He has already built a legacy many aspire to but few achieve. He is Akarsh Shroff. Just 24. This young man from Bengaluru has made his city proud. He has recently received the prestigious National Youth Award from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. His tireless efforts to improve early childhood education in rural Anganwadi centres have touched many lives. In fact, it brought real, positive changes to these communities.
“I loved using storytelling with the children…it helped them connect and learn in such a fun way,” Akarsh shared. “Sometimes, I’d bring in interactive learning kits to make the sessions even more engaging. Watching their eyes light up was the best part.”
The award ceremony, held at New Delhi’s iconic Parliament House, visibly turned into a celebration of young changemakers. Among the 22 individuals recognised for their outstanding contributions over the past two years, Akarsh stood quietly, a little overwhelmed yet deeply grounded. The awards were presented by Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya. Mandaviya in his address, reminded the awardees of their role as agents of transformation. “You are the youth. You are the future of the country,” he said. “Your thought, your opinion, your creativity, your methodology, and your lifestyle is making an important contribution to nation building.”
For Akarsh, this was more than an award. It was the recognition of a journey he began as a teenager, guided by empathy, and a firm belief in the power of youth leadership.
Akarsh’s story: seeds of change
Akarsh’s story began, quite simply, in the classrooms of National Public School in Bengaluru’s Rajajinagar. He was more than just a bright student. As a teenager, Akarsh was unusually curious and compassionate, who always found himself drawn to causes that many others his age might have overlooked. Encouraged by a few supporting teachers, he started volunteering at orphanages and special schools. That opened his eyes to the harsh realities of life faced by those on the margins of the society. The dilapidated infrastructure, the lack of resources, and the wary eyes of downtrodden children deeply moved him.
These early experiences left a lasting impression on him. They also sparked a determination that would later take shape in the form of a structured initiative. When he joined VVS Pre-University College after Class 10, Akarsh channelled his emotions into action. In 2018, while still in Class 12, he founded a youth-led nonprofit organisation called YuvaSpark. The idea behind this was simple yet powerful. It created a platform where young people could channel their desire to contribute into meaningful action.
YuvaSpark: From idea to impact
What started as a high school initiative quickly evolved into a movement. YuvaSpark was built around the belief that young people aren’t just beneficiaries of change, but powerful agents of it. Its first few projects focused on improving infrastructure at orphanages and government school libraries. But as they spent more time working closely with local communities, they began to see a deeper need — India’s Anganwadi centres. They often mark a child’s very first step into the learning world, especially in rural areas, and offer immense scope for meaningful impact.
Akarsh and his team set their sights on digitising and upgrading the learning experience at these centres. Over time, YuvaSpark developed a digital platform that provides teachers at Anganwadis with custom-curated interactive content in regional languages designed to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among young learners.
The numbers speak volumes. Today, YuvaSpark has digitised learning at over 600 Anganwadi centres. Their work has reached more than 346,000 children across 10 states, thanks to a passionate force of 700+ volunteers from 35+ institutions. The organisation has also raised over Rs. 2.5 crore from marquee funders such as Amazon, BCG, Indian Oil, MNGL, and SECI.
Youth leading youth
One of the most remarkable aspects of Akarsh’s journey is his commitment to youth leadership. YuvaSpark, in its early years, had a core team largely composed of high schoolers. “At one point in 2020, our volunteer recruitment head was a student of Class 9,” Akarsh shares with a smile. “She was taking interviews of MBA students who were applying for internships with us.”
Similarly, the organisation’s head of external affairs was in Class 11, and a Class 12 student headed the finance division — someone who once signed purchase orders worth tens of lakhs in a single day. These anecdotes are not just impressive — they underline a culture of ownership and trust, where young people were encouraged to lead, take decisions, and learn by doing.
Stepping away from the obvious
After completing his undergraduate degree from BITS Pilani, one of India’s premier institutions in 2022, Akarsh had high-paying offers awaiting him. But he took a different path. Choosing to opt out of campus placements, he decided to commit full-time to the cause he had nurtured since his school days.
This was not a decision made lightly. For Akarsh, the idea of building a more equitable education system was too important to be relegated to evenings or weekends. He stepped into the social impact sector with the same confidence and clarity that once drove him to start YuvaSpark as a teenager.
His bold decision and consistent work have earned him several recognitions along the way. Apart from the National Youth Award, Akarsh has also been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list and has received the Diana Award, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeeper Award, and the United Nations V-Award.
A family rooted in service
Much of Akarsh’s way of thinking has been deeply shaped by the values he grew up with. His parents, both tech professionals, have always believed in using their skills to serve the community. Over the years, they have been closely involved in rural healthcare efforts, especially around making dialysis treatment more accessible and affordable. As a child, Akarsh often heard conversations about these initiatives at the dinner table. So from a very young age, giving back wasn’t just a concept, it was part of daily life.“Right from the time I was eight, I was introduced to the social impact space,” he recalls. “My parents have always instilled in me the spirit of giving back to the community.” His younger brother, too, is walking a path of growth and learning as a student at BITS Goa.
Of cats, keychains, and Mysore pak
Beyond his professional and social impact achievements, Akarsh comes across as warm and grounded in his everyday life. A loving cat parent and an ardent copoclephilist — yes, he collects keychains with great passion — he also finds joy in travel and discovering new cultures. “I love Indian cuisine,” he says with a grin. “My favourite sweet is Mysore Pak.” Back home in Bangalore, he celebrated the win in a simple, heartfelt way. He shared boxes of Mysore Pak with his family and neighbours. “It’s my way of saying thank you to the people who have always supported me,” Akarsh adds.
Looking ahead
As he stood at Parliament House receiving the award, flanked by some of the brightest young minds in the country, Akarsh carried not just the weight of his achievements, but also the hopes of a generation ready to lead — not tomorrow, but today.
