Recognitions, Research & Voices — The Ignite Foundation

Global platforms. One community-rooted mission.

Mongolia · UNCCD COP17

Ijas H. and Jaseel C. K.

Represented Ignite as an accredited observer organisation in civil society meetings, plenary sessions and global conversations on land restoration.

View official UNCCD listing

China · APCYS 5.0

Ijas H. and Naji Mahfood

Represented Ignite’s Cooperative Youth Collective, connecting Kerala’s grassroots changemakers with the wider cooperative movement across Asia and the Pacific.

ICA-AP summit page Press release

The Ignite Foundation is also a member of the UNCCD Youth Caucus ↗, standing with young people worldwide on land, desertification and drought.

A growing community of changemakers.

SST editions since 2021

200+

Changemakers

180+

Community problems identified

170+

Solutions mapped

25+

Collaborations

70+

Ongoing youth-led projects

Research papers

3 lakh+

Volunteering hours

Cumulative SST figures reported in The Ignite Foundation’s World Youth Development Forum presentation. The 22 SST8 and SST9 projects are a cohort-specific subset, not an additional total.

Hyper-local problem solvers.

A law graduate and artist, Siva founded Micha Meedhi in 2023 — a social enterprise repurposing urban scrap into functional, artistic products. Beyond products, it hosts workshops that use upcycling to teach sustainability and design thinking. He recently strengthened this vision at the Winter School on Social Entrepreneurship at Changemakers Ashram.
Sivabalan · Bangalore · SST 1st edition alum

When the ecological future of Muthappan Mala became uncertain, Vishnumaya initiated a grassroots awareness campaign — informative notices, school engagement sessions, and community discussions on biodiversity and natural disasters — planting early seeds of environmental responsibility.
Vishnumaya · Kannur · SST 7th edition alum

A student at Digital University Kerala, Niyas stepped into an auditing role in the Vana Samrakshana Samithi under Peruvannamuzhi Reserve after his father's passing. His action project strengthens transparency, community participation, and youth engagement in local forest governance.
M Niyas · Muthukad · 10 km from Changemakers Ashram

Irshad's project envisions a community-based emotional space — akin to a Pakal Veedu — where elders gather for emotional circles, art, storytelling, and digital literacy. Through 'Meet the Grandparents' sessions, his model rebuilds intergenerational bonds.
Irshad · Balussery · 14 km from Changemakers Ashram · SST 9th edition alum

Where our work has been invited into global conversations.

World Youth Development Forum

Wuhan, China

Jaseel C K (Muhammed Jaseel Charuvil Kunnummal) presented School for Social Transformation: a pathway from volunteering to active citizenship, community leadership and social entrepreneurship. The presentation highlights experiential learning, mentorship and the ecosystem emerging around youth-led community action.

Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS 5.0)

1–4 September 2026 · Hangzhou, China

Ijas H. and Naji Mahfood represented The Ignite Foundation at the ICA Asia and Pacific summit. Our proposed Cooperative Youth Collective for Kerala’s social impact sector was selected among the Top 10 cooperative projects in the region.

Acceleration Week for Global Youth Development Programs

11–17 June 2026 · Shanghai & Wuhan, China

School for Social Transformation invited to participate in the programme on Volunteerism and Poverty Reduction, co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and UNICEF.

UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

17–28 August 2026 · Mongolia

The Ignite Foundation is an accredited civil society observer organisation to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Co-founders Ijas H. and Jaseel C. K. represented the Foundation at COP17 in Mongolia.

Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN)

2023, 2024 · Asia-Pacific

Representatives attended the GYBN Asia-Pacific meet and collaborated on the School for Social Transformation.

UNESCO-APCEIU Leadership Workshop & Funding

2022, 2023 · South Korea

Supported by UNESCO-APCEIU on the Design Lab — translating Sustainable Development Goals to Malayalam; our representative attended the 6th Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED.

Published papers by our co-founders.

Experiential learning for environmental education: A case study of the School for Social Transformation by The Ignite Foundation.

Jaseel, C. K., Hakkim, I., & Mahfood, N. (2025)

ClimatEd Summit — Climate Educators Network, ASER & School of Policy and Governance

Environmental education among youth: A case study of The Gulmohar Foundation.

Jaseel, C. K. (2024)

National Study Conference for Climate Action — Madras Christian College, Chennai

Making environmental citizenship for a sustainable future.

Jaseel, C. K. (2023)

National Convention on Elimination of Single Use Plastics — RMP Institute & Ministry of Environment, Government of India

Enabling hyper-local leaders for climate action: A case study of The Ignite Foundation.

Jaseel, C. K., IJAS Hakkim & Mahfood, N. (2025)

National Conference on Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future — Madras Christian College & Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development

The work, the writing, and the people it lifted.