IAYP India at the ASEAN +6 International Youth Camp in Lombok Indonesia from 9th to 13th July 2011

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with ASEAN Secretariat are hosting the ASEAN +6 International Youth Camp 2011 under the theme “OptimizingThe Potential of Marine in South East Asia Region” from July 9th to July 13th, 2011 in Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat province, Indonesia.

Two delegates from each country are invited to the event with the theme "Optimizing The Potential of Marine in South East Asia Region". At short notice, the India National Award Authority will be represent by Mr. Dhruv Bahl and Ms. Ridhima Oberoi, both from the required 18-25 years age category.

Ridhima started as an Award Volunteer in June 2010, enrolled to do her Gold Level from the Open Awards Centre based in the National Office and then worked as an Intern till February 2011. She recently graduated from the Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi and is working with a Sports Management Company based in Gurgaon. She still remains and Award Volunteer. Contact her at ai@iayp.in.

Dhruv also started as an Award Volunteer in 2010 and is now an Award Intern where his core focus is on promoting the Gold Internship Programme- the placement project for new Gold Awardees in organizations of their choice. He is currently pursuing his Bachelors in Financial Management from the College of Business Studies, University of Delhi. Contact him at dhruv@dofe.in

Appreciation to the Programme Team and the two young leaders (seen in the photo with Programme Manager) for accepting the challenge to be prepared in the tight timeline.

Photo Copyright NAA India: Asia Pacific Regional Board Meeting Dinner 2011 archive

"My Summer was EPIC": Shubhda Hirawat-Gold Award Participant, Award Intern and University Student shares her experiences from the Summer

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I-I took the one less travelled by”

This Robert Frost quote very aptly summarizes my summer. Being a student of Business Studies in Delhi University, interning at larger-than-life corporates for the summer is a trend, the road taken on mostly. This time I decided to differ . Through Grassroutes (www.grassroutes.in) I took a road trip for social change to Avani in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand for over 4 weeks and that has “made all the difference”

Since I started doing the Award , it has almost become like a valid excuse for doing things I wouldn’t have ever thought of doing or wouldn’t have been permitted to do ! Spending a month in the hills working on Community Health and Hygiene with a concentration on Maternal Health and Nutrition.Learning about rural health has been an experience for me whose lived all her life in the glam of the city Delhi.The closest hospital ,rather a small health centre is a minimum 2 hour trek through the hills and imagine a pregnant woman walking to this centre .I worked on the documentation of traditional practices and medicines whose need increases manifold given the harsh living arrangements . I think my biggest learning has been “People”.The graciousness and hospitality of Indians moved me. Inspite of living in dilapidated houses ,empty bowls for grains and tattered clothes and barefeet, the villagers never failed to offer the standard Indian guest serving of “Chai”.Not even once. Happy faces welcomed me like home.

Apart from this, I had the opportunity to learn hard skills like welding and drilling. I nearly mastered the art of drilling because of which I was the mechanic for drilling to eventually make a solar geyser and its panels. I also understood the chemistry of organic dyeing and pigment making . I accomplished my teenage fantasy of Beekeeping and when I say the bees don’t sting ,I am not lying !

I am now back in the heat with a sore back, dyed clothing,bruises and insect bites but it has been all worth it for the summer that it has been .This summer has been my best so far and its because of the Award ,which is always a push factor in following what you like doing .

Dinesh Gajendran as Asia Pacific Regional Intern

It is an honour to introduce Gold Holder Dinesh Gajendran as the Second Asia Pacific Regional Intern for the Peter Cruddas Initiative. Year two of the Peter Cruddas Initiative will build on the success of Year One, widening the scope to focus on youth engagement. Dinesh was recognised as a Social Innovator in Year One of the Peter Cruddas Social Innovation Initiative for introducing the Award Programme in Madurai Kamaraj University and actively engaging in the India Special Projects with Olcott Memorial School in Chennai and Vellore Rural project in . He also represented the International Award Association at the 2010 Beyond Sport Summit held in Chicago, USA.

With experience in teaching Marketing and Advertising Subjects to MBA aspirants in Dept of Management Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University for the last 1.5 years; active engagement with Rural youth and local community by introducing and sustaining Kho-Kho as a sport since 2006; and Serving as a Manager/Coach & Technical official/Umpire for Taminadu State Kho-Kho Association and Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI)for two years; Dinesh is a self-made leader.

Dinesh believes that doing the Gold Award taught him the necessary leadership, networking and organizing skills to become self condient in becoming a Social entrepreneur.

His Project Rural Challengers was selected for the Peter Cruddas Social Innovations Initiative (PCSII) and recognized as Social Innovator by The International Award Association (IAA) for promoting Award to underprivileged areas of Tamilnadu.

Congratulations Dinesh! and Good Luck

Introducing Dhruv Bahl as Intern of the Month for January 2011

Dhruv has been an Intern at the Award Office since 29th November 2010. A Bronze Award participant, Dhruv brings fresh energy and professionalism to Preserve the Award Programme in India. Currently a student of Bachelors of Financial and Investment Analysis at the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi; Dhruv aspires to be an investment banker.

An integral member of the Office Team, Dhruv is now heading the Gold Internship Programme project. The Gold Internship Programme or GIP aims to give Gold Award Holders the much sought after exposure in a working environment. The GIP will place interested Gold Award Holders in internship programmes with partner companies. Dhruv believes that the GIP will address the "Life after Gold" issue for Gold Holders by providing them a platform to receive professional practical training and also allow them to promote the Award actively.

In the month of January, Dhruv has successfully completed and sent license agreements to Award Partners and provided exemplary support to the Award Database Management Systems. Through the learnings from his brief internship with the Design Team at Ernst and Young, Dhruv has contributed to design and communication needs too.

In his leisure time, he reads non-fiction books, works out and listens to music.