Established 2016

Born for the Margins

A Jesuit ministry. A social movement. A radical commitment to every young person's potential.

Our Core Story

Walking with the last, lost, and the least.

YES-J was born from a conviction that every young person, regardless of background, has the capacity to live a meaningful life.

Since 2016, we have walked into rural villages, urban slums, and campuses to ignite this potential. We don't just provide services; we provide a community where a young person's 'No' from society becomes their 'YES' to the world.

“We provide a community where a young person's 'No' from society becomes their 'YES' to the world.”

Our core conviction

The Power of YES

Our philosophy is built on three fundamental affirmations that every young person deserves to hear and believe.

Philosophy 01

YES - I have dreams.

Every young person carries a vision for their life that deserves to be honored and nurtured.

Philosophy 02

YES - I am capable of fulfilling my dreams.

Potential is universal; only opportunity is not. We provide the platform for that potential to flourish.

Philosophy 03

YES - I can and I will be the dream I want to be.

With the right accompaniment, hurdles become stepping stones toward a life of dignity and service.

Our Foundation

Ignatian Pillars

Principles that shape every intervention and every encounter.

Imago Dei

Every young person carries inherent dignity and worth, independent of status or background.

Cura Personalis

We care for the whole person: intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and practical.

Magis

We seek deeper transformation, not surface-level intervention or short-term visibility.

Men and Women for Others

Leadership at YES-J is rooted in service, solidarity, and responsibility toward the common good.

Our Headquarters

YESJ Centre for Excellence

Located in Vijayawada, our headquarters is a hub of youth mobilization, spiritual formation, and vocational empowerment.

Full NameYouth Empowering Service - Jesuits (YES-J)

TypeMinistry of the Andhra Jesuit Province

HeadquartersVijayawada, AP

Founded2016

Target GroupYouth aged 15-25 years

States ServedAndhra Pradesh and Telangana

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Our Partner

Talitha Cumi Unnati

The Scholar Support Programme (SSP) is run in active partnership with Talitha Cumi Unnati (TCU), an organisation based in Andhra Pradesh committed to empowering young people — especially girl children — through tertiary education.

Through education, mentorship, and family engagement, TCU creates safe spaces where marginalised girls can grow and thrive, working closely with parents and caregivers so that each girl has the guidance, encouragement, and resources she needs to pursue her dreams.

Together, YESJ and TCU accompany academically outstanding students from poor backgrounds through college and university — pairing fee support with mentoring, follow-up, and a community that believes in their potential.

Visit Talitha Cumi Unnati

Want to see our team in action?

Meet the Jesuits and lay collaborators who carry this mission across India.

Meet the Leadership