Bharat took the initiative to step out of his comfort zone and break the bubble he grew up in. What began as volunteering for social causes soon became a calling so much that he broke the norm of leaving a stable IT job to work full-time in the development sector and  then came back to his roots. Over the years, he became a role model for youth in Punjab, mobilised more than 2,700 young people and have played a role in strengthening their 21st century skills. He believes deeply in the power of support, agency, and spaces that help young people realise who they are and what they can achieve. He is on a mission to build a community of youth who owns their change and envisions a future where youth play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable communities.

Poonam stepped beyond the limitations of her upbringing in a small village in West Bengal, becoming the first girl in her village to study in an English-medium school. A survivor of sexual violence, her journey shaped her deep commitment to resilience, healing, and helping others reclaim their stories. What began with her Teach For India Fellowship grew into a decade of work in the development sector. Over the years, she has worked with organizations such as Reap Benefit, TNS India Foundation, TRRAIN, Goonj, and KickOff Solutions, engaging over 2,000 young people across underserved communities in India. Through this journey, she founded Project Aadvay to create spaces where young people can discover their dreams, build leadership, and take courageous action to shape their own futures.