12 August 2018, New Delhi---More often than not, youth are the subject of skepticism when it comes to stepping out of their comfort zones and taking tangible steps towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
However, on International Youth Day (Sunday, 12 August 2018) thousands of Indian youth across 14 cities joined forces to perform voluntary Acts of Kindness towards the Sustainable Development Goals and proved the naysayers wrong.

The unique-pan India Instameets, organised by UNESCO MGIEP and Instagram India, were aimed at mobilising tangible and fun youth action towards the Sustainable Development Goals by collaborative acts of Kindness towards the goals.

Some of the activities undertaken include:
•    a tree-plantation drive (SDG 15 : Life on Land) in Hyderabad (supported by I-PAC NAF)
•    food distribution among the underprivileged (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) in Lucknow (in collaboration with the Robin Hood Army) 
•    an educational session  (SDG 4: Quality Education) at two NGOs in Kolkata
•    a photo walk to spread awareness on the lives of transgender community in Jaipur (SDG 5: Gender Equality).  

In Bangalore, the youth team spent the day at AMBA, an NGO that educates, empowers and employs adults with severe intellectual disabilities, giving them a right to a life with dignity (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

“It was a day of joy; a change of perception and a walk into the lives of these warm people who redefine what compassion can lead you to,” said Shruthi Mohan, a youth Instagram influencer after the interaction.

In Delhi, even the overcast sky and sporadic rain could not deter the motivation of the youth who joined fitness Instagram influencer Monica Sahu  in a yoga and wellness session at the picturesque Lodhi Garden for an act of kindness towards SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being. “Breaking stereotypes has always been my forte; it’s been a humbling experience to do something productive for society through fitness and spreading the much needed message of Kindness,” said Monica Sahu, reflecting on the morning’s activities. 

While the acts of kindness were on a wide range of issues, there was a unanimous commitment by all youth groups that cut across SDGs and cities--- to maintain a sustained effort through individual and collaborative acts of kindness that will eventually help us achieve the SDGs.

These unique Instameets marked the India launch of the International Youth Campaign on Kindness for the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims collecting 250,000 stories of acts of Kindness committed by youth across the globe by the end of 2019 and is the first in the line of many international events celebrating youth action towards the SDGs.

For more information write to: 

Ms. Radhika Bhatnagar: r.bhatnagar@unesco.org
Mr Abel Caine: a.caine@unesco.org

For images from the Instameets: https://www.instagram.com/unesco_mgiep/
Facebook album: https://bit.ly/2BcTpho

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Photo Credits: 
Top image: Kirat Kiran
In body images: I-PAC and @ig_calcutta