The Future is Collective Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 2025

Collective action activities Capability Activities Building movementsCreating a shared narrative: vartaLeap’s primary shared narrative is the vision statement, “every youth a Jagrik, and every space nurturing Jagriks”, which was co-created with all members in the early stages of the coalition. Theme-based narratives are also co-created with relevant group members and socialized with the larger coalition. These common messages drive the campaigns and guide all communication and design for a designated period of time. Expanding the stakeholder base: vartaLeap works towards constantly expanding the membership base, supported by the facilitariat, which guides the entry and exit of members; diversity is a key driver of these decisions. Beyond membership, vartaLeap engages allies through its amplification and acceleration strategies to become supporters of the mission and ecosystem in different ways. Organizing field-level convenings: Every year, vartaLeap organizes a coalition-wide, in-person “treat” that is facilitated and hosted by members. Typically, 60% of members participate in this two- to three-day immersion. Centring lived experience: vartaLeap member convenings are designed to build on the lived experiences of youth members. Generative practices for co-creation and co-designing are followed to maximize the “collective wisdom” of the group. Celebrating key milestones: vartaLeap recognizes members and accomplishments through events and WhatsApp engagement. For example, in 2022, vartaLeap hosted a virtual celebration called “India’s Got Leadership Talent” for the exemplary COVID-19 response by ecosystem members. Strengthening data systemsDeveloping shared metrics: vartaLeap uses the common frameworks and principles that they have developed for each lab to benchmark their work. Internal feedback processes include membership surveys that offer metrics on the strength of engagement. Creating shared definitions: vartaLeap members co-create unique terms, concepts and narrative framings, such as Jagrik, FLOWING principles, “Nourishing Now” principles,24 and Saath Nirbhar. This language is adopted organically by members of the coalition and was derived from the culture of vartaLeap’s faciltariat organization, Pravah and ComMutiny – The Youth Collective, which was founded in 2009. Collecting, analysing and sharing data: vartaLeap aggregates and disseminates data from commonly run programmes, including outreach numbers and pre and post shifts in the learning and leadership of young people going through Jagrik Journeys. vartaLeap also conducts analysis, learning and insights from across the coalition. Influencing institutionsDeveloping policy recommendations: A working group of the vartaLeap Coalition has provided inputs to the National Youth Policy, Government of India. Additionally, the Youth Duties and Rights Draft Declaration provided inspiration for many members to integrate into their organizational and programme policies. Performing government and multilateral capacity building: Many of vartaLeap’s members are directly involved with government as advisers, co-creators of curricula and programme implementation partners. vartaLeap built the capacity of government staff by engaging with government youth programmes and participating in United Nations’ agency partnerships. 24. ComMutiny. (n.d.). About Nourishing Now. https://commutiny.in/about-nourishing-now . The Future is Collective: Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 72