The Yuva Sanjeevan Experiential Learning Programme was jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India (MY Bharat – Puducherry) and Sanjeevan Palliative Care. The programme set out to blend medical education with compassionate community service, giving young people a meaningful first-hand introduction to palliative care and to the human side of healthcare.
The programme began with an orientation session on 29 July 2026, which introduced the volunteers to the philosophy of palliative care and prepared them for the work ahead. The core training was then held from 2 to 6 September 2026. The structured curriculum guided participants step by step through classroom theory, guided clinical practice, unguided home visits, and an individual evaluation. This progression allowed the volunteers to first build a sound understanding of palliative care concepts, then practise under supervision, and finally apply their learning independently in real homes, preparing them for holistic patient care.
A total of 25 student volunteers from the Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry, took part in the programme. Through their home visits, they reached 75 individuals living with chronic and life-limiting illnesses. For many of these patients and their families, the visits offered not only practical support but also companionship, attention, and the reassurance of being heard. For the volunteers, meeting patients in their own homes gave them a deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, and social realities of long-term illness, going well beyond what a classroom can convey.
In recognition of their efforts, the student volunteers were presented with certificates at a function held as part of the Vande Mataram Camp, a MY Bharat initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, billed on its backdrop as a tribute to the song that awakened a nation. The stage was shared by dignitaries, programme coordinators, and faculty members, while the volunteers, dressed in their white coats, proudly displayed their certificates for a group photograph. The camp also brought together MY Bharat youth delegates from other states, including Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Telangana, making the occasion a vibrant celebration of youth participation, national unity, and service to society.
The initiative was executed through dedicated leadership and coordination across the participating organisations. MY Bharat (Puducherry) was coordinated by Mr. Raju and Dr. Surya Prasanna. Sanjeevan Palliative Care was led by Dr. Mohan Raja Subbaraman. Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences was coordinated by Dr. Arun Prasad and Dr. Ilankumaran, alongside esteemed faculty members who supported and encouraged the volunteers throughout.
By combining structured learning with real-world home care, the Yuva Sanjeevan programme demonstrated a powerful youth-volunteering model. It fostered empathy, communication skills, and clinical sensitivity in future healthcare professionals, while extending compassionate support to 75 individuals and their families. The programme shows how partnerships between government youth initiatives, medical institutions, and community-based palliative care organisations can nurture a generation of caring, community-minded health professionals.
