Agra, (Uttar Pradesh) [India] April 11, 2025: In a moment that captured the essence of courage, leadership, and community spirit, Deepak Tyagi, Brand Ambassador of Agra City and Co-Founder & Vice Chairperson of Sanskriti Youth Foundation, was conferred with ‘The Real Hero Award’ by Radio City 91.9 FM. The award ceremony, held at the prestigious Bhawna Clarks Inn Hotel, recognised individuals whose contributions to society have created real and measurable impact. Tyagi’s recognition is a reflection of the unstoppable momentum behind the movement he co-leads — the Sanskriti Youth Foundation.
Founded in 2021, Sanskriti Youth Foundation has become one of India’s most promising and impactful youth-led nonprofit organizations, active in 14 cities across the country: Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Noida, Pune,Ahemdabad, Hubballi, Saifai, Kolkata, Lucknow. With a strong base of 1200+ active on-ground volunteers and an online community of over 2 lakh followers, the foundation is reshaping the landscape of community service and sustainable development.
A Legacy of Impact
The Sanskriti Youth Foundation has achieved remarkable milestones over the last four years. Its initiatives are strategically aligned with some of the most pressing societal challenges India faces today:
Environmental Sustainability
- 25,000+ kg of plastic waste removed from the Yamuna River in 2024 alone.
- Weekly clean-up drives in water bodies, markets, and heritage sites across participating cities.
- Tree plantation campaigns resulting in the planting of over 7,500 saplings in urban and semi-urban areas.
- Promotion of zero-waste lifestyle and plastic-free community campaigns reaching over 1 million people digitally.
Child Education
- Slum Education Program conducted every weekend across all 14 cities, reaching over 3,500 underprivileged children annually.
- Distribution of free educational kits, books, and school supplies in rural communities.
- Organizing storytelling sessions, mobile libraries, and digital literacy drives to empower the next generation.
Women’s Health & Empowerment
- Regular menstrual hygiene awareness sessions, impacting more than 15,000 adolescent girls and women.
- Skill development workshops for rural women in areas such as tailoring, organic farming, and digital marketing.
- Health camps and mental health awareness sessions in collaboration with grassroots health workers.
Disaster Relief & Community Welfare
- Food and hygiene kit distribution during natural calamities and lockdowns.
- Collaboration with local authorities and institutions to support flood-affected and low-income families.
An Award Celebrating Courage and Community Leadership
The Real Hero Award was presented to Deepak Tyagi for his relentless dedication to social change and grassroots action. A researcher by profession specializing in Microbiology & Vector Genomics, Tyagi balances his scientific career with his profound commitment to service. Every Sunday, without fail, he dons a different hat — that of a mentor, environmentalist, teacher, and humanitarian.
“Bravery isn’t only about risking life, it’s also about dedicating it to a cause bigger than oneself,” Tyagi said during his acceptance speech. “Our strength lies in people, in the volunteers who wake up early to teach a slum child, pick plastic from riverbanks, or speak up for a girl’s right to education. This award is for them.”
Celebrating the Power of Teamwork
The award ceremony also recognised the dedicated leadership team of Sanskriti Youth Foundation:
- Ayush Kulshreshtha, Co-founder & Chairperson, who was also awarded for his vision and ability to scale the foundation nationally.
- Mansi Verma, Secretary, for her strategic planning and management.
- Vaishali, Media In-Charge, for crafting powerful communication strategies that amplify grassroots voices.
- Shantanu Budhraja, PR Head & City Head of Mathura, for establishing strong community partnerships.
- Jyotika, City Head of Agra, for executing impactful local campaigns.
- Raj, Creative Head, who shaped the foundation’s visual identity.
- Ajay, from the Social Media Team, for building a vibrant, engaged online community.
Looking Ahead: A Model for Youth-Led Development
As Sanskriti Youth Foundation enters its fifth year in 2025, its mission grows clearer: to make youth the driving force of India’s development narrative. From environmental justice to inclusive education and gender equality, the foundation has shown that young citizens are not just future leaders — they are today’s changemakers.
Their efforts have been covered by national media, recognized by state-level institutions, and even included in university curriculum discussions for civic education models. Talks are underway to expand the Foundation’s model into new states and launch a Youth for Rivers Campaign, aiming to clean five major rivers by 2028.
With Deepak Tyagi at the helm — a young scientist with the heart of a reformer — the legacy of the Sanskriti Youth Foundation is only just beginning. And in the words of many who’ve worked with him: He doesn’t just lead a team. He leads a movement.
Follow @sanskritiyouthfoundation on Instagram to witness change in real time, or visit www.sanskritiyouthfoundation.org for volunteer & internship opportunities and partnerships.
