New Delhi: In an inspiring celebration of dedication, growth, and grassroots empowerment, CG3 marked its fifth anniversary with a commemorative event that spotlighted its remarkable journey, pioneering programs, and heartfelt messages from its mentors and stakeholders.
The occasion brought together members of the CG3 family, volunteers, educators, entrepreneurs, and youth from across the country, united in their vision of building an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable India.
From Inception to Impact: The CG3 Journey
Founded in 2020, CG3 (short for “Connect, Grow, Give”) began as a community-driven initiative with a simple yet powerful mission: to create a platform where young minds could connect meaningfully, grow through skill development and mentoring, and give back to their communities through purposeful action.
Over five years, this mission has evolved into a structured ecosystem of empowerment that blends education, entrepreneurship, social awareness, and personal growth. With its uniquely integrated approach and people-centric values, CG3 has impacted over 20,000 individuals directly and countless others through its cascading mentorship model.
Flagship Programmes: Learning, Leading, and Uplifting
At the heart of CG3’s operations lies its distinctive bouquet of programs — each curated to address different dimensions of youth and community development. These include:
1. Project Nirman: Building Leadership from Within
One of CG3’s earliest and most successful programs, Project Nirman nurtures future leaders through intensive skill development, team projects, and civic responsibility. Over 500 participants from diverse backgrounds have graduated from the program, many of whom are now leading NGOs, startups, or serving in public institutions.
2. SkillUp Saturdays: Learning Beyond Classrooms
Realizing the gaps in conventional education, CG3 introduced SkillUp Saturdays, a weekly knowledge-sharing initiative where industry mentors train students in communication, digital literacy, design thinking, and emotional intelligence. The hybrid model of offline hubs and online sessions helped the program scale to 25 cities and towns by 2024.
3. GreenSteps: Youth for Climate Action
CG3 has also positioned itself as a leader in sustainability education with GreenSteps. The program mobilizes school and college students for environmental campaigns, tree plantations, plastic audits, and eco-entrepreneurship. In just two years, over 300 eco-clubs have been established in collaboration with local schools.
4. CG3 Pehchan: Identity through Inclusivity
Responding to issues of gender equity and representation, Pehchan offers platforms for self-expression, legal literacy, and psychological support. Monthly circles and community storytelling events have given voice to over 2,000 women and queer youth, helping them build confidence and resilience.
5. Volunteer Vistas: Giving Back with Purpose
A core belief at CG3 is that everyone, regardless of their background, has something valuable to give. Volunteer Vistas is a dynamic program that matches young volunteers with NGOs and community projects based on their passions and skills. To date, CG3 has facilitated over 80,000 hours of volunteer work across health camps, education centers, and digital literacy drives.
The Numbers Speak: Key Achievements
CG3’s impact is not just visible in individual transformation stories but also in its scalable model of community change. Among its key achievements are:
- 20,000+ direct beneficiaries across programs
- 350+ mentors from 10+ industries
- 15 state-level partnerships with schools, universities, and NGOs
- 10 national awards and recognitions for youth leadership, innovation, and climate action
- A 4x growth in volunteer registration year-on-year
- Expansion to 6 countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Kenya through knowledge exchange modules
Mentors’ Messages: Voices That Inspire
The fifth anniversary was also a time for reflection and visionary thought, with heartfelt messages from CG3’s core mentors and advisors.
Dr. Arpita Sen, Senior Mentor and Social Innovation Expert, remarked:
“CG3 has done what very few youth movements manage — it has stayed grounded in values while scaling with agility. I see in CG3 the future of India’s citizen leadership.”
Rajeev Khanna, Policy Advisor and Mentor since 2021, added:
“Our young people need platforms like CG3 that combine compassion with competence. The work we’ve done together — whether it’s mentoring tribal students or launching clean energy challenges — gives me great hope.”
Naina Verma, Founding Mentor and Educationist, shared:
“The soul of CG3 is its community. Every child mentored, every tree planted, every doubt cleared — it all builds the fabric of a stronger, more just India. I’m proud to walk this journey with them.”
These messages were echoed across social media and partner channels, generating a wave of gratitude and celebration from alumni, volunteers, and partner institutions.
The Anniversary Event: A Mosaic of Stories and Vision
The grand fifth anniversary event, held at the India Habitat Centre, was a confluence of vibrant storytelling, music, and thematic panels. Attendees witnessed documentary screenings, youth-led performances, and interactive booths showcasing project outcomes.
Highlights included:
- The “Impact Walk”, a gallery-style walkthrough of CG3 milestones
- Alumni Stories, where past participants shared how CG3 shaped their lives
- The GreenSteps Award Ceremony, recognizing young environmentalists
- A Mentor-Mentee Circle, fostering open dialogue across generations
- Launch of the CG3 Fellowship 2026, a flagship initiative for emerging changemakers
The event closed with the planting of a symbolic “Vision Tree”, where mentors and participants tied leaves with their dreams for the next five years.
Looking Ahead: Vision 2030
Even as it celebrates the past, CG3 is resolutely focused on the future. Its Vision 2030 document, unveiled during the event, outlines ambitious yet grounded goals:
- Reach 100,000 direct beneficiaries by 2030
- Establish a CG3 Changemaker Campus for immersive learning
- Build pan-India alliances with 100+ schools and colleges
- Develop an AI-powered volunteer and mentorship platform
- Launch an annual Social Innovation Challenge for rural youth
Speaking on the future, CG3’s Director of Strategy, Mihir Sharma, said:
“We are no longer a fledgling initiative. We are an ecosystem. And with the trust of our community and partners, we aim to become India’s most accessible platform for civic learning and youth-driven impact.”
Community Speaks: The Real Impact
CG3’s success is best reflected in the words of its participants. 19-year-old Sakshi Raut, who was part of the SkillUp initiative, said:
“Before CG3, I didn’t even know how to write an email. Today, I run digital campaigns for an NGO in Pune. That confidence came from here.”
Similarly, Abdul Malik, a volunteer from Bihar who led a literacy drive, shared:
“No one from my village had worked with a Delhi-based group before. CG3 made us feel seen, heard, and useful. That changes everything.”
Conclusion: More Than a Milestone
The fifth anniversary of CG3 is more than just a celebration — it’s a reaffirmation of what is possible when empathy meets action, when the youth are given tools and trust, and when learning is not just about information, but transformation.
As CG3 steps into its next phase, it carries with it five years of learnings, friendships, struggles, and successes. With the continued support of its mentors, partners, and passionate volunteers, CG3 is poised to become a national — and eventually global — torchbearer of youth-led change.
