A summit for the youth to learn, share and inspire change

Sriram Ayer of Nalandaway Foundation wanted to create a forum which would bring in young people to learn from the experts about various challenges and how to deal with them. He has collaborated with the US Consulate, Chennai, and is organising Youth Speak Summit 2018. The summit will take place from December 1-2 at the Madras Management Association Centre. “It’s a two-day conference that will bring together young people from various spheres in one platform. There will be curated talks, panel discussions, workshops, contests, and art by some of the most inspiring minds in the country. This is a great platform where youngsters can listen to experts who have done some interesting work despite going through challenges,” says Sriram.

Today, there is a clear and important need for creating a safe non-threatening space for youngsters to express their challenges to people who matter. “Young people have great ideas and we believe it’s time the world took them seriously. Though there is an interesting line-up of activities, the one highlight is counselling sessions by professionals from Banyan. Anybody can walk in and seek professional help. A huge taboo still exists when it comes to seeking professional help, especially around anxiety and depression. I think it’s necessary in today’s world to get expert advice on mental health.”

Popular filmmaker Pa Ranjith will deliver the key note address on December 1. There will be a pitch fest where passionate, socially minded and entrepreneurial 18 to 30-year-olds will pitch their proposals. The five best proposals selected by a panel of experts will win a cash prize of Rs 50,000. The proposals must focus on creating positive change in the community. The candidates must also have a plan to implement a pilot project within three months and will be mentored by expert social entrepreneurs.