Volunteer for INME this Summer- Gain invaluable experiences while being outdoors! Gold Holder Ankit Dugra did it in 2010, now is your chance

INME summer programs are weeklong adventure and wilderness based camps for 9-17 year olds. The programs are designed to help participants build self-confidence and self-worth and explore their potential... and of course have fun in a spectacular outdoor setting.

The programmes are held at our campsites at Tons (near Purola in Uttarakhand), Uroli (near Ranikhet in Uttarakhand), Yercaud (near Salem in Tamil Nadu) and Honey Valley in Coorg (Karnataka). In addition, Team INME also has off-campus programmes that include an expedition to Kedarkantha, a kayaking, rafting & trekking trip down the Alaknanda and exploring Coorg and the Kumaon hills on bicycles.

All INME programmes are conducted by outdoor activity experts, and every programme has a group 15 participants; looked after by three such experts and a volunteer.

Gold Holder Ankit Durga (red tshirt in the centre)
at the iNME Camp in Uroli 2010

Gold Holder-Ankit Durga worked for INME in the Summer of 2010 and he summarises his experiences as 'BRILLIANT!'. Ankit- who is a keen hiker, mountain lover and  adventure enthusiast added that being a part of the team that enables young people to discover the unknown, be excited about adventure and learn essential skills through the INME Camps, taught him to be a better manager, learn the best ways to approach young people and to also relive his Award journeys from school. Today, as a full-time employee of Zomato, Ankit looks back at this brief summer experience as a 'defining' one. 

INME are currently seeking volunteers who think they can contribute positively to the programmes and bring some skill (hobby or interest like music, photography, astronomy, dance...) to share with the group.

VOLUNTEER QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Must be at least 20 years old
• Interested in working with young children
• Have a skill/interest/hobby they can share
• Willing to spend at least a week on a wilderness camp
• Award Holders/Gold Participants preferred. For Gold Level participants, this will qualify as Gold Residential Project

Visit www.inme.in for more information on the programmes.

Applications (with a resume) should reach Ankur at Ankur@inme.in by March 20, 2012.

Rekha, Saanya, Surabhi and Vivek share their experiences from Training for Trainers (T4T) in Manila, Philippines

INDIA TEAM AT T4T MANILA:

• Saanya Gupta- Gold Holder and Award Volunteer since 2009
• Surabhi Vaidya- Gold participant and Award Volunteer since August 2011
• Rekha Dey- Head of YES Project since November 2011
• Vivek Gaur- Award Leader (since August 2011) at NAZ Foundation 

Saanya's Topic for Presentation: "Selling the Award to either corporates or NGOs or the Government."

"My partner was Tessie, a participant from Philippines. It was a challenging topic for both of us. Athough we introduced The Award fairly well, we forgot to cover quite a few loopholes. Hence this exercise was huge learning."

Vivek's Topic for Presentation: "Introducing the Award program to a group of Parents & Teachers."

"My partner Cynthia and I actually enjoyed our presentation a lot. We played couple of role plays, such as of a "Time machine Ginnie" and of a "Happy Mother"  to take the parents back in the memory lane and illicit from them the best thing they enjoyed when they were younger, and how enjoyable life would have been had they continued their passion as their profession; and then mapped their expectation from their kids with the Award sections. We worked around the emotional angle of the parents." 

Rekha's Topic for presentation: ‘The Adventurous journey’

"My co-presenter Rich was amazingly creative while I added with my set of skills to put together a presentation on the topic. It was a mixture of power point, flip charts and using the white board. We started with a picture gallery on the screen with ‘Mission Impossible’ music playing behind. We also organized an activity inside the room. An exploration – we placed different coloured ice-cream sticks (a bundle) at various places inside the room – on top of lights, behind the tea/coffee stand, underneath the chair etc. and participants were asked to find it and record the number and colour of the sticks collected in a tally chart.

We did face some personal challenges of time keeping and using the right words/jargons. To overcome this we first prepared a schedule with the exact flow and time (in minutes) for each part of the 25 min. presentation. To ensure that we use the right words, I once again read carefully the section on adventurous journey in the handbook."

Surabhi's Topic for Presentation: "How to train activity coaches to take forward the Award Programme in respective institutions"

"I faced a few challenges while preparing for the presentation. Being a student, I had to think  from a teacher's point of view so that I could present better. Also, as we were the last pair to present we had the disadvantage of being reviewed more strictly but we also had the advantage of more time than other pairs to prepare for it. 

We tried to include all training methods which was a bit difficult considering that ours was a bit of a technical topic which included things like filling and signing of record books etc. So, for the presentation we gave an introduction about the award, an activity coach's experience, explained how to fill the record book which was also an activity for the rest of the participants." 

Bea Fancisco-1st Gold Awardee from the Philippines
with Gold Participant Surabhi and Gold Holder Saanya 

Recounting, Vivek says that the T4T definitely helped him become mentally aware about the Award program to relate to daily things. Similary, Saanya and Surabhi felt that as young people and Award Leaders in their respective colleges the T4T helped them know the Award better and get more confident about presenting to other peers. Rekha added that "the idea of different groups presenting different topics is really good in T4T as it gives an opportunity to presenters as well as listeners to learn from each other and the kind of questions and innovative techniques used can be truly useful."

Rekha shared enthusiastically that the 'best thing' she liked about the Workshop was an activity in the presentation by one of the groups on Service section in the Award. The two presenters asked us to stand in a circle. A ball of string was to be passed/ thrown to each person who would state an example of service and pass it to another person randomly. At the end a cob was formed and considering all the examples stated by each it was reiterating to the basic principle of why service was an essential part of the award programme. 

SOME IMPACT STUDIES ABOUT THE AWARD:

Visit page 4, narration of a mother Eunsuk Kim whose daughter did the silver

http://www.iayp.in/whatsnew/Award%20World%20issue%2064.pdf

2)     Visit page 4, story of Julius Irungu Krush, grown from Mathare slums  

http://www.theaward.bm/sitedocs/International%20Award%20World%20Magazine%20Issues/Award%20World%20issue%2062%20-%20Apr%2010.pdf   

3)     Visit page 4, story of Khadraa Glenn, an Iraqi Muslim girl living in Australia and her experience in Camp Bucca

http://awardbg.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Award-World-63.pdf

Rekha Dey, Saanya Gupta, Vivek Gaur and Surabhi Vaidya (Left to Right)

"The T4T Workshop was a great experience. I really liked the activities that we were given to do."

- Saanya Gupta

"The best thing about the T4T Manila was the comfort level that the presenters built with the participants. The training was very intercative and an experience which I'll cherish forever."

- Surabhi Vaidya 

"The Workshop was really good and encouraging. If possible, T4T should organize homogenous groups in terms of their background. At Manila most of the participants were school teachers or students; one or two were adventure partners."

- Rekha Dey

" It was wonderful to be part of this Asia pacific region T4T training, The one important take away was the Gardner's Multiple Intelligence learning approach to keep in mind while organizing a Training workshop."

- Vivek Gaur

Presenting the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) from 16th to 30th August- N.E.W.S Travels

N.E.W.S Travel, Award Partner have received a mandate from LIYSF 2012 to select & send 35 students & 3 faculty members to the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) to be held in London between 16^th & 30^th August 2012.

LIYSF, is a two week residential forum that attracts over 350 of the world’s leading young scientists, aged 17-21 years old, from more than 60 participating countries, including the top prize winners from the European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2011.

Please see: www.liysf.org.uk for more information 

The modern world still presents new challenges and the scientific advancements continue to increase. How science moves forward in the future with the thinkers of today and the questions to be asked comes from those attending LIYSF.

Highlights:

• Lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists
• Seminars, debates and discussions on scientific topics of world concern
• Visits to industrial sites and research facilities
• Visits to academic research centers in London, Oxford and Cambridge
•  Visits to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum
• Social activities, including discos, inter-hall competitions, a light-hearted international cabaret and an evening of Songs of Home.
• Sightseeing tours of London, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Windsor and Hampton Court
• Visits to some of the best shows in London theatres
• Visit to the London Eye & London Dungeons – (This specially offered for the Indian Students attending the Forum)
•  Accommodation is in London University Halls of Residence. 

Meals are provided throughout the Science Forum and free travel to all scientific visits and programmed events.

For two weeks, the participants live together as an international community can exchange their ideas and experiences of the world to fulfill the aim of the Science Forum: to give a greater insight into science and its application for the benefit of all mankind.  

The Forum is endorsed by the U.K. Prime Minister & is supported by the highest echelons of learning in the UK such as the Imperial College, London.

As one of the participants remarked, "..a unique opportunity to meet and get to know a great deal of incredibly talented people from around the world. People who you know will one day be making a difference to all areas of science"

LIYSF 2012 Visit and Speaker Line-up Getting Hotter!

UNIQUE VISITS- World famous academic institutions, scientific organisations, laboratories and centres open their doors to LIYSF students to see behind the scenes.  LIYSF students get the rare chance to meet scientists in small groups and get a close hand look at the work they do.  Choose the visit that is most suited to your interests and tailor your own programme.  Visits already confirmed include Airbus, The National Physical Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering – Imperial College London, Rothamsted Research Centre, UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory and The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy to name a few. 

LEADING SCIENTISTS SPEAKING- Check out our regularly updated EVENTS DIARY to see the leading scientists that will be joining our lecture programme for LIYSF 2012. Professor Sir Roy Anderson, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London will open LIYSF. Other confirmed speakers include; Professor Steve Cowley – Director of Culham and Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan – School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Professor Sam Evans – School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Dr Peter Douglas – School of Engineering, Swansea University and Dr Andrew Hanson – Outreach Manager, National Physical Laboratory.


For Details: India Tel: +91 731 3919111/222  Email: liysf@newstravels.co.in 
Check out http://www.liysf.org.uk/ for more

Participation Conditions:

1. Participation is open to students of science between the ages of 17 – 21 yrs (Can be relaxed to 16 years for exceptionally bright students who are endorsed by their schools)
2. The Forum is conducted throughout in English and participants should have a good knowledge of the language.
3. Students must be studying science and have achieved or be in preparation for taking exam qualifications for university entrance

Note:

1)      The number of participants is capped country wise & the indicated numbers are the maximum that they will allow from India.

2)      Participants must arrange their own funding which would be approx GBP 2110 + INR 68,000/ = Rs 2,53,680/- (1 GBP = INR 88)

3)      The Registration to the Forum closes on 31^st  March, 2012.

4)      Service Tax as applicable @ 2.575% will be extra at actual

Package Inclusions:

1.      Return Airfare with taxes

2.      Accommodation in a University Hall of Residence including Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner for the duration of the programme

3.      The full programme of Lectures, Seminars and Visits (including transport in and out of London), together with the social programme, maps and other necessary documentation. 

4.       City Tour of London

5.      Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury

6.      Visit to the London Eye

7.      Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor

8.      Visit to the London Dungeons

9.      Theatre Visits

10.  Return airport Transfers

11.  UK Visa

12.  All transfers

13.  Travel Insurance

14.  Tour Manager

As a matter of fact we have factored in all the OPTIONALS in the package as such any student from India will NOT be required to pay anything over & above the indicated cost.

IMP: It has been the Forum’s experience that there is a substantial demand by the educators / teachers / professors to also attend the Forum, to facilitate this a provision has been made to add 3 (maximum) educators / teachers / professors for the LIYSF 2012, this is offered at a concessional rate as follows:

GBP 1710 + INR 68,000/ = Rs 2,18,480/ (1GBP= INR 88) + Service Tax @ 2.575%

This is ordinarily being offered to any institution that can commit 5 or more students for the Forum & is considered on a first come first served basis.

THE ITINERARY

2012	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
August
Thurs 16th	Arrivals	Lunch	Welcome in Halls of Residence
Fri 17th	Opening Ceremony Professor Sir Roy Anderson	Lunch & Lecture Demonstration Professor Richard O'Kennedy	Welcome Party
Sat 18th	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Peter Douglas	City Tour of London	The Science Forum Bazaar
Sun 19th	Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury	Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury	Student Topics
Mon 20th	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan	Great Crossword Treasure Hunt
Tues 21st	Specialist Lectures	Lecture Demonstration Professor Sam Evans	Lecture Demonstration Professor John Ellis CERN Theorist
Weds 22nd	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Visit to the London Eye
Thurs 23rd	Specialist Study Day The Human Planet	Specialist Study Day The Human Planet	Lecture by - Prof.David Phillips (President of the Royal Society of Chemistry) London late night shopping
Fri 24th	Day visits to Oxford & Cambridge Research and Scientific Establishments	Day visits to Oxford & Cambridge Research and Scientific Establishments	International Cabaret
Sat 25th	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Andrew Hanson	LIYSF Olympics	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Cyril Isenberg
Sun 26th	Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor	Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor	Visit to the London Dungeons
Mon 27th	Specialist Lectures	Lecture Demonstration Professor Steve Cowley Visits to Science & Natural History Museums	Student Debate Evening
Tues 28th	Managing the Warming World - Study Day. Led by University of Surrey  Professor Roland Clift	Managing the Warming World - Study Day. Led by University of Surrey  Professor Roland Clift	Theatre Visits
Weds 29th	Participants Forum	Lecture Demonstration	Farewell Party
Thurs 30th	Departures

Shraddha Jain- Gold Holder and IAYP India AV Intern shares her Award journey

My Award journey was very enjoyable! 

I started my Bronze Award in 2006 and received my Gold Award in 2011 from the Welham Girls' School, Dehradun. During this period, I experienced and participated in numerous activities, I’d never have otherwise done. I used to visit an Old-Age home regularly as a part of the Service Component of My Award. Social service moved me so much, I’m now actively involved with a group that raises funds for NGOs. 

Through my journey, or should I say, because of the Award, I discovered the skills I never knew I had. I practised movie-making and editing as a Skill for the Award. I’m using the same skill today as an intern for Award India by producing digital media to reach out to the masses.

Somewhere along the lines, I shed my insecurity and gained enough confidence. The Award is certainly the most fun way for the youth to learn the value of community work and much more! I stayed for five nights in a village in Uttaranchal where I did everything, ranging from cooking to milking the cows and working in the fields! That is probably my most memorable trip.

I am happy to contribute as much as I can to the Award. As a first year Economics Honours student at Hindu College, University of Delhi, I look forward to introducing The Award to my peers, colleagues, friends and superiors at my college.. I’d like it if every member of the youth is a Gold Holder!


- Shraddha Jain, Photo

Saanya Gupta- Gold Holder and Award Volunteer on why young people should Volunteer with the Award

The Award Programme is like a dish whose main ingredient is a ‘volunteer’. It is non-functional without a volunteer. It is because of the volunteer’s involvement that today the youth is so enthusiastic about the Award and does not hesitate to take up the challenge to do the Award. 

 

I started Volunteering for the Award when I was in first year of Hansraj College, University of Delhi in 2009. As a Bronze, Silver and Gold Holder, the Award has defined me and has helped me become the talented individual I am today. I wanted to learn more about the administration and operation of the Award, get more young people around me to participate; all in an effort to give back to the Award. Two years as an Award Volunteer with the National Office, I have seen a new youthful energy flow into the Award system. I have seen the National Office take its bearings and grow into a  professional setup, a setup that believes in young people like me. Today, the Award Brand that is purple in India speaks for young people, by young people. 

 

My key focus as a Volunteer has been to Promote and Provide for the Award Programme specially in the Delhi University. With my peer group of fellow Award Holders and Award Volunteers, I have shared my personal experiences, some of the best memories of my life in guiding and mentoring aspiring young participants to engage in and successfully complete the Award.  

 

The many training workshops that I participated in equipped me well to lead in the partnership with the Delhi University. As a student of economics, I have been able to gain knowledge outside textbooks and experience how economics works in daily life, something that goes beyond classrooms and offices.  

 

As I look forward to my final year of College, I am certain that the trans-formative experiences from my Award and my volunteering will define my professional life. 

Become a Volunteer today! Contact me at Saanya@dofe.in

 

- Saanya Gupta, Award Volunteer

Photo Courtsey- NAA India Archive, November 2010

Award Interns Dhruv Bahl and Ridhima Oberoi share the experiences from the International Youth Camp in Lombok, Indonesia

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.

Authority will be represent by Mr. Dhruv Bahl and Ms. Ridhima Oberoi, both from the required 18-25 years age category.

Appreciation to the Programme Team and the two young leaders for accepting the challenge to be prepared in the tight timeline.

Dhruv and Ridhima represented the 18-25 age category from IAYP India at short notice. Award Interns for about a year, they share the the action from tree-planting, discussions on climate change and climate preservation, cultural night and the fun they had engaging with peers from across the Asia Pacific during the International Youth Camp (IYC) from the 9th July to 13th July 2011. 

Day 1, 9th July: We arrived in Lombok, a little tired and relaxed at your hotel.  

Day 2, 10th July : We interacted with delegates from different countries and had an 'ice breaker' session. Post the session, we left for Gili Tarwangan islands on a ferry. The area is known for its mangroves; treest crucial in preventing soil erosion and curbing drastic  effects of tsunamis. Here we got an opportunity not only to observe how to plant mangroves but also to plant them on our own. After having planted the mangroves we boarded our boats again to another island. After lunch we learnt how to transplant corals using media( a mixture of sand and cement) which was followed by scuba diving and snorkeling to view the beautiful corals and marine bio diversity around the area.

Day 3, 11th July: After waking up early in the morning, we headed for the opening ceremony of FIBOP, a watersporting event . The event was declared open by the Vice President of Indonesia. The ceremony show cased a lot of traditional dance and music performances of Indonesia. After the inauguration we headed to a village of the ‘sasak’ people –traditionals of the Mataram district.  In the evening all delegates presented their country reports and we got an insight on how every country is trying to protect their marine bio diversity.

Day 4, 12th July: A workshop was conducted by Mr. Rob Oliphant on International Award for Young People. After this we went to a village to learn how to make media for coral reefs. After lunch we headed for shopping.Since it was our last day we had a farewell party in the evening where each country made a cultural presentation. 

Dhruv believes that "The trip was one that gave me experiences that i shall remember for life. Being a part of the award gave me a lot which i could pass on to my fellow participants in ways more than one. The sheer joy of meeting so many people coming from different diversities , backgrounds , cultures, organised into one team engaging in funfilled activities to keep the marine biodiversity thriving is an experience that can never be repeated." 

Ridhima says that "Í got a wonderful opportunity not only to be a part of the conference but also to interact with so many people. I got an opportunity to contribute my bit for a social cause. Iayp is a platform to be a part of social causes and has helped me to see the world from a different perspective thereby, helping me to develop into a person the world needs today!"


Photo Courtesy: Ridhima Oberoi for NAA India, Lombok, Indonesia 2011