India’s 17-Year-Old Dev Karan to Be Honoured at Young Activists Summit 2025

India will celebrate the achievement of 17-year-old Dev Karan, who is among five exceptional young individuals selected to be honoured at the Young Activists Summit 2025. The event will take place on November 20, 2025, in the renovated Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Young Activists Summit is organised by the United Nations Office at Geneva, the NGO dev.tv, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. The event will be moderated by Indonesian climate activist Melati Wijsen, who is the founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags and YOUTHTOPIA.

The Summit will be webcast live at 14:30 IST (Delhi) and 10:00 CET on UN Web TV and the Young Activists Summit website, with live interpretation available in Hindi, English, Portuguese, Arabic, French, and Japanese. The annual gathering honours young changemakers from across the globe who use technology and innovation to promote social and environmental change.

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In 2024, Dev Karan founded an initiative called Pondora, which combines community action with low-cost technology to map, restore, and preserve India’s ponds. His project not only raises awareness about sustainable environmental management but also empowers community members and volunteers to protect vital water resources across the country.

The 2025 Summit, held under the theme “From Hashtag to Action,” explores how young activists are transforming online movements into tangible and meaningful change. It highlights how digital platforms empower youth to amplify voices, mobilise communities, and create real-world impact while tackling serious challenges such as misinformation, online hate, fake news, and cyberbullying.

Alongside Karan, the other young laureates being recognised at this year’s summit are Aminata Savané from Côte d’Ivoire for her work in digital inclusion and safety, Marina El Khawand from Lebanon for digital innovation in accessible healthcare, Salvino Oliveira from Brazil for his efforts in favela youth education and access to technology, and Rena Kawasaki from Japan for promoting youth participation and digital civic engagement.

The Summit will be streamed live at 14:30 IST (Delhi) and 10:00 CET on UN Web TV and the Young Activists Summit website, with interpretation provided in Hindi, English, Portuguese, Arabic, French, and Japanese.