Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments all around the world hastened to respond by enforcing measures such as social-distancing, quarantine and isolation. While necessary, these measures can have a significant effect on young people’s mental health. Fear, anxiety, anger, sadness and grief are compounded by being away from schools, work, peers, adjusting to new ways of learning and working, as well as fear of losing jobs and family income.

For this reason, Global Shapers Community Baramati Hub, started the initiative Project Forces of Change, in collaboration with the local governance and local stakeholders, like the Mayor of Baramati, TEDx Experts, Medical Officers, Local NGOs.

In Phase One, the hub introduced The ”I” Matter Project, where hub members took personal development sessions to provide a safe space and encourage personal and professional growth with required mentorship. The hub also hosted a series of webinars and Instagram lives for young people, titled #31daysofyouthchallenge. Through The ”I” Matter Project the aim was to provide young people with a platform for genuine connection amid uncertainty, encouraging them to field their questions to the experts from the respective fields, generate mental health awareness among young people, and strengthen demand for integrated mental health and psychosocial interventions. The hub then initiated the Personal Activities Project, through which every Shaper led a small initiative to address a problem that they believed would bring an impactful change to their environment.

In Phase Two, the hub conducted awareness webinars to circulate correct information and break the myths about COVID-19. The speaker, Abhishek Dhawan, shared his expertise about the vaccinations and plasm donation campaign in July 2021. Due to the pandemic, blood was in short supply at various blood banks, as in last two years people feared the needle and spread of COVID-19. Therefore, the hub decided to launch the Blood Donation Camp initiative in May 2022, in order to raise awareness of the issue. The hub successfully collected 50+ bag of rare blood groups at the Local Blood Bank of Baramati.

In Phase Three, to mark the 10th anniversary of Global Shapers Community, the hub organized a Social Entrepreneurship Skill development program in December 2021, where the hub provided mentorship to the rural talent of Baramati and encouraged them to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. The hub involved the local Governance the Mayor, TEDx Experts, and Rural colleges in the event. 

The hub has seen an impact in the minds of youth of in and around Baramati and set up examples for them and encouraged them to participate in the initiatives offered through the Project Forces of Change.