Author: Grace Li
In this installment of our Student Spotlight Series, we are excited to be interviewing Bhavati, a youth-led organization for empowerment through legal aid and advocacy. In this interview, we speak with Ananya, the founder of Bhavati, on how she approaches advocacy, and the impact Bhavati will create.
Q1: Please introduce yourself and Bhavati.
Hi, I’m Ananya Anand, an aspiring lawyer, writer, and the founder of Bhavati, a youth-led initiative for empowerment. I am based in New Delhi, India, and am deeply committed to bridging law, advocacy, and public education.
Q2: What did being a United Nations-MCN fellow teach you about youth participation in global systems?
It showed me how multi-layered and dynamic youth participation can be, with the implemented projects under the MCN fellowship ranging from online seminars to grassroots campaigns. I realized that when young people have a clear vision, and a fervent commitment towards that vision, the medium of execution is never a barrier. What matters most is the passion and persistence behind their cause.
Q3: How has your experience as a UNESCO-LPA youth fellow influenced how you approach advocacy?
Having served as a UNESCO–LPA fellow from 2024 to 2025, which meant that I joined this programme right after high school, taught me the importance of facilitating collaborations across borders and disciplines. Putting yourself out there can feel daunting, as it certainly was for me in the beginning, but when the cause is greater than yourself, it becomes a welcome challenge. I learned to build partnerships with individuals and organizations worldwide, which strengthened my confidence in advocacy as a collective effort.
Q4: What did your time with Oxford’s GYC show you about global youth collaboration?
The Oxford GYC programme united people from diverse professional backgrounds and stages of life, all driven by a shared passion for environmental justice. It showed me that collaboration thrives when rooted in common values, irrespective of how we choose to implement those values within our work, and that youth-led initiatives can transcend linguistic and physical boundaries to create truly global impact if and when platformed correctly.
Q5: What inspired you to found Bhavati, and what gap were you trying to address?
I was inspired to create Bhavati partly due to my interest in law and social impact, and my desire to combine these two domains. Combined with them were my personal experiences navigating life, and seeing how I and those around me, especially individuals from vulnerable communities, often struggled to access the right resources to seek justice, made this need even more urgent. Bhavati was created to bridge this gap and provide young people with the tools they need to claim their rights and pursue justice.
Q6: What goals do you hope to accomplish with Bhavati?
Bhavati aims to empower vulnerable communities by ensuring that no one feels lost or silenced when trying to claim their rights, through our initiatives such as free access to vocational and educational opportunities, free-of-cost legal aid and educational materials and through published content informing people of their rights. Ultimately, I hope to build a culture where youth feel confident in pursuing justice, supported by tools that combine legal knowledge with social empowerment.
Q7: Lastly, how can readers at home support Bhavati and its mission?
Readers at home can support Bhavati by engaging with our initiatives, sharing resources and advocacy campaigns, and amplifying youth voices in their own communities. Collaboration is also key, whether through partnerships, volunteering, or mentorship, every effort helps expand our reach and impact. By standing with Bhavati, individuals can contribute to a movement that ensures young people are heard, respected, and empowered to shape the future.
So, if you wish to connect with us, shoot us a DM on @at.bhavati or send us an email on at.bhavati@gmail.com.
Thank you so much to Bhavati for joining us on this interview! Make sure to check out their work!
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