ASOP Gold Participants Workshop, 26 to 29 Dec 2011

A four-day ASOP (Australian Sports Outreach Program) Gold Participants training workshop was organized at Tikkling Camp, Gurgaon. 25 participants from Magic Bus, NAZ Foundation, and Rashtriya Life Saving Society attended. The objective of the workshop was to train these Gold participants and to acquaint them with the Award Philosophy.

Day one was dedicated to the orientation of the Gold Award participants, acclimatization with the beautiful surrounding of the Tikkling camp, ice-breaking session and the camp craft. A session on the use of First Aid at the time of crisis by Ujjwal of RLSS was the big highlight for the day. Participants also pitched their tents themselves and were taught camp craft. Bivujit Mukhoty the Programme Manager of IAYP and a team from ICNL helped set up the camp.

On the 27^th of December the Award Journey and Award Philosophy sessions conducted by Ms Raina Krishnatrey and Ms Pratibha K Singh. The morning session began by brain storming session and asking participants about the Award programme. With the help of various activities, stories, chart activities, fun games all the sessions were conducted. All four sections of the award Programme: Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey were explained thoroughly by providing appropriate examples and giving relevant details. Participants showed their inquisitiveness by asking questions at the end of each session. Participant gave their feedback regarding the language use, as some of them were not very comfortable with the English language. The trainers kept the feedback in mind and tried to use English and Hindi in proper proportion so as to make every participant comfortable and Award Journey understandable. Participants showed their enthusiasm not only in listening to the trainers but also in the tasks assigned to them. Some of the participants made very creative record entries which impressed the Trainers.

The sessions of day two would have been impossible without the support of Volunteers from Ansal Institute of Technology: Nivedita Parashar, Sonal Muskeen, Avi and Aviral who came all the way to enjoy and learn more about the Award Programme conducted by NAA (IAYP).

On the third day the participants with the trainers and volunteers were taken to the Aravalli Hills for the river crossing activity. This was again a great fun and enriching experience for all.

The main aim of the ASOP Project is to use sport for development and provide  sustainable livelihoods to Community Sport Volunteers (CSVs). The Award Programme Foundation and their Skills partner B-able are developing a curriculum to help the CSVs learn skills for life and provide vocational training. To develop the programme Sumiran & Sugandh of B-able conducted a half-day workshop, to showcase the Skills opportunity and work out ways to offer skills training to the Gold Award participants.

The Workshop was first of  it’s kind and helps build the delivery of the Award Programme in partner organisations, and help adult volunteers understand the needs of young people.

- report contributed by Bivujit, Pratibha and Raina.

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Sandeep

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Leaders

A thank you note from an Award Leader- Mr. Ajith Jacob from Good Shepherd International School, Ooty writes in

This note is to thank the NAA Delhi office for the exceptional workshop conducted at Dehradun from Dec 16 – 18, 2011. It was a well-organized programme (in the spread of the varied interactive sessions at The Doon School and the adventure part – river-rafting and camping - at HRR, Shivpuri) and highly beneficial (especially with regard to the nature of the International Award programme in India fully subscribing to the international standards set by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association (IAA) all over the world and also with regard to the correct governance of the IAYP programme in India). Thank you for making it happen partnering with the Award Leaders in India.

The workshop was an opportunity for Award Leaders all across the culturally rich and different states of India to come together in one location to give added impetus to the qualitative conduct of the International Award programme in India. I am sure that all of us at the workshop shared the same excitement and enthusiasm as would diverse Gold Award aspirants/ participants during a residential project. The days spent at Dehradun and Shivpuri encouraged a brilliant spirit of comradeship and adventure, fostered a strong zest for life, permeated positivity, and reaffirmed the belief in oneself to make a good difference in the lives of others through the ever important volunteer service rendered by the Award Leaders.

I am especially happy to note that IAYP in India has opened its services as prescribed by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association (IAA) to constructively engage all youth of India not only

in schools but also in colleges, institutions of higher education, in corporate organizations, in NGO’s, in all places where youth can be found. Hence the role of Award Leaders is crucial to correctly harness, channel and hone this remarkable force in the country thereby nurturing future generations who will surely value life. It is without doubt that the IAYP programme in India is of great significance in shaping the quality of future Indian citizenry. We felt great to experience young Gold awardees conduct sessions at the Workshop and also to be in the midst of Gold Award aspirants with their residential project activities underway during this time at Dehradun.

Thank you once again NAA for bringing Award Leaders in the country together. I made friends of the attendees at the workshop and also of all who organized and conducted the workshop. We value the young people who shared their experiences with us – Devanjali, Rajarshi, Surabhi, Archit, Manya, Chitvan, Somya and Sahiba. (Excuse me if I left out any names.) Thank you to the trainers – Mr. Skand Bali, Ms. Parul Vij, Mr. Manu Mahotra, Ms. Pratibha Singh.

Special thanks to Mr. Sandeep Duttt (National Director) for his great and inspiring vision for IAYP in the India, to the stalwart Bivujit (Programme Manager) for his reassuring presence, infectious confidence and meticulous guidance, to the ever-positive and efficient Nivedita (Communications Manager) for her lively and very helpful presence and also to the gentleman holding the fort at NAA Office in Delhi- Mr. Chittaranjan.

Dr. P C Thomas (Principal) and Mrs. Elsamma Thomas (Sr. Vice Principal) convey their personal warm wishes and regards to the NAA team led by Mr. Sandeep Dutt.  We immensely value your association with our school.

Thank you once again.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2012!

- Mr. Ajith P. Jacob, Director of Activities, Good Shepherd International School-Ooty

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Special Projects Workshop (SPW) 2011 report by Kalyani Chakraborty, Special Projects Award Leader from Manav Vikas School

The special projects workshop held on November 2011 was held in Dehradun and I had the privilege to be a part of it. It was an exhilarating experience altogether. The three day workshop convened on the 26^th and ended on the 28^th of November. I would take this opportunity to thank IAYP India for having invited me to the workshop.

Those who did attend the workshop had the opportunity to enrich themselves with the practical work and discussions of the four sections of the IAYP as well as that of the residential projects. Discussions were also held on how one should lead a quality life and appreciate its beauty. That one should love mankind as God resides within every man.

Another agenda of the workshop was to discuss how to develop the children belonging to the marginal section of the society. These children should be provided with opportunities so that they can cultivate themselves into respectable and complete individuals.

We resided at the guest house of Purukal Youth Development Society(PYDS) and the hospitality they extended to us was memorable. Purukal has its own school whose discipline and environment is perfect for a special project. They are doing a great job and contributing effectively in the formation of human capital.

Above all our national director Mr. Sandeep Dutt constantly motivates us with his inspirational words. He constantly says,” Dream it and build it.” These words are pertinent to every individual and can be applied in every walk of life.

This workshop will always occupy a special place in my heart.  Thank you IAYP, India.

Gold completion in Welham Girls' School the largest in India: a peek into their Residential Project with HESCO

Welham Girls' School (WGS), among the Top 5 best schools for Girls in India, makes headlines for the committed, talented, energetic and driven young women that graduate every year. WGS has a very robust, extensive and rigorous Award Programme and 20 Gold Level completions have happened in the last three years, making it the largest number of Gold Award completions in one Award Operating Unit in India. 

Gold Award participants engage in exciting and innovative activities that range from learning traditional India dance forms from Gurus such as Birju Maharaj, to learning digital media, exploring different art forms, foreign language, sport including leading in basketball, athletics, badminton, karate, etc, to making their presence felt in the communities in Dehradun with their Service. 

The 'sulabh shauchalay’ project, with partnership with Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation or  HESCO (http://www.hesco.in/) at Donkwala village is a recent Residential Project completed by the Gold Awardees at Welham this year. The HESCO-Welham partnership, operational since over five years has transformed lives of villagers in the Uttarkhand region and of the young Gold Award participants. 

The school students and teachers undertook construction work from 21 September at the village. While Welham Girls provided the financial input for raw material and the labour to complete the project, HESCO empowered the girls with their technical input. Toilets are built with bathrooms- an essential hygiene empowerment tool. Identified beneficaries say that through this initiative by HESCO and WGS, Welhamites learn about the need for and the importance of sanitation in villages, and the local people are encouraged to work for better living conditions. 

The 5 day project was attended by Kunwar Singh Rana and Jaipal Singh Chauhan from HESCO, WGS teachers Sonia Bawa, Sapna Sharma, Sudhir Kailthola, Vishal Rawat and 20 Gold Award participants from WGS.  At the concluding ceremony, the founder of HESCO, Dr Anil Joshi, praised the work done by the students. He pointed out that the poor faced a range of difficulties in obtaining a better life, which is why it was important to work in the rural environment. One needed to use one’s resources for the good of others.


It is important to note that Alumni and Award Holders from WGS have been active in Volunteering and Exploring Opportunities with The International Award Programme in India. Since the set up of the National Office in Delhi, Gold Holders and Welhamites have spearheaded the Open Awards Centre campaign, provided invaluable support in Digital and Print media for the Communications team and in operations and monitoring of the Award Programme in India. 

- Excerpts from The Garhwal Post (26/09/2011) and from National Office Archives and NAA team feedback

Calendar of Events till June 2012