Empowering Kashmiri Youth through Sports, Skills, and Service

Young people in Kashmir are taking charge of their future by reclaiming public spaces, cultural venues, and schools. Through sports, learning new skills, and community service, they are gaining confidence and shaping their own destiny. This transformation is not only helping them connect with each other but also with the wider landscape of the Valley.

Reconnecting Through Sports

Sports have become a powerful tool for young Kashmiris to reintegrate into society. Football leagues, volleyball tournaments, marathons, and fitness events are bringing youth together, turning public spaces into hubs of participation, teamwork, and celebration.

One noteworthy event is the Drass Winter Carnival 2026 – Jashn-e-Fateh, held in one of the coldest inhabited regions globally. The carnival features men’s and women’s ice hockey, archery, tent pegging, and other winter sports, highlighting talent, opportunities, and community spirit. It also showcases the government’s efforts to bring sports facilities to remote areas, fostering unity, hope, and pride among participants and locals.

Another significant initiative is the 3rd phase of the Youth and Services Sports (YSS) Orientation-cum-Refresher Programme in Srinagar, focusing on Table Tennis and Badminton. This program aims to enhance the professional skills of YSS officials, introduce modern coaching techniques, and strengthen grassroots sports development.

Tournaments like Kashmiruk Funkar and district-level competitions in various regions provide coaching, infrastructure, and exposure to young athletes. Special emphasis on girls’ participation empowers young women to confidently engage in public life, promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship.

Empowering Through Skills Development

While sports engage youth physically and socially, skill development empowers them economically and professionally. Vocational hubs, coaching centers, and entrepreneurship programs equip youth with practical skills in various fields, including IT, digital literacy, and hospitality.

The Chinar YUVA Centre in Baramulla is a prime example, offering mentorship, vocational training, and entrepreneurial guidance to youth from remote areas, including women. Programs under Mission Youth and other skill initiatives create structured pathways from learning to employment, enabling youth to pursue productive careers confidently.

Service-Oriented Engagement

Service-oriented programs in Kashmir promote civic responsibility, social cohesion, and community pride. Educational initiatives, mentorship programs, and outreach activities provide youth with opportunities to contribute positively to their neighborhoods.

Winter celebrations, like the Drass Winter Carnival, serve as platforms for community interaction, fostering a sense of participation and celebration among youth, families, and residents.

Cultural Platforms and Community Engagement

Cultural platforms complement sports and skills programs, offering youth avenues for creative expression and identity-building. University festivals, art forums, music concerts, and community-driven events blend local traditions with modern expression, reinforcing social cohesion and collective joy.

Army-supported youth festivals also play a significant role in blending local traditions with modern expression, fostering social cohesion, brotherhood, and collective joy. These events help restore public spaces as platforms for constructive participation, ensuring cultural continuity.

From Potential to Achievement

Initiatives like Mission Youth, Khelo India, skill missions, job fairs, and startup programs provide structured pathways for youth to explore opportunities in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Coaching, mentoring, and guidance programs ensure that talent is nurtured systematically, creating clear routes to personal and professional development.

By integrating sports, skills, and service, Kashmiri youth are equipped for meaningful participation in society and the economy, fostering a sense of competitiveness and channeling their energy in the right direction, away from negative influences.

Shaping a Hopeful Future

Together, these programs are helping Kashmir’s youth transition from potential to achievement, from participation to leadership, and from aspiration to opportunity, shaping a future that is hopeful, vibrant, and inclusive.

Contact: aaliyasyedkmr@gmail.com