Small Voice, Small Victories

Empowering Youth through Civic Engagement and Action Research

Timeline: September 2018 – September 2020  |  Location: Hyderabad, India

The Context: Deepening inequality can push young people into psychological and physical ghettos. When access to education, employment, and support systems is limited, many are left navigating environments shaped by marginalisation, stigma, and exclusion.

In such contexts, even a single act, petty theft, involvement in a local conflict, or association with the wrong group—can alter the course of a young person’s life. Once identified by law enforcement as a “troublemaker” or placed on a rowdy sheet, they are often drawn into a cycle of suspicion, surveillance, and repeated criminalisation.

This spiral makes it increasingly difficult to return to a path of stability, dignity, and constructive citizenship.

Small Voices, Small Victories was designed at this critical intersection, where individual psychology meets structural inequality, to intervene before this tipping point becomes irreversible. 

Project Approach: Choice at the Crossroads

The project focused on working directly with youth at risk of criminalisation, offering them tools, support systems, and alternative pathways.

Rather than punitive approaches, the initiative centred rehabilitation, reflection, and reintegration.

1. Do Raahein (Crossroads)

A structured programme implemented in Hyderabad, Do Raahein used Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and community-based engagement to support the social recovery of marginalised youth.

Key Elements:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Training (CBT)

• 14 structured sessions conducted with youth at risk 
• Focus on decision-making, emotional regulation, and behaviour patterns 
• Encouraged reflection on personal experiences and future choices 

2. Working with At-Risk Youth

The first cohort included 49 young participants from diverse backgrounds: painters, butchers, students, technicians, auto drivers, shop owners, and small business workers. Many had prior charges, including:

• violent altercations 
• rioting 
• arms possession 
• serious injury and attempted murder 

3. Partnership with Law Enforcement

A critical aspect of the project was engaging with the police to shift approaches from punitive to rehabilitative.

• Encouraged use of “soft interventions” instead of immediate criminalisation 
• Advocated for removal of names from rowdy sheets after demonstrated change 
• Built trust between youth, communities, and local police systems 

4. Reintegration Pathways

Following the sessions, participants were supported through:

• Monitoring and follow-up to prevent relapse 
• Linking to community service and voluntary work 
• Access to employability training and legal assistance 
• Creating opportunities for a “clean slate” 

Key Learnings:

• Early intervention is critical in breaking cycles of criminalisation 
• Safe, structured spaces for reflection can significantly shift behaviour 
• Engagement with law enforcement is essential for long-term reintegration 
• Peer influence can be redirected positively through community participation
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Why This Matters: At its core, Small Voices, Small Victories is about recognising that young people at the margins are not beyond reach, they are often just beyond support.

With the right intervention at the right time, the path can change.