SRADHA’s work has been recognized globally for its innovation, inclusivity, and youth-driven approach to peacebuilding and social transformation. Over the years, our initiatives have reached thousands of young people and communities across India and South & Southeast Asia—strengthening youth leadership, advancing social inclusion, and responding to urgent crises.

Key Recognitions

🌍 UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund Award (2018)
Awarded by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) for our pioneering youth-led peacebuilding initiatives that fostered dialogue, inclusion, and non-violent conflict resolution. This global recognition positioned SRADHA as a leading youth agency advancing intercultural understanding and grassroots peace.

💡 World Bank Group – EGPS Trust Fund Award (2020–2022)
Honored with the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, SRADHA implemented community resilience and youth-led emergency response programs during the pandemic. The award supported us in mobilizing youth networks to raise awareness, deliver health and hygiene services, and safeguard vulnerable populations across multiple states in India.

✨ These recognitions reflect SRADHA’s credibility, impact, and leadership in the youth sector—proving that young people, when empowered, can be the driving force of sustainable and inclusive change.

UNESCO MGIEP Youth Waging Peace Participation by Saurav Dash, Youth Solidarity Fund Awardee (2020) – Colombo

In 2020, Saurav Dash, a dynamic youth leader and development practitioner of SRADHA, represented India at the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) initiative “Youth Waging Peace” held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The program brought together young changemakers, peacebuilders, and educators from across the Asia-Pacific region to deliberate on innovative strategies to counter violent extremism through education, intercultural dialogue, and youth-led peacebuilding.

As a participant, Saurav contributed his insights on inclusive community engagement, sustainable development, and the role of youth networks in promoting peace. His interventions highlighted the importance of equipping young people with critical social-emotional learning skills, digital literacy, and intercultural understanding in order to build resilient communities capable of resisting narratives of hate and violence.

Saurav’s participation was especially significant as he was already recognized internationally for his impactful initiatives. In 2020, he was conferred the prestigious Youth Solidarity Fund Award by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), which supported his grassroots project promoting intercultural dialogue, digital peacebuilding, and youth empowerment in India. This recognition positioned him as one of the leading young voices advocating for peace, inclusion, and sustainable development at both national and international platforms.

During the Colombo gathering, he engaged with fellow youth leaders, UNESCO experts, and policymakers, contributing to the co-creation of frameworks that strengthen the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. His presence emphasized the synergy between local actions and global dialogues—demonstrating how youth-led initiatives can effectively complement international efforts in addressing the root causes of conflict and advancing peace.

By participating in the UNESCO MGIEP Youth Waging Peace program, Saurav Dash not only showcased his ongoing commitment to peacebuilding but also expanded collaborations with regional peers, thereby reinforcing his role as a catalyst for positive change. His journey reflects the transformative power of youth leadership in shaping a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable world.

10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

25–27 November 2024, Cascais, Portugal

Mr. Saurav Dash of SRADHA is a participant in the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), scheduled to be held from 25–27 November 2024 in Cascais, Portugal.

As an emerging youth leader and development practitioner, Mr. Dash has actively contributed to peacebuilding, social inclusion, and youth empowerment initiatives. His work emphasizes intercultural dialogue, transformative education, and strengthening community-led solutions to foster harmony and sustainable development.

By engaging in this high-level gathering—which brings together global leaders, policymakers, civil society, academia, private sector representatives, and youth innovators—Mr. Dash contributes to discussions on the Forum’s main theme:
“United in Peace: Restoring Trust, Reshaping the Future. Reflecting on Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity.”

The Forum provides a global platform to reflect on two decades of UNAOC’s work, featuring interactive sessions on combating intolerance, advancing intercultural dialogue, empowering youth, safeguarding religious sites, harnessing sports diplomacy, and leveraging innovative tools such as artificial intelligence for peacebuilding.

Mr. Dash’s participation underscores his commitment to global solidarity and collaboration in advancing peace, dialogue, and inclusivity. His engagement will further amplify youth voices in shaping recommendations for UNAOC’s future strategy and programming, reinforcing the role of young leaders as catalysts for building peaceful and resilient societies.

Participation in the UNAOC Global Forum

Mr. Saurav Dash participated in the 8th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) held at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 18–20 November 2018. The Forum served as a premier global platform for fostering intercultural dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among political leaders, youth representatives, faith-based organizations, media, and civil society actors.

As a youth leader from India, Saurav contributed his perspectives on inclusive approaches to conflict prevention, community engagement, and peacebuilding through youth participation. His engagement underscored the role of young changemakers in promoting social harmony, diversity, and interfaith understanding at the grassroots level.

Tentative Outputs

• Participation in youth and civil society dialogues focusing on intercultural cooperation and sustainable peace.
• Contribution of Indian community-driven approaches to peacebuilding and inclusive governance.
• Establishment of global linkages and partnerships with other youth leaders, international agencies, and advocacy networks.
• Documentation and dissemination of key learnings and good practices from the forum to peer networks in India.

Outcomes

• Enhanced understanding of global frameworks for conflict prevention and peace promotion.
• Strengthened leadership and advocacy capacity in intercultural communication and inclusion.
• Initiation of follow-up discussions with youth organizations and local institutions to align community work with UN SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Impact

• Broadened Saurav’s international exposure and credibility as a youth peace ambassador from Odisha.
• Inspired replication of inclusive dialogue platforms at local and regional levels in India.
• Contributed to building a youth-led network for cultural coexistence and social resilience, linking global learning with community action.