Assam: The North East Social Work Conclave 2026 was held at KKHSOU

Guwahati: The second North East Social Work Conclave 2026 was held at Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) here on Friday, bringing together over 300 participants from across the Northeast and other parts of the country.

Organised by the Indian Awaz Foundation, the conclave brought together social work students, academicians, representatives of non-governmental organisations, CSR professionals, development practitioners, and government officials, providing a regional platform for dialogue and collaboration in the social development sector.

A key outcome of the conclave was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KKHSOU and the Indian Awaz Foundation to strengthen long-term cooperation in social work education, research, internships, and community-based initiatives.

In his inaugural address, the Vice-Chancellor of KKHSOU underscored the university’s commitment to community engagement and practice-oriented education, stressing the importance of sustained partnerships between academic institutions and development organisations.

The conclave featured two panel discussions—Career Pathways for Professional Social Workers in Child Protection, Law and Social Justice Systems and New-age NGOs and CSR Partnerships: Building Sustainable and Scalable Social Impact. Senior professionals from UNICEF, Assam Startup – The Nest, legal and child rights institutions, and CSR leaders from national organisations participated in the discussions. Several experts travelled from Mumbai to share sectoral insights and professional experiences.

The programme also included youth engagement activities, internship and networking sessions, NGO showcases, and discussions on social action plans, aimed at fostering linkages between students, civil society organisations, and the CSR ecosystem

Speaking on the occasion, Md. Nazim Ahmed, Founder and Director of the Indian Awaz Foundation, said the conclave was part of a broader Vision 2030 initiative to build a strong network of professional social workers across Northeast India through state-wise chapters and sustained collaborative efforts.

Following the Assam edition, the organisers plan to take the conclave to Meghalaya later this year to further strengthen regional cooperation in the social development sector.