The 2024 Sikh Youth Symposium took place in Cincinnati.

May 20 :
The Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati Gurdwara Sahib in Cincinnati, Ohio, hosted the local edition of the annual Sikh Youth Symposium 2024. Present were Sikh youth, their families, and community members from Dayton, Cincinnati, and surrounding towns. The Sikh Youth Alliance of North America (SYANA) organises an annual public speaking competition, according to Sameep Singh Gumtala, the local chairperson for the Cincinnati and Dayton area. Five age groups consisting of youths ranging from six years old to twenty-two years old are seeded with books four months before the event. Following this, they will give a short (five to seven minutes) speech in which they will respond to three questions.

Books for each group this year were: "My Guru's Blessings" for the first, "Teaching Sikh Heritage to Youth" for the second, "20 Minutes Guide to the Sikh Faith" for the third, and "Clash of Cultures" for the fourth. The fifth group discussed "The Ghalughara of 1984 and Subsequent Sikh Struggle," a topic chosen to commemorate the events of 1984, which took place forty years ago. Roughly fifty youths took part in the exercise.

"This is the 20th year of the Sikh Youth Symposium in Cincinnati," announced Dr. Kiranpal Singh Sangha in his opening remarks. 'Where Are You Really From?', a survey by the Sikh Coalition in 2023, revealed that nearly 80% of Sikh youth have personally encountered bullying at school. Promoting education and understanding of Sikh ideals, the Punjabi language, and beliefs, this exposure will assist Sikh youth build confidence and become our future leaders.

Water bottles bearing the names "Singh" and "Kaur" were distributed to all the participating youth together with literature and awards. The respective group champions will go on to compete at the state symposium in Cleveland, Ohio, against their counterparts from other cities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Honorary judge and longtime community member Tarlochan Singh Sandhawalia sent his gratitude and congratulations to the program's participants, including the organisers, instructors, parents, and volunteers. "The little ones brought some powerful messages today," he said. You won, all fifty of you. Guru Sahib, I pray that you bestow upon them the wisdom of the wise and may Guru Nanak's Phulwadi (flower garden) grow in size and beauty. The late Jaipal Singh, who gave his life to instructing and mentoring Sikh kids in the area, was also remembered at the ceremony.