Inspired By
swami
chinmayananda
Swami Chinmayananda founded CHYK with the vision of helping youth realize their latent and infinite inner potential.
“Youth is a stage in human development when the personality is bursting with energy, enthusiasm and dynamism [and] when receptivity and retentivity are at the optimum. What they require is a clear vision of a goal in life and exercises for the cultivation of the right values of life to enable them to mold their personality … This systematic preparation alone can equip the youth to face the challenges of life with a smile.”
swami
swaroopananda
Swami Swaroopananda is a colorful, interactive encyclopedia of the scriptures. Listening to him expound Vedanta at his youth camps or corporate workshops is breathtaking, but even watching him tend to his plants with his gentle care or eat the most mediocre meal with such deep appreciation is equally fascinating. Swami Swaroopananda’s life is an ongoing lesson in spiritual living, where the students never wait for the bell to ring.
Resident Faculty
Brahmachari
Hari chaitanya
Hariji will be leading YEP 2027 with his signature enthusiasm, creativity, and wisdom. He enjoys coming up with ways to make the timeless content of our scriptures relatable and impactful for today’s youth. Hariji has a welcoming and approachable personality and connects easily with youth due to his background; born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Hariji participated in the very first batch of YEP America in 2013! He will use his meaningful experience to guide the YEP students on their own enriching and transformative journey.
BrahmachariNI
SHUBHANI chaitanya
Shubhaniji’s passion for Vedanta radiates from her, igniting a spark in all who meet her. She empowers youth to think beyond their perceived limitations and embrace boundless growth. Shubhaniji is not new to running YEP – as a graduate of the India YEP program, she was one of two Yuvaveer admins of the inaugural batch of YEP America! In addition to captivating discourses, Shubhaniji will lead dynamic yoga and guided meditation sessions, shaping the YEP students’ bodies and minds to be strong, focused, and peaceful.
BrahmachariNI
AKALKA
Akalkaji’s friendly and enthusiastic personality attracts people wherever she goes, whether it be New Orleans, San Diego, Trinidad, or New Jersey. Akalkaji brings a plethora of Sanskrit teaching experience to YEP 2027, including time in YEP 2016, YEP 2019, and the 2016-2018 Trinidad Vedanta Course. She will guide students through the basics of Sanskrit, starting from letters! Akalkaji’s love for the divine language of Sanskrit will ensure the YEP students come away from the course with both the ability to converse in Sanskrit and appreciation for its spiritual significance.
BrahmachariNI
Sanjana
Sanjanaji will inspire the YEP students with her unique combination of sweetness, unwavering commitment, and relentless drive. Raised in New Jersey, she attended the 2nd-ever batch of YEP America in 2014! In YEP 2027, Sanjanaji will lead interactive workshops, demonstrating how to transform what students learn into everyday tools for success. She will also facilitate lively group discussions, asking open-ended questions and challenging assumptions in order to guide students to foster a deeper understanding of the scriptures.
Visiting Faculty
SWAMI
Ishwarananda
Swami Ishwaranandji is one of the Directors of Chinmaya Mission West and oversees activities in North America. He is a longtime supporter of CHYK programs and was once a CHYK himself. Swamiji encourages youth to ask questions; his answers delve deep into Vedanta philosophy and explain very technical concepts with logic and precision. Swamiji has authored many books on topics ranging from mindful action to dissolving fear.
Swami
prakashananda
Swami Prakashanandji will be traveling to YEP 2027 all the way from Trinidad and Tobago! Swamiji is popular among CHYKs due to his sense of humor, dynamism, and amicability. Swamiji’s discourses are filled with incredible depth of wisdom and are accompanied by melodious Trinidad-style bhajans, full of bhakti and devotion.
brahmacharini
stuti chaitanya
Brni. Stuti Chaitanya has been exposed to scriptural teaching since her formative years. Her family actively participated in the spiritual engagements at the local community Mandir, and frequently conducted satsaṅga-s throughout the country, studying Rāmacaritamānasa and Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā among others. When Swāmi Prakāśānandajī (then Brahmacāri Prem Caitanyajī) was posted to Trinidad, Stutijī and her family were introduced to Chinmaya Mission. In 2014, her father completed the Vedānta Course under the tutelage of Swāmi Prakāśānandajī. Inspired, Stutijī decided to dedicate her life to the study of Vedānta. Having graduated from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School in 2017, she joined the 17th Vedānta Course at Sāndeepany Sādhanālaya, Mumbai, under the guidance of Pūjya Swāmi Swaroopānandajī and the tutelage of Swāmi Bodhātmānandajī. She has been posted to Chinmaya Mission Columbus.
Brahmacharini
aparna
Aparnaji is currently serving at Chinmaya Kaivalya in Orlando, Florida. Her work includes conducting classes and study groups, participating in pujas and Mission events, and contributing remotely to publication projects for CCMT and CIF.
Having grown up in Chinmaya Mission Alpharetta, she was actively involved as a Bala Vihar student, CHYK, and Yuvaveer. She also volunteered in the Archives department at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, before joining the 19th Vedanta Course under Swami Advayanandaji. Brni. Aparna is deeply passionate about Sanskrit, scriptural study, writing, and research, especially the Śāṅkarabhāṣya. She enjoys presenting scriptural wisdom in creative and relatable ways for all age groups, with a focus on clarity, practical application, and sādhana. When she has some time off, she enjoys drawing, fiber arts like weaving and sewing, and sci-fi books and movies.
Brahmachari
raajivve
Br. Raajivve is from Trinidad and Tobago, a country that, though geographically disconnected from India, remains firmly rooted in the traditions and values of Sanatan Dharma. Having been blessed to receive these noble values, Raajivve was inspired to start attending Chinmaya Yuva Kendra classes and then went on to attend the 3rd batch of the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) in America under the esteemed guidance of Swami Sarveshanadaji. Following that, he completed his medical degree (MBBS) in 2019, and after working for 4 years as a medical professional, he went to Sandeepany Sadhanalaya and had the tremendous fortune to study under Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji and Pujya Swami Advayanandaji. After completing the 19th batch of the Vedanta Course, Raajivve is serving in Trinidad and Tobago temporarily, primarily conducting classes and satsangs, and will soon be going to Toronto, where he will continue to serve at the Chinmaya Mission Center in Brampton, Toronto.
