Srinagar, Oct 19: The Civic Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), in support of the Watson Institute and Western Union Foundation, hosted a regional co-design roundtable in Srinagar. The gathering brought together civil society members, academics, journalists, activists, artists, historians and youth from across Kashmir, including Bandipora, Kupwara and Srinagar, to shape a youth leadership initiative rooted in local solutions and sustainable economic models.
The roundtable served as the official consultation for the upcoming CIVIC Youth Leadership Fellowship, a one-year initiative designed to equip young Kashmiris with participatory leadership skills, conflict mediation and practical tools to address urgent community challenges. Rather than relying on temporary grants or conventional tourism models, the fellowship emphasises building permanent, self-sustaining micro-enterprises and local economic capacity.
Speaking at the event, Sajad Rasool, Director of CRDF and a Fellow at the Watson Institute, highlighted the crucial role of youth in driving local economic autonomy while safeguarding the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
“Storytelling and documented grievances open long-overdue conversations, but storytelling alone cannot pay a young person’s monthly bills,” said Sajad Rasool. “Young Kashmiris need permanent, community-rooted institutions.
“Through this fellowship, our goal is to empower youth to create dignified, self-sustaining livelihoods that protect our fragile environment, our waterbodies, forests and biomass, while reviving our rich language, oral histories and traditional crafts.”
During the three-hour interactive session, participants engaged in asset-mapping exercises that linked personal heritage and cultural memory directly to economic opportunities. Discussions highlighted systemic challenges, including environmental degradation, the loss of traditional architecture, biomass burning and language decline, alongside promising local assets.
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