Why we work with young people?

Despite having one of the largest youth populations in the world, India faces a significant gap between young people’s potential and their preparedness for the workforce and civic engagement.

Over 65% of India's population is under the age of 35, with nearly 27% aged between 15-29 years (Youth in India 2022, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).

Only 26% of Indian youth actively participate in civic engagements (State of Youth Volunteering in India 2017, United Nations Volunteers).

Nearly 75% of young people (ages 15-24) lack the skills required for employment (Recovering Learning: Are Children and Youth on Track in Skills Development?, UNICEF, 2022).

Despite Kerala's 96.2% literacy rate, the youth unemployment rate (ages 15-29) remains at 29.9%, significantly higher than the national average of 3.2% (Periodic Labour Force Survey 2022, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).

Volunteering can increase employment chances by 27% (Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment2013, AmeriCorps)

These insights highlight a critical need to create structured, skill-building engagement opportunities that help youth gain practical experience, build leadership capacity, and stay connected to community development.

At Captains Social Foundation, we address this gap by reimagining volunteerism - not just as a civic duty, but as a transformative tool for skill development, leadership, and social innovation. We empower youth to become active citizens, community leaders, and changemakers capable of building a more inclusive, sustainable future.