I founded Yuva Maitri after witnessing firsthand the alarming rise in drug addiction among youth in my community. Friends I had grown up with—bright, full of potential—began to spiral into addiction, driven by peer pressure, lack of guidance, and mental health struggles no one was talking about. What struck me most was not just the problem itself, but how little support existed for young people facing these challenges. Schools weren’t equipped, conversations were hushed, and many were left to suffer in silence. I felt an urgent need to create a safe space where youth could be heard, empowered, and protected.
That’s when Yuva Maitri was born—not just as an NGO, but as a movement of youth helping youth. We launched awareness drives in schools, hosted self-defence workshops for young girls, and created support circles for those battling addiction or anxiety. Our goal was to foster connection, compassion, and confidence. Every story of a life turned around reminded me why we started. Yuva Maitri became more than an initiative—it became a lifeline. Through it, we’re building a generation that is not only drug-free and mentally resilient, but also capable of uplifting others and creating a future grounded in strength and empathy.
In practice, Yuva Maitri operates as a vibrant, action-oriented platform that engages youth through a variety of impactful programs. We conduct seminars, webinars, and interactive sessions in schools and colleges to raise awareness about drug addiction, mental health, and self-defence. These events are designed to be relatable and engaging, often led by young volunteers who understand the language and mindset of their peers. We've collaborated with several local NGOs to expand our outreach and bring in experts for specialized workshops on rehabilitation, mindfulness, and gender-based safety.
One of our most innovative initiatives is a chatbot developed by our tech team, designed to provide localized, easy-to-understand information about drug addiction, symptoms, prevention methods, and helplines. This tool was submitted to the Maharashtra government for wider use in public health outreach. It serves as a non-judgmental, private source of information for those who may be afraid to speak openly.
We also run social media campaigns to challenge stigma and spark conversation. Poster-making competitions, storytelling initiatives, and digital campaigns amplify our message, encouraging youth to become advocates for their own well-being. Yuva Maitri doesn’t just talk about change—it creates spaces for it to happen. Whether through classroom conversations, community events, or online activism, we’re building a movement of informed, resilient, and compassionate youth, ready to lead.
Primarily through our social media account and by our networks. As a 7-member team initially, we have now grown to nearly 30 members in 7 countries. As we had our events in schools, students from those schools showed interest in joining us and contacted us via our website: yuvamaitri.com or via our social media handles. Eventually, by word of mouth and presence on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram, the non-profit I founded in November 2023, grew to include driven students from multiple countries making it a truly multi-national organisation with webinars conducted that involve a global audience.
If you want to try Yuva Maitri’s initiative in your school or community, it’s simple—just reach out to us through our website or social media handles. Once we hear from you, our team will work to understand the specific needs of your area and connect with local schools, colleges, or NGOs already active there. Based on that, we’ll organize a customized program that could include awareness sessions, workshops, or expert talks tailored to the youth of that region.
Depending on availability and access, we’ll either arrange a virtual webinar or, if feasible, conduct a physical workshop. We have a network of professionals—mental health counsellors, addiction recovery experts, and self-defence instructors—who collaborate with us regularly. We’ll coordinate with them to bring accurate, relatable, and impactful sessions to your community.
Whether it’s drug addiction awareness, self-defence for young girls, or mental health support, we aim to ensure every session is interactive and solution-oriented. Our goal is to make sure no youth feels helpless or unheard. So if you believe your school, neighborhood, or friends could benefit from Yuva Maitri, take the first step—contact us, and together, we’ll make it happen.
