2011
ServiceThe beginning: a nine-day seva shivir
Service starts at around the age of 14, with the Scouts and Nek Karya Seva Samiti in Indore.
Scout volunteer, then volunteerIndore
Indore, India · Since 2011
Abhishek Panwar
Youth Leader
From Grassroots Service to Global Conversations
Climate action advocate, social activist and community mobiliser: a journey from community service in Indore to youth leadership on national and global platforms.
The beginning
It Started With Service.
The journey did not begin at an international conference. It began much closer to home.
At around the age of 14, Abhishek started volunteering with social organisations and taking part in community service activities.
Food distribution, helping people in need and community-level volunteering became part of his early years of work.
With time, the work expanded into youth development, environment, climate action and sustainable development.
The approach remained simple: understand the problem, work with people and do what can be done on the ground.
Real impact
Numbers from the ground.
Figures come from the SDGs Work Report, the programme outcome reports and updated records from Team Abhishek Panwar. Open a card to read where each number comes from.
0+
Years of Community Work
Since 2011
0+
Meals Distributed
Since 2011
0+
People Supported Through Ration Initiative
Since 2023
0+
People Reached Through Different Initiatives
0+
People Reached Through Climate Outreach
Nov–Dec 2024
0+
Students, Youth and Social Workers Reached Through Climate Education
Journey
Fifteen years, one direction.
From a nine-day seva shivir in 2011 to the UN Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha in 2025: service, community, youth, climate and global platforms, with 2026 still being written.
2014–2018
ServiceStudent leader: chief volunteer, NSS, youth parliaments
From the school student council to NSS and campus ambassador roles at college.
Chief Volunteer; NSS core committee memberIndore
July 2018
CommunityFood Distribution In-charge
After years as a volunteer, given charge of the daily food distribution at hospitals.
Food Distribution In-chargeIndore
2019–2021
CommunityM.A. Political Science and a parliamentary internship
Postgraduate study and six months in the Member of Parliament's office build a grounding in governance.
Student; intern; delegateIndore; New Delhi
2020–21
CommunityCOVID-19 relief
Food, medicines, masks and patient transport when ambulances were not available.
Frontline volunteerIndore
2021
YouthChetna Atal Yuva Mandal and a year of youth parliaments
Convener of a youth-led Mandal, and an award-winning year on youth parliament stages.
Convener and Executive Committee MemberIndore; online
April 2022
YouthSouth Asia Regional Brilliance Award, Kathmandu
Honoured for social work among 101 participants from eight countries.
Awardee, social work categoryKathmandu, Nepal
January 2023
YouthYouth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, National Youth Festival and Model G20
Three national platforms in one month, representing Indore and the Argentine Republic.
Youth delegate; NYKS Indore representativeIndore; Hubballi-Dharwad; Mumbai
June – September 2023
ClimateClimate engagement: the G20 paper and LCOY Thrissur
A paper on climate change and the G20, then the national youth climate conference in Kerala.
Paper presenter; LCOY delegateIndore; Thrissur, Kerala
November 2023
ClimateCOY18, Dubai: representing India
Three days at the UN Climate Change Conference of Youth ahead of COP28.
Representative from IndiaExpo City, Dubai, UAE
2023 onwards
CommunityMonthly ration kits for cancer-affected families
A kit for a family of five each month during treatment; 18,000+ people supported.
Programme in-chargeIndore
July 2024
ClimateMalwa Ratna Award and the Climate Change Champions Fellowship
Recognised in Indore for youth leadership and climate work.
Awardee; fellowIndore; online
November – December 2024
ClimateCOY19, Baku, and the National Outreach Programme
Delegate of India in Baku, then National Coordinator of the Global Youth Statement outreach, reaching 5,000+ people.
Delegate of India; National CoordinatorBaku, Azerbaijan; Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal
March – May 2025
GlobalUN ECOSOC Youth Forum: an oral statement
Featured speaker at the Journalists and Writers Foundation side-event of the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025, after the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Bootcamp with UNEP's youth group.
Virtual delegate; featured speakerOnline (New York)
June 2025
ClimateGlobal South Movement for Climate Justice founded
A youth movement launched on 6 June 2025 around World Environment Day, with the 'Voices for Our Planet' campaign of the Commonwealth Youth Council.
Founder and President; Climate Action Ambassador, Asia RegionIndore; Bajigaon, Uttarakhand; online
July – August 2025
ClimateQS ImpACT Global Day of Action: Ambassador for India
Nine climate education activities in a week with volunteers across four states.
Climate Ambassador for IndiaBajinga, Uttarakhand; Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh; online
November 2025
GlobalUN Second World Summit for Social Development, Doha
Youth Delegate and Civil Society Representative at the UN General Assembly summit.
Youth Delegate and Civil Society RepresentativeDoha, Qatar
December 2025
LeadershipGreen Governance Leaders Program begins
Started in December 2025 and now in its initiative phase: building towards 1,000 climate-ready public leaders by 2030, from Panchayat to Parliament.
Founder and ConvenorIndia
January – March 2026
LeadershipA youth honour, new fellowships and GATI
Pride of Young Hindustan Award, the Diplomatic Research Fellowship, the BRICS International School and the GATI Fellowship's 2026 cohort.
Awardee; Fellow and Team Lead; AmbassadorIndia
December 2026
UpcomingYouth Review Conference, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Upcoming: selected as a delegate, in New York.
Delegate (selected)New York, United States
Ground work
Before the Conferences, There Was Community Work.
Long before international conferences became part of the journey, community service was at the centre of the work.
Food was distributed to people who needed it. Families were supported during difficult periods. During COVID-19, volunteers worked on the ground when resources were limited.
Later, a monthly ration support initiative was started for families affected by cancer.
These experiences continue to influence the way Abhishek looks at development, climate action and public policy.
2011 onwards · Government hospitals, Indore
Free food distribution
Daily meals for patients and their families at government hospitals, and for orphanages and slum settlements, through Nek Karya Seva Samiti. More than 2,20,000 meals so far. Surplus food from weddings and events is also collected and redistributed under the No Food Waste initiative.
2020–21 · Indore
COVID-19 relief
When ambulances were not available, patients were taken to hospital on a two-wheeler. Food, medicines and sanitisers were distributed, and an awareness rally, 'Mask lagao, corona bhagao', was run with NSS volunteers. Recognised by the Madhya Pradesh Jan Abhiyan Parishad and Nehru Yuva Kendra.
2023 onwards · M.Y. Hospital and homes, Indore
Monthly ration kits for cancer-affected families
A monthly ration kit programme for families with a member under cancer treatment. Each kit, with flour, rice, pulses, oil and spices, supports a family of five for a month. More than 18,000 people have been supported so far.
Climate action
Climate Action That Starts With People
Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It affects livelihoods, health, food security and the opportunities available to young people.
Abhishek's climate work focuses on climate education, youth participation, climate justice and stronger representation of Global South perspectives.
Climate Education
Making climate issues easier to understand and discuss.
Youth Participation
Creating opportunities for young people to take part in climate conversations and action.
Climate Justice
Bringing questions of equity, representation and Global South concerns into climate discussions.
Youth leadership
Young People Should Have a Place at the Table.
Young people are already contributing to their communities. The need is to give them better opportunities, knowledge and platforms.
Abhishek's work focuses on youth participation, leadership development, capacity building and meaningful engagement in public life.
- 12-member national outreach team after COY19
- Judge, District Yuva Utsav 2023, Indore
- Representative of NYKS Indore at the 26th National Youth Festival
- Convener, Chetna Atal Yuva Mandal, since 2021
Global journey
Taking Indian Youth Voices to Global Platforms
From UN youth conferences and summits attended in person to online forums and programmes in many countries, and national platforms across India. The numbers below are counted from the places listed here; select a place to see what happened there.
0
Countries beyond India
4 in person, 7 online
0
International events in person
plus 1 upcoming
0
Indian cities
in-person events across India
0
Online and virtual events
forums, bootcamps and fellowships
2020–2026
Years of participation
first to latest event listed
- International, in person
- Indian city
- Online, shown at host city
- Upcoming
Select a place
25 places, grouped by how the participation happened.
International, in person5
Across India10
Online / virtual10
Initiatives
What is being built.
Programmes and movements that grew out of the work, each with its own page, evidence and a way to take part.
Initiative phase
Green Governance Leaders Program
Climate-ready leadership
OpenActive, youth-led movement (not a registered organisation)
Global South Movement for Climate Justice
Climate justice and Global South representation
OpenCompleted (November–December 2024)
COY19 GYS National Outreach Programme – India
Climate outreach and youth engagement
Open
Active, Convener since 2021
Chetna Atal Yuva Mandal
Community and youth engagement
Open
Continuing since 2011
Other Social Initiatives
Ground-level community support and service activities
Open
What I believe
A few things the work keeps coming back to.
- 01
Start with the ground.
Understand the problem, work with people and do what can be done where you are.
- 02
Development must reach the last person.
Inspired by Sarvodaya and the idea of Antyodaya: no one is left behind.
- 03
Young people are contributors, not only beneficiaries.
Give them knowledge, platforms and responsibility.
- 04
Climate justice includes the Global South.
Finance, equity, loss and damage and representation belong in every climate conversation.
- 05
Constitutional values and democratic participation.
From Panchayat to Parliament, governance works better when people take part.
Moments from the journey
Real photographs. Real places.
A selection from the archive: hospitals in Indore, villages in Uttarakhand, conference halls in Dubai and Baku.
People's voices
Your Voice Matters.
Tell us what is happening in your community, share an idea, raise an issue or take part in a campaign. This website is not only about Abhishek. It is a place for people to participate.
Latest updates
Recent coverage and documents.
In the news
Connect
Let's Work Together.
If you are working on youth development, climate action, community development, public policy, education or sustainable development, there may be an opportunity to work together.