Ayudh - Awaken Youth; Unite for Dharma

This United Nations International Youth Day, AYUDH Chennai organized a virtual roundtable of innovators in food systems. More than 200 youth and teachers from Tamil Nadu joined the roundtable to help find solutions to challenges in our food systems. The innovators and experts from diverse fields of food systems who took part were Mr Deepak Parihar, cofounder, Good Dot, Mr James Joseph, founder, Jackfruit365, Ms. Jaya Devi Cholayil, director, Cholayil Private Limited, Ms Srishti Jain, cofounder, Feeding India Mr. Vikas Temani, founder, PaulandMike and Dr. Yelloji-Rao Mirajkar, international convener, Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats Forum, and convenor, Aahaar Kranti

The theme for International Youth Day 2021 was ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’. Commenting about the roundtable discussion, Mr James Joseph said, “This is a great initiative to educate youth early on. “Today’s society needs leaders. I greatly appreciate the efforts in educating the next generation outside the formal education system,” said Dr Yelloji Rao. Talking about the challenges she faced when she started Feeding India, Ms Srishti said, “The biggest challenge was battling societal stereo types; the idea that excess food could be a solution for the problem of hunger was novel and the social sector was not looked at as a career option, it was thought of as something you do when you retire.” About how youth could contribute to food systems transformation, Mr Vikas said, “We can all help in transforming food systems by our consumption choices, especially by consuming more of plant derived food rather than animal derived food.” “Believe in yourself, apply your minds. There will be challenges, but don’t stop, work hard; patience is the key when you are innovating,” said Deepak encouraging the youth to take up innovations in food systems. Ms Jayadevi Cholayil said,” AYUDH is a wonderful platform for youth to know what they can do to make India and the world better.”

By coming together, we can build a world in which no one is hungry, no one is poor, and no one is left behind to realise Amma's dream.