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)

This highlights a critical need to create structured engagement opportunities that equip young people with practical skills, leadership experience, and real-world exposure. Without such opportunities, millions of young people risk being underprepared for the workforce and disconnected from meaningful civic participation.

At Captains Social Foundation, we address this gap by leveraging volunteerism as a tool for skill development, leadership, and social impact, empowering youth to become problem-solvers and changemakers in their communities.