Lighting Up Lives: Amitabh Shah founded Yuva Unstoppable’s Solar Power Transforms Education in Grassroots India

Yuva Unstoppable has been a beacon of change, touching over 7 million children across 7,000 schools in 25 Indian states.

Amitabh Shah

At the recently concluded global conclave COP29, a powerful conversation unfolded between Amitabh Shah, founder of Yuva Unstoppable, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), highlighting the transformative impact of solar energy on education at the grassroots level. The fireside chat focused on how solar power is reshaping the educational landscape in India and across the developing world, fostering gender equity, and uplifting communities.

Since its inception, Yuva Unstoppable has been a beacon of change, touching over 7 million children across 7,000 schools in 25 Indian states. Their School Transformation Programme focuses on:

Basic Infrastructure: Upgrading sanitation, water access, digital classrooms, and sports
Solar and Sustainability: Implementing solar panels and rainwater harvesting
Learning Outcomes: Studies from the London School of Economics show a 15% rise in school enrolment and a fourfold improvement in math and science outcomes in schools supported by Yuva

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) The International Solar Alliance is an action- oriented, member-driven, intergovernmental organisation for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.

The chat delved into Amitabh Shah’s journey into social impact which is profoundly influenced by a meeting with former Indian President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Determined to "light up the lives" of children, Shah’s vision extends beyond schools, today installing solar panels in farms, parks, and health centres to ensure clean, reliable energy access for all. Shah’s foray into philanthropy began at 21 when he returned to India from the U.S., moved by the plight of his elderly nanny. His compassion led him to decline a lucrative Wall Street offer after completing his MBA from

Yale University, opting instead to spearhead grassroots development in India. Today, Yuva Unstoppable is a leading youth-centric non-profit, impacting millions across the country.

Shah commended India’s Central Government for its proactive stance on renewable energy, making solar power more accessible and affordable. This, he said, is the result of collective action from various stakeholders, stressing that “Action is something each individual can take. Small steps toward sustainability lead to larger results impacting all our futures.”

Amitabh Shah illustrated the remarkable outcomes of installing solar panels in schools. The benefits extend beyond mere electricity generation:

Enrolment Increase: Schools reported a 20% rise in
Cost Savings: Electricity bills were halved, freeing up resources for other educational
Continuous Learning: Reliable electricity eliminated interruptions in smart classrooms, enabling schools to serve as community centres for adult training in the
Enabling learning environment: children can now comfortable study with operational fans and water coolers in temperatures as high as 45

Shah also emphasized the connection between solar energy and gender equity. With well- lit environments, schools became safer for adolescent girls, improving educational outcomes and health experiences.

Concluding the chat, Shah and ISA reiterated the importance of storytelling in advocating for solar energy and fostering community-driven solutions. Amitabh firmly believes in a future where light is a basic human right, saying, “Imagine darkness in your home—what kind of environment would that be for a child? Light must be a fundamental part of life.”

Amitabh Shah’s passion and Yuva Unstoppable’s initiatives exemplify how solar energy can illuminate not just schools, but entire communities, making education accessible, safe, and sustainable for future generations.

Brief video of how Amitabh Shah and Yuva Unstoppable empower 7 million vulnerable beneficiaries including 7000 schools with improved sanitation, water, solar, sports infra, access to technology, scholarships, nutrition, removing vaccine hesitancy amongst others with 100 CSR Partners such as HDFC, SBI Cards, Disney, 3M, Exide, Zerodha, Bill Gates Foundation, Lenovo, Unilever, Adani, EY, Korn Ferry, Google, Finolex, HP, Bank of America amongst others: