS through community engagement was undertaken under the MEG programme. The objective of this project was to make young men in selected villages of the Nagpur district of Maharashtra work actively to promote gender equality, prevent HIV/AIDS, and help HIV/AIDS-affected people (especially women) to access their right to medical treatment, shelter and care and stop violence and abuse of women (particularly HIV/AIDS affected women).