One-hundred-eighty youths representing South Asia’s vibrance and diversity came together at the South Asia Youth Consultation 2025, held at the CSI Synod Centre in Chennai from 2-5 October.
The consultation, organised by the Council for World Mission’s (CWM) Peace and Development team, in collaboration with the India Peace Centre, and hosted by the Church of South India (CSI), brought together young people from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Themed “Celebrating Identities: Cultural Hegemonies and Diversities,” the gathering provided a platform for meaningful exploration, dialogue, and collaboration for participants who hailed from varied faith traditions, Indigenous backgrounds, and marginalised communities, creating a melting pot of perspectives reflecting the diverse realities of South Asia.
In his welcome address, Dr Sudipta Singh, CWM Deputy General Secretary for Programmes, labelled the consultation as more than just workshops and speeches but as a “Pentecost” moment.
“Here, Dalit and Tribal youth from across South Asia gather not in despair but in power… to kindle a movement of fire that no system of oppression can extinguish,” Singh declared.
Throughout the four-day consultation, it was evident that the event represented an ongoing movement that painted a picture of the church’s transformative potential to empower its marginalised youth.
Running parallel to the varied thematic sessions and workshops, creative platforms such as an open mic and cultural night enabled young participants to express their perspectives on resistance and hope through music and performances.
Strategic sessions facilitated the development of action plans for advocacy and collaboration, underscoring the significant role of South Asian youth as active contributors to present change, rather than mere beneficiaries of the future. Their input, rooted in ancestral knowledge and lived realities, is actively shaping regional discourse on peace and justice.
The event also allowed for ample space to establish networks, sustain commitments, and create shared narratives, ensuring an enduring impact amongst participants.
Towards a more inclusive church
A central pillar of the consultation was a Youth Declaration drafted by South Asian Dalit, Tribal, and Indigenous youth. The statement called for a church that embodies radical justice and inclusion, one that values every person beyond caste, tribe, gender, or wealth, and actively dismantles oppressive systems like caste discrimination, patriarchy, and environmental exploitation.
Penning their collective faiths as an active resistance against dehumanisation, erstwhile grounded in hope, love, and solidarity, the declaration envisions the church as a community of love, a voice of justice, and a space of healing where mental health is addressed without stigma and where marginalised groups share fully in leadership and belonging.
Click here to read the declaration in full.
