Young Zarathushti Leaders Gather at ASHA for 3rd WZYLF

A Global Gathering of Young Zarathushti Leaders

The 3rd World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum (WZYLF) concluded on Tuesday, May 26, after eight transformative days at the beautiful ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, bringing together young Zarathushtis from India, Pakistan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Germany for an intensive leadership and community-building experience.

The forum officially began on May 19 with participants arriving from across the globe and gathering for an opening evening focused on introductions, intention-setting, and community-building. Through opening circles and icebreaker sessions, participants shared their personal journeys, involvement within the global Zarathushti community, and hopes for the future of the faith and community worldwide.

Throughout the week, the participants immersed themselves in an ambitious and carefully curated programme balancing leadership development, cultural exploration, spiritual reflection, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and collaborative project creation.

The Vision of Sanaya Master

At the heart of the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum stands its founder, Sanaya Master, whose passion, vision, and determination have transformed a simple idea into a thriving global movement for Zarathushti youth leadership. A proud advocate for youth engagement and global community-building, Sanaya first envisioned WZYLF as a platform where young Zoroastrians from different countries, backgrounds, and perspectives could come together to learn from one another, strengthen their connection to their heritage, and imagine the future of the community collectively. Since the inaugural forum in 2018, she has worked tirelessly to build and sustain the initiative, fostering an atmosphere rooted in inclusivity, empathy, creativity, and action.

The ASHA Centre and Zerbanoo Gifford

This year’s forum was once again hosted at the ASHA Centre in Gloucestershire, founded by renowned author, human rights advocate, and interfaith leader Zerbanoo Gifford. Nestled in the Forest of Dean, the ASHA Centre has become a unique sanctuary for dialogue, creativity, sustainability, and youth leadership, offering participants an immersive environment for reflection, collaboration, and personal growth. Zerbanoo’s warmth, vision, and unwavering support have made ASHA a true home for generations of young Zarathushtis participating in WZYLF. As Arzan Sam Wadia puts it “Zerbanoo is a rare combination of dreaming big things and making them happen. Her Zoroastrian ethos comes through everything she does especially for the youth of our community. She puts her vast network and experience in areas of interfaith and women’s right to shape the thinking of the next generation”

Leadership, Creativity, and Community Building

Founder Sanaya Master led an important session titled “Sharing Stories,” encouraging participants to reflect upon their own journeys, identities, and experiences within the global Zarathushti community. Together with Arzan Sam Wadia, she also co-led the session “Leadership & Zoroastrian Values,” exploring how the teachings and ethics of the faith can inform contemporary leadership, service, and organized community-building.

The programme placed strong emphasis on emotional intelligence and compassionate leadership. Shirin Mazdeyasna conducted a deeply meaningful session on “Trauma-Informed Leadership,” examining how empathy, awareness, and sensitivity can strengthen leadership practices within communities and organizations. Later in the forum, Athravan (Art) Sett, Shirin Mazdeyasna, and Shazneen Limjerwala jointly facilitated “Learning, Growing, Leading,” an interactive session focused on personal development, teamwork, and growth through shared experiences.

The arts and creative expression also played an important role throughout the week. Acclaimed theatre practitioner Yasmin Sidhwa, founder of the Mandala Theatre Company, led “Leadership Lessons from Theatre & Life,” using performance, storytelling, improvisation, and theatre exercises to encourage participants to develop communication skills, vulnerability, creativity, and confidence.

Entrepreneurship, resilience, and practical life lessons were explored during “Entrepreneurship Lessons, Missteps and Meaning,” led by renowned entrepreneur and caterer Tanaz Godiwalla. Her honest reflections on business, perseverance, leadership, and balancing tradition with innovation offered participants valuable insight into navigating professional and personal challenges.

Long-time ASHA Centre facilitator Adrian Locher led several transformative sessions during the forum. His workshop “Expressing Our Wholeness: Head, Heart and Hands” encouraged participants to think holistically about leadership, integrating intellectual, emotional, and practical dimensions of service. Adrian also facilitated trust and teamwork exercises, reflective group activities, a labyrinth walk, and guided experiences through the Forest of Dean that helped participants deepen both interpersonal connections and self-awareness.

Community engagement and organized leadership were further explored through Arzan Sam Wadia’s session “Organized Community & Involvement: Opportunities & Challenges,” which addressed the evolving realities facing global Zarathushti organizations and the opportunities available for young leaders to shape future community initiatives.

Oxford, Scholarship, and Spiritual Reflection

Academic and philosophical engagement formed another cornerstone of the forum. During a full-day excursion to Oxford, participants visited Somerville College and learned about the future Ratan Tata Building project before engaging in a rich discussion with Prof. Yuhan Vevaina, Bahari Professor of Sasanian Studies at the University of Oxford. Participants explored questions surrounding Zoroastrian history, identity, textual traditions, and the evolving role of youth in preserving and shaping the faith.

Dr. Arash Zeini, Bahari Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, delivered a lecture titled “Messenger, Rebel or Social Reformer: The Birth and Life of Zarthushta,” prompting thoughtful conversations about philosophy, reform, spirituality, and the enduring relevance of Zarathushtra’s teachings in contemporary society.

Participants also explored questions of ethics and giving through Shiruy Billimoria’s session “The Zoroastrian Ethics of Philanthropy,” which examined the historic role of charity, responsibility, and communal support within Zoroastrian tradition and how younger generations can meaningfully carry those values forward.

The natural environment surrounding the ASHA Centre also became an integral part of the experience. Participants embarked on forest walks through the Forest of Dean, visited the historic St. Anthony’s Well, participated in labyrinth exercises, and gathered nightly around bonfires and fire pits for conversations, music, dancing, reflection, and community-building. Several adventurous participants even took part in cold plunges at St. Anthony’s Well.

The forum also incorporated significant cultural and spiritual experiences. Participants traveled to Gloucester Cathedral, whose breathtaking Gothic architecture and cinematic fame from the Harry Potter films left many “gobsmacked” by its beauty and scale.

A particularly meaningful moment during the week was the traditional Jashan ceremony held with the support of the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), one of the institutional sponsors of the forum. Resident mobed of WZO Fali Madon along with mobeds and WZYLF alumni including Jimmy Madon, Varun Balsara, Art Sett, and Vohu-Fri Sett helped lead the ceremony, creating a powerful bridge between ancient spiritual traditions and the forward-looking aspirations of the young participants.

Projects for the Future of the Global Zarathushti Community

Participants spent extensive time collaborating on team projects throughout the week, brainstorming ideas and developing initiatives focused on youth engagement, philanthropy, education, networking, leadership development, and strengthening the global Zarathushti community.

The projects presented by participants included the revitalization and preservation of the endangered Zoroastrian Dari language; the creation of a global interactive database of Zoroastrian institutions worldwide; a business platform to support home and micro-businesses with access to a global audience; innovative approaches using game theory and interactive tools to share Zoroastrian stories with young children; support mechanisms for individuals dealing with social and personal challenges; and the creation of an online network connecting medical professionals with those seeking medical guidance and assistance within the community.

These collaborative projects became one of the defining elements of the forum experience, showcasing the creativity, compassion, and forward-thinking vision of the participants.

Friendship, Collaboration, and Shared Purpose

The organizers also expressed deep gratitude to the many sponsors, supporters, alumni, and well-wishers whose generosity made the 3rd World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum possible. Special appreciation was extended to the institutional sponsors — the World Zoroastrian Organisation (UK), Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), and the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds India (WZOTF) — for their steadfast commitment to investing in the future of young Zarathushti leadership and global community-building.

The forum’s schedule intentionally balanced intensive learning with moments of joy, friendship, and celebration. Birthdays were celebrated together, dance parties erupted late into the evenings, and communal meals became central moments of bonding and connection. Toronto-based chefs Prochi Gazder and Tahsheen Daruwala not only prepared delicious meals throughout the week but also organized a spirited “Zoro MasterChef” competition that quickly became one of the highlights of the gathering.

As the programme drew to a close on Tuesday evening, participants gathered for one final bonfire under the Gloucestershire sky. Emotional farewells, tears, laughter, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude filled the evening as participants reflected upon the deep friendships and transformative experiences forged during the week.

The 2026 WZYLF Cohort

Reflecting the truly global and intergenerational spirit of the Zarathushti community, the forum brought together an extraordinary group of organizers, participants, and support staff from across the world.

In alphabetical order, by first name

Organizing Team

• Arzan Sam Wadia – New York, USA
• Athravan (Art) Sett – London, UK
• Kayras Irani – Vancouver, Canada
• Maris Meos – Estonia
• Roxanne Unwalla – California, USA
• Sanaya Master – Vancouver, Canada
• Shirin Mazdeyasna – New York, USA
• Zerbanoo Gifford – ASHA Center, UK

Participants

• Aundia MehrRostami – California, USA
• Behram Hathi – Toronto, Canada
• Farnaz Behdinan – California, USA
• Manouchehr Shamsrizi – Hamburg, Germany
• Meherwan Rohinton Patel – Singapore / Pakistan
• Nelofer Patel – Lahore, Pakistan
• Reanna Unwalla – California, USA
• Roya Merchant – Toronto, Canada
• Sanaya Irani – Michigan, USA
• Sarvar Zainabad – Toronto, Canada
• Shazneen Limjerwala – Mumbai, India
• Vohu-Friyan Sett – London, UK
• Zubin Nalawalla – Mumbai, India

Support Team

• Prochi Gazder – Toronto, Canada
• Tahsheen Daruwala – Toronto, Canada

 

Chief Cheerleaders

• Spenta Irani 6 years old , Vancouver Canada
• Ava Irani, 3 months old, Vancouver Canada
• Ava Limjerwala
• Yazad Limjerwala

Looking Ahead

Arzan Sam Wadia sums it up well “The 3rd WZYLF continues the movement of bringing young Zoroastrians from across the globe to discuss the future of the community and faith. Through leadership training they are forced to look critically at where we are at this point in time as a faith and where we want to be. Participants are encouraged to find opportunities that are currently lacking in the community and then working on initiatives to make it happen”

As participants prepared to depart for their respective countries, one sentiment echoed throughout the group: the deep bonds formed during the week transcended geography, nationality, and background. WZYLF once again demonstrated the remarkable potential of bringing together young Zarathushtis from across the globe in an environment rooted in trust, dialogue, spirituality, creativity, and shared purpose.

More than simply a leadership conference, the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum continues to evolve into a living laboratory for the future of the global Zarathushti community — one where friendship, service, creativity, scholarship, spirituality, and vision come together to inspire a new generation of leaders committed to shaping a vibrant and connected future for Zoroastrians worldwide.