Service is done out of empathy, not sympathy

The following piece is a narration of the experience of the Award participants from Mody School, Lakshmangarh, who visited Kasturba Seva Sadan in Rajasthan, as part of their Service project.

As part of its endeavour to proliferate the idea of responding to the needs of others, IAYP ensures that its Award participants plant the seeds of a better world in their stride. As part of their Service for the Award, 50 participants from Mody School visited

Kasturba Seva Sadan, a local orphanage situated in Sikar, Rajasthan, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. With the funds that they managed to collect as ‘pocket money’ and collection from the community, the participants distributed sweets in the orphanage. To mark the essence of the colourful occasion of Raksha Bandhan, they also tied handmade ‘rakhis’ to the children. Additionally, they gifted them items of stationery and clothes and danced with them. This was an overwhelming experience for the participants, who returned with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

The objective of IAYP’s Service projects is to propagate the idea that service is done out of empathy and not sympathy. By motivating Award participants to transgress their comfort zones and contemplate the greater good of the world around them, IAYP’s Award participants become not just receptive but also sensitive to the needs of others.

Award Leaders Training (YES) Workshop

At New Digamber Public School, Indore

On 19th and 20th November, 2018, the National Award Authority organised an Award Leaders Training (YES) Workshop at New Digamber Public School, Indore. The objective of the workshop was to interact with the Award Leaders of different schools and iterate the importance of their contribution in the journey of the Award participants. Bivujit Mukhtoy (Programme Manager- IAYP) lead this two days workshop.

The workshop witnessed a total of 14 participants from New Digamber Public School, Indore; The Daly College, Indore; The Emerald Heights International School, Indore, and Global City International School, Bangalore.

The workshop commenced with an ice breaking session followed by an introduction about the Award Programme. Bivujit Mukhoty threw light on the philosophy of the Award, its journey and its framework. He expl

ained its various facets that include Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. He also elaborated upon risk management, stressed the benefits of the Programme and touched upon the Residential Project for the Gold Level of the Programme. There was a review session and discussion about the levels of the Award Programme. The session concluded with a film highlighting the Award’s achievements and its impact.

IAYP India thank Mr. Winston R. Gomez, Principal; Mr. D. M. Thoukar, Manager and Mr. Chandresh Shah, Vice Principal New Digamber Public School, Indore, for their hospitality and support for conducting this workshop. Workshop pictures can be seen here

TAKE ON AND LEAD ON

Kapil Bhalla is the National Director of the Award in India and given below are his thoughts on what it means to be world ready.

How does the Award framework help you to become ‘World Ready’?

The possibility of constantly challenging oneself comes not just in the classroom but when one ventures into the unknown and the undiscovered. Being subject to conditions that bring out the best and the worst in oneself, one should aim to create a world that fosters the best possible utilisation of one’s capabilities; relentlessly pushing one’s limits and setting new targets for oneself with every passing moment.

When we focus solely on reading chapters in the classroom, the idea of dealing with life’s chapters recedes into the background and we start living a refined reality. The Award programme, in that light, is a framework through which one can set forth into the world as an indomitable being, ready to take on the challenges of modern life. Non-formal education, which is the core ideology of the programme, is important in the longer run in a dynamic world for sculpting intrepid individuals.

Be World Ready to stand up after every challenge, without wavering from one’s goal

The Award uses experiential learning to educate & empower young people as they develop virtues along with skills. The hands that hold ropes while climbing are the same hands that extend to offer help to the ‘marginalised’ and ‘at risk’. Its objective is to enable young people to thrive in a multifaceted, uncertain world that has multiple opportunities for those who can take them.

The vision of the Award Programme is to make young people ‘ready for the world’. Its philosophy is to encourage participants to strive to better themselves in all spheres. The activities that the participants undertake are in line with what a competitive world has to offer them, they learn to get up and vanquish what has caused them to trip. Our young individuals become enthusiastic, fearless, confident and rational with a sense of compassion and empathy.

As part of a world that witnesses this metamorphosis, we can make sure that young people realise and utilise their potential; they are ‘World Ready’.

 Learning for life outside the classroom worldready

Bringing Smiles to Innocent Faces

A report on Residential Project

As part of the residential project for IAYP’s Gold Award Programme, two participants of Mody School, Laxmangarh, participated in a 5-day Residential Project camp in Government Senior Secondary School, Morwa, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

The camp was organised from 7th September to 11th September 2018. Together with other Award participants, they actively worked for the construction of six toilets, whitewashing of rooms, wall paintings and also taught younger students of the village school. The participants aimed to bring smiles to the innocent faces of young students along with bringing a sense of comfort in their nebulous lives. In the course of the programme, the heart touching motivational words of Major Sonam Wangchuk, Mahavir Chakra Awardee, proved extremely inspirational.

This project not only acquainted the participants with the struggle of the students but also helped them understand the challenging lives of the army personnel. It was an enriching experience that made the participants venture into an undiscovered arena of community life and motivated them to work as a team for a common cause.

Sports are a means to bridge economic inequality gaps

The following report has been submitted by Bawa Lalvani Public School. It talks about their experience of visiting the Government Elementary School, Phulewal (Kapurthala) and introducing various sports activities there.

Sports and games are an integral part of many cultures. From the early days of developing good motor skills to playing sports at the professional level, men and women have come to know the value of playing at least one sport either competitively or for leisure. Unfortunately, though, the economic conditions of the relatively under-privileged sections of society prohibit their community from engaging in sports. Lack of financial resources keeps playing sports beyond the reach of many.

Taking these factors into consideration, Award participants of Bawa Lalvani Public School visited the Government Elementary School, Phulewal (Kapurthala). The participants introduced to cricket, badminton, chess & carrom through instruction and demonstration to young people at the village school. Having received an overwhelming response from the students, the

participants gifted a sports gear to the village school to enable the young students to pursue volleyball, basketball, football, block making toys among other sports. The participants also prepared a plan and executed the same in the form of engaging with young students at the village school in future too.

Even though we acknowledge the pragmatic impact that sports can have on international development and combating poverty, we staunchly believe that sports should not be seen as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution but instead as part of a broader effort towards reducing poverty. Every child regardless of sex, race or physical capability has the right to participate in sports and foster social interaction, inculcate team spirit and have fun, to begin with. Sports programmes, we believe, can go a long way in removing divisive lines of inequality between girls and boys by encouraging girls to participate in sports that have been traditionally played by boys. It is imperative that sports programmes that are implemented in poor communities include all children without prejudice. Click here for more pictures

WE ARE #WORLDREADY

Join us as we celebrate the Award and shout about the importance of non-formal education for young people around the world.

As an important member of the Award family, we’re excited to share our brand new global film with you!

This week, the Award’s global family launches #WORLDREADY – a campaign which aims to shout about the Award, its inspirational participants and adults who support it as well as the importance of non-formal education in helping to prepare young people for the world.

Check out the brand new film here

We need your help to spread the word!

Help us to spread the word by… 

1. Be part of the global discussion – share your Award story, thoughts, photos, videos and more using #WORLDREADY 

2. Share the #WORLDREADY film - you can find this on our social media channels (Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; Instagram and at Youtube.

Find out more about the campaign and join the #WORLDREADY discussion at www.worldready.org.

Happy Deepavali

Award Family wishes You And Your Family A Happy Deepavali

May this light of happiness, light up your life. May this Deepavali be the most sparkling and lightening. The sights and sounds filling up your heart with joy and happiness.