Chemistry behind the success of Award Programme

Neelam Lohiya, Award Leader and a research scholar from Ansal University, Gurgaon is explaining her Chemical Mantra behind the success of the Award Programme.

When collision between the molecules in a chemical reaction takes place, the kinetic energy is utilized to break the necessary bonds so that new bonds can be formed and a new element is formed.

This new element in life was formed when I joined IAYP. I am Neelam Lohiya, a chemistry teacher. My classroom lectures revolve around periodic tables, formulae and chemical reactions. However, I got this opportunity to explore a new chemistry between me and my students, with IAYP; I got associated with the Award in 2012 as a volunteer and Award Leader.

I received a new approach to look at my students, their hidden potential, my subject and over all teaching methods. I felt very strongly that real learning takes place outside the classroom when students are exposed to face challenges and work in teams. While books provide them theory to read, being with them on IAYP trips, excursions, nature walk or volunteering work, allowed me to test their problem solving, team building, critical thinking, communication and listening skills as part of their experiential learning.

The confused, doubtful faces of the younger lot in my classes suddenly looked happy, joyful and exploratory when going on Adventure trips or engaged in the Service section. Whereas earlier they were not ready to absorb the lessons, now they started practicing a skill regularly and I found they were better involved in classroom lectures. In fact, besides my passion for the subject, I also got connected with my interest in craft, environment friendly campaigns, food adulteration projects and first aid services. I found this programme leading to a holistic development of the youth because those who were glued to their books, when they started spending time in the gym, and playing in the grounds for one hour per week as part of their physical recreation, found another world of happiness, meaning to their life and their approach towards learning itself changed.

To me, IAYP in short means Youth Empowerment and Nation Building. Because this is how the success chemistry of IAYP works:

Service+ Skills+ Adventurous Journey+ Physical Recreation+ Residential Project=IAYP

IAYP+ Youth+ Experiential Learning=Success

Success=Nation Building

Award Leader Training (YES) Workshop

The International Award for Young People, India organized an Award Leader training workshop at Award Training Centre, New Delhi on 17th - 18th November, 2016.

The two-day workshop was attended by 9 participants from different institutions across India, including Rungta Int School, Raipur; Jharkhand Gorkha Sangathan, Ranchi; Les Elfes International Camps, New Delhi; Vidya Sanskar International School, Faridabad; Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, Mount Carmel School, Dwarka, New Delhi and a volunteer from NAA Office.

The workshop began with an ice-breaking session where the participants introduced themselves and shared their expectations from the workshop. This was followed by an introduction to the Award, and sessions on its philosophy, framework, benefits of the Award and how a volunteer can play a crucial role in the Award programme. The participants were given in-depth knowledge regarding the four domains of the programme, i.e. Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey and also the Residential Project for the Gold Level. The training team also made them familiar with other important aspects related to the Programme, which included Risk Management, Online Record Book, Benefits of Award and Brand Pack.

The workshop was led by Kapil Bhalla (National Director), Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and Ankit Durga (Youth Representative, IGE). The workshop included interactive and fun sessions to engage with the Award Leaders. Click here for the pictures

NAA Team Visits Jammu

The NAA Team visited Jammu and Kashmir on 7th and 8th November 2016. Kapil Bhalla, National Director, visited Jodhamal Public School, Jammu on 7th November and met with the Award participants along with the Award Leaders. The Principal Trilok Singh Bist was also present during this interaction.

Kapil Bhalla also visited Sri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra and met with University authorities and explored the possibilities to spread the Award programme among the University students. He also shared the different case studies with the authorities.

Bivujit Mukhoty, Programme Manager visited Jammu Sanskriti Vidyalaya, Jammu on 7th November and delivered three orientation sessions to three groups of students. The orientations were attended by approximately 70 students.

On 8th of November Kapil Bhalla and Bivujit Mukhoty attended the Award Presentation Ceremony at Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School, Jakh, Samba. Ten Bronze Award participants received their Award from Mr. Chander Parkash, Hon'ble Minister for Industries and Commerce, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir. The NAA Team would like to thank the Hon'ble Minister for his time and inspirational words to the Award participants and Award Holders. We also wish to congratulate the Award Holders for completing their first step in the Award Journey.

Never Give Up, The Award Taught Me

My name is Kankana Hambir. I am a Gold Award holder of the International Award for Young People. If you ask about my IAYP journey, I would say it was incredible!

This journey made me steady, confident and optimistic towards my life. I observed people from different walks of society, learnt and shared their experiences, which ultimately enriched my life in many ways. Through my internship programme I explored my own potential and efficiency. The Award Programme taught me how to make decisions, guided me to choose between good and bad, and also helped to make good friends whom I can trust with my life. Working as an intern made me more confident and sincere towards my life. Actually it shaped my life. I am truly grateful to this Programme. It changed my life entirely. I have forged so many good memories that I will cherish throughout my life, leaving the negative ones.

During my Silver Award journey my experience with Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission for Blind Boys was extraordinary. In Susunia hills, Bankura, I volunteered with them during the activities of our Adventurous Journey and was surprised to see their special abilities. They were fearless in their tasks, which we could not have done even though we have all the right abilities. This not only astonished me but also motivated me a lot. With all the senses we are often disabled, but they are not. Because seeing makes us more sensible and agile and also nervous but they were fantastic by not seeing anything, just feeling everything. It was a marvellous and unique experience for me and also for my fellow Awardees. In this way I learnt and I am still learning. My learning will continue with me as long as I live. And I believe that would be the ultimate tribute towards the IAYP and that is what I learnt all these years, that “we must never give up on ourselves”.

Service to Humanity

“Humanity is not about maintaining a gracious relationship between one another in the society, but it is about building a bond between people in society.”

This was proved by the Silver participants of Coorg Public School, Mysore, when they were taken to the Ashram School at Thithimathi on 26 June, 2016. The twenty-six Silver participants enjoyed the companionship of students by singing and dancing with them for more than two hours. This programme infused the spirit of social service among the Silver participants.

Anti-Addiction awareness campaign & celebrating World Heart Day

‘Youth are the future torch bearers’. These words resonate that the kind of impact the youth put on the masses can not be done by anyone else. Keeping this in mind, The Aditya Birla Public School, Kotputli, organised a campaign on ‘Addiction Free World’ in Mohanpura village on 10th September 2016. All the Bronze Award participants took part in this campaign. The participants were accompanied by the Award Leader and three other teachers. The rally was organised to make the people aware of the adverse impact of drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol. The participants ran the slogans and also discussed the impact of the different types of addiction. After returning to school, the participants addressed the school staff, including the drivers, conductors and sweepers about the negative effect of smoking, drinking liquor and taking drugs. A small skit was also prepared by these participants on creating an Addiction Free World. All members of the support service staff were greatly inspired by it. Participants were also guided and mentored by the Principal, who gave suggestions on how to overcome these addictions. Another rally on ‘World Heart Day’ was organised in nearby Mohanpura village on 1st October 2016. Forty Bronze participants took part in this rally and five mentors accompanied them. This rally was organised to make people aware of healthy food habits, the causes of heart problems and how to overcome them. During the rally the participants gave different slogans on the theme of healthy habits, causes of different heart diseases and also addressed the local inhabitants. The participants also had a discussion with elderly people of the village and gave them suggestions on how to take care of their families and protect them from different heart related problems. The villagers seemed inspired and promised to take care of their health in the future.