IIT Guwahati Student Selected as Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati‘s student Sukanya Sonowal has been selected as the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador, a leadership position in the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN) Executive Committee.

CYPAN is a youth-led initiative which operates across 56 member nations to promote peace, respect, and understanding while countering violent extremism. A 4th year student pursuing her B.Tech. in Biosciences and Bioengineering, Ms. Sonowal will serve as Lead – Communications & Public Relations for the 2025 – 2027 term.

Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors are selected based on their experience in peacebuilding, commitment to Commonwealth values, and understanding of relevant frameworks. The selection process involved a rigorous three stage process which included an initial application followed by two rounds of interviews. The evaluation process focused on the applicant’s commitment to peacebuilding, community service, and leadership experience.

A native of Lakhimpur district of Assam, Ms. Sonowal’s experience in communications and outreach related activities helped her in becoming a suitable fit for the required ambassador position. Over the past four years, she has actively contributed to IIT Guwahati’s flagship techno-management festival, Techniche, as a key part of the Media and Branding team.

In her current roles, Ms. Sonowal is the co-founder of STEMvibe - STEM for Viksit Bharat Empowerment, an initiative focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach that aims to empower students all over India. Through this platform, she has successfully engaged more than 3,000 participants from across the nation. She is also spearheading The Integral Cup, a national-level mathematics competition for undergraduates that attracted over 2,500 participants from top institutions during its very first edition.

Her demonstrated ability to manage large-scale communication campaigns, lead youth-focused outreach initiatives, and build international collaborations with organisations such as Optiver, Qube Research & Technologies, and Jane Street, reflect the experience and skills that strongly align with the objectives of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network.