IAYP Conducts Training Workshop at Sanjay Ghodawat International School

On 26 and 27 July, 2019, a training workshop was conducted at Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur. Kapil Bhalla - National Director, Bivujit Mukhoty - Programme Manager, and Pallavi Gill - Programme Officer, team members of IAYP conducted the workshop.

The workshop witnessed the participation of 30 aspiring Award Leaders. It aimed to highlight the philosophy, structure and benefits of the Award; strengthening the knowledge base of the Award Leaders about the ideology of the Award and acquainting them with their roles and responsibilities as guiding forces for the Award participants. The highlight of the event, however, was the conferral of the Principal of SGI School with the 'Top 20 Award Unit Voluntary Service Awards’. It was a proud moment for both, the school as well as the IAYP, who has joined hands with the school to take its students to greater heights of self-awareness and wellness of the communities around them.

The Annual Gold Award Ceremony, 2019

The annual Gold Award Ceremony was organised on July 9, 2019, at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The National Award Authority (NAA) took huge pride in congratulating the Gold Award Achievers, Award Leaders, and Volunteers. Ninety-three Award members were chosen for the acknowledgment at this function, and receive their Gold Award. The Gold Award Ceremony is committed to valuing the achievements and the responsibility of every member. The day was devoted to celebrate, appreciate and esteem their accomplishments with their companions, family and the IAYP group.

We were privileged to have Justice (Retd) Madan B Lokur, to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and felicitate the Gold Awardees and Award Leaders. Mr Kapil Bhalla, National Director, honoured the Chief Guest Justice (Retd) Madan B Lokur, Mr Himmat Sher Singh Kalsia - Trustee Chairman, Award Programme Foundation, and Dr Sanat Kaul, Managing Trustee, Award Program Foundation. The Principals and Directors of various YES Centres were invited by the National Award Authority to attend the function.

The ceremony began with an Bharatnatyam dance performance by Award participants from Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad, which was mesmerizing and memorable. National Director Mr. Kapil Bhalla addressed the audience, sharing information about the progress of the Award. He outlined the importance and significance of the Award with its salient features that develop the young participants to be "World Ready". The National Director's speech was followed by the Award Presentation Ceremony where the Chief Guest Justice (Retd) Madan B Lokur handed the Gold Certificates to the Gold Award achievers. Thirty-two Award Leaders and Volunteers were recognized with the Outstanding, Valuable and Special Service Meritorious Certificates. In addition, Nineteen YES Centres were recognized for their outstanding contribution towards Voluntary Service. The Chief Guest congratulated all the Awardees and Award Leaders for their success. He also shared how important it was to volunteer for community service, to learn and develop valuable lessons acquired through life for dedicating yourself to your work. The event was compered by Ms Ranjana Rai.

The IAYP thank the Chief Guest, Award Holders, Award Leaders, Principals, Directors, Parents, Grand Parents, Guardians and our Trustees for being there to make this Gold Award Ceremony a triumph.

Award Orientation for Teachers and Students

The NAA Team comprising Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and Priyank Kumar Gupta (Head IT & ORB) visited Kasiga School, Dehra Dun on 8th October 2018. After the formal interaction and discussion with Nakul Raibahadur (Award Leader), the team delivered an orientation to the teachers and mentors. Nine teachers had attended the orientation session. In the late evening, the team delivered an orientation session for the students of grade 9 to 12, which was attended by over 150 students. After the session, there was a Question and Answer round where the students got answers to their queries.

We’re With IAYP in its Stride to Make a Difference

This report has been given by Divya Charnalia, an Award Leader who attended IAYP’s Training Workshop in Delhi. She narrates her personal experience of attending the workshop, while also voicing the experience of other Award Leaders.

On 14th and 15th September 2018 a training workshop was conducted at NAA Office, Delhi by the IAYP team comprising Mr Kapil Bhalla – the National Director, Mr Bivujit Mukhoty – the Programme Manager and Ms Pallavi Gill – the Programme Officer. It was essentially one of those sessions where you’re guided through the episode by being given a firsthand experience of the tasks and activities that the Award Participants would undertake.

The workshop commenced with an icebreaking session that addressed its purpose. We introduced ourselves, narrated our goals and expectations and formulated a motto. Following this, Mr Bhalla introduced the Programme and reiterated its ideology and philosophy. While highlighting the benefits of the Programme, Mr Bhalla also listed our responsibilities as Award leaders. What followed next was an elaborate session explaining the various facets of the Award Programme.

The second day started with a Physical Recreation activity of playing games like dodgeball and the sports alphabet. This way we became active witnesses to the fact that sports inculcate in us a spirit of teamwork, coordination and the will to better ourselves with each passing moment. Tripping and getting up with the same motivation and vigour, we were reluctant to leave the field. Similarly, the objective of the activity of the Skills section was to embolden us to own our skills and to celebrate them. Expressing our exhilaration at being able to showcase our unique talents, we couldn’t help but define the activity as ‘going back to our childhood’. The Residential Project for the Gold Award Participants with its central idea of an ‘unfamiliar environment’ and an ‘unusual companion’ was also explained. Another important aspect of the session was a discussion about the risks involved in the Adventurous Journey and the response mechanisms to deal with them. By narrating personal experiences, Mr Bivujit reiterated the dynamics of the Award Programme.

These two days were a roller-coaster ride, packed with fun activities and lessons to cherish for a lifetime. The aim of these activities was to enable us to step into the shoes of the Award Participants so that our relations with them could be more personal. The workshop stressed the important role that Award Leaders play as counterparts to the Award Participants in their journey. 

‘Engage. Equip. Empower. Reward.’ We went like plain sheets of paper to the workshop and these words seemed to have been printed in everlasting ink on us! Workshop pictures can be seen here.

This Journey Fostered Persistence and the Importance of Challenging Ourselves

Fifteen Bronze Award Participants, including eight girls and seven boys of The Ardee School, Gurugram and NFC, Delhi completed their Adventurous Journey on 14th - 15th September 2018 under the supervision of Seema Chugh (Award Leader) and Atul Kumar Dhuria (Sports teacher). Parveen Bhatia (Award Leader) is sharing this report, a collective response by the Award Participants and the mentors about the Adventurous Journey that the participants undertook to Camp Wild, Dhauj. Both the Participants and their Leaders had much to share on how this journey became a landmark in the Award journey of the participants.

This Adventurous Journey has truly been the highlight of our Award journey. The first day saw us engaging in myriad activities like flying fox, rock climbing, rappelling, dealing with army obstacles, cooking and trekking at night. The day commenced with some fun team building activities, which were then followed by other more thrilling activities. Initially, fear and anxiety had gripped us and we were paid back in wounds and bruises for our physical labour. But eventually, we did overcome the challenges and accomplish the tasks. The second day of the journey unfolded with a 5-kilometre trek to Aravalli Hills. Being able to complete this too, our hearts were filled with the exhilaration of victory. The day and the journey both concluded with a tree plantation activity.

The joy of persistent attempts leading to accomplishments has been overwhelming for us in this journey. While we were doing our tasks, the grips of many of us loosened. A lot of us tripped and fell too. But what kept us going was the will to finish what we had begun. In activities like rock climbing and trekking, we could feel surges of adrenaline in our bodies that filled us with a sense of adventure. These tasks not only aided us in overcoming our fears but also in discovering parts of ourselves that we never knew had existed before. Detaching ourselves from books and gadgets, which had always been a strenuous task, seemed accomplishable in the journey. 

However, one of the most enlightening aspects of the journey has been the tree plantation activity that we undertook as a mechanism to create awareness among the locals about the environment.

When we look back at the time that we spent at the camp, we feel elated. This journey has been one of the most enthralling experiences of our lives, offering us countless opportunities of self-realization. We’ve started looking at obstacles and hurdles as stepping stones. We have not only learned but grown too, both individually and collectively. The moments that we spent with ourselves and with each other in the journey and the life skills that we imbibed with every passing moment will forever remain etched in our memories. Click here for more pictures

This report was prepared on the basis of the reflections received from Inika Sharma, Pushkar, Vaanya Ranade, Yahub, Krisha Agarwal, Priyanshu and Ananya Sharma (Award Participants).

The best experiences of my life

Silver Award holder Angelina Freda Smith from Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School, Jaipur, completed her Silver Award Journey, a few months ago. Angelina is sharing her life-changing experiences with us.

IAYP has turned out to be one of the most fruitful experiences of my life. What started out as an endeavour to strengthen my college application has turned into something that has taught me the beauty of taking out time to do things we usually do not do.

I was diagnosed with asthma in my childhood and never dreamed of doing things which required much physical exertion. So the idea of going on an Adventurous Journey was daunting for me. Our school chose Mashobra Hills as the location and upon reaching the serene destination, I forgot all about my fears. There was nothing connecting us to the outside world (the best part was no cell phones) and it was just us and the serenity of nature. It turned out to be a life-changing experience in the end as I discovered shocking things about my own limits and how willing I was to push them. Despite several attacks during the whole trip, I kept going and ended up winning the award for the best camper.

The most profound experience, though, was the night trek where we walked on narrow paths and didn’t even realize it until the next morning when we had to cross the same place in daylight. It taught me that fear is all about perception.

Another highlight was laying down on the ground in the freezing cold and staring at the stars as I had never seen them as clearly ever before in my life. It brought friends closer together, especially after living in the same tent together, and it showed us how to rely on each other.

So, after returning I decided to challenge my asthma further and joined yoga classes for my Physical Recreation activity. I thought it’d be tiring to go there every evening as I’d be drained out from school – but the opposite started happening. The workout started making me feel more energized and I looked forward to going to class. In the end, I picked up the valuable skills of meditation and breathing exercises which help me keep my asthma under control.

I have always loved music, but never actually tried to partake in an activity related to it. So I found IAYP to be a good excuse to pick up a guitar. I soon learnt that the steel strings weren’t for me, but I kept picking up the basic skills such as switching chords quickly, learning the beats, analyzing music and playing finger style. But at the end of the six months, I left the guitar and ended up applying the knowledge that I gained from the classes and picked up a ukulele (which is a 4-stringed instrument) which I’ve become quite proficient at playing. So it taught me that not everything that you try to pursue is a success, but it always ends up teaching you some kind of skills which come in handy in some sphere of your life. Failure is an important part of success.

The thing I am most thankful to IAYP about is the Community Service. I have loved animals ever since I can remember and I always wanted to do something for the street dogs I used to come across, but I never thought of anything apart from feeding them food. So the instant I looked at the requisites of Community Service, I knew I wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter. The one I chose is called ‘Help in Suffering.’

The process began with some mandatory injections for me – which included rabies and tetanus, following which began my training under my supervisor. We began with the foster room, which included only small animals like little puppies, kittens, baby pigeons, etc. I learnt how to feed puppies and kittens milk, how to pick up a bird and check if its wing is injured and how to check for a fracture. Then we moved on to the bird cages where I learnt how to change the newspapers and replace food without making the birds feel threatened by my movements. I was taught how to make a temporary splint and how to pick up an injured and scared puppy without getting bit.

Over the course of the year, I did a lot of things like mix food for cows, bring dogs to the dispensary, groom and bathe the animals and hand feed dogs, but a few experiences stand out for me.

One would be the day they had a baby squirrel about the size of my thumb come in with a fractured leg – it sat in my palm as I fed it milk with a cotton bud.

Another experience was seeing a puppy around Diwali time come in with a burnt mouth as someone had lit crackers inside its mouth. All this made me realize we spend so much time worrying about the plight of fellow humans, we sometimes forget about the ones that cannot seek help, but desperately need it. Therefore, I have been using social media and my school as a platform to try to raise awareness about these little issues and how we need to be more sensitive about them.

In conclusion, I’d like to thank IAYP for giving me a reason to undertake activities that I otherwise would not have, but have always wanted to do. This is much more than an Award, this is a platform for the overall development of a person.

The Ladakhi Voyage

Bronze Award participant Bhaswati Basumatry from Miles Bronson Residential School, Guwahati, completed her Adventurous Journey. Bhaswati is sharing her journey experience with us.

We twenty-five Bronsonians were sprouting with excitement when our IAYP Adventurous Journey trip destination was finally revealed. We were more than happy to travel to the land of the mountains, i.e., Ladakh. We were all thrilled when we boarded the Guwahati flight for Delhi on 10th of June, 2018. We stayed at Guwahati for a night and took the next morning flight to Leh.

Landing at Leh was a whole new experience! We and our two teacher escorts were in awe by the high altitude and knew that our adventure had actually begun. Our trip was in association with an organization called Thrillophilia, who let us stay at their premises for a day. We were strictly instructed to keep drinking water and rest for a whole day so that our body could adjust to the new environment and increased altitude. The next morning all were geared up to move towards Khardungla pass. Although we had to go through a lot of difficulties, we stayed strong and crossed the highest motorable road in the world. After Khardungla pass, we set off for Shey, where we had our lunch. It was an amazing experience while interacting with a new culture. We spent the night in a camp, under the organization Bikamp. The camping experience was great as it was set in a beautiful natural location. The next day, we had to go to Kargil. We went to the zero point and also visited the Kargil War memorial. We also visited the very peaceful Land Yuru. The overnight stay in Kargil was followed by our next morning trip to Srinagar. We had to travel the whole day. On finally reaching Srinagar, we spent the night on a houseboat in the Dal Lake. Staying in a boathouse was really intriguing as all the transports had to be done by boats. The beauty of the Dal Lake was too mesmerizing! The next day, we all went for a shikara ride, the main attraction of Srinagar. That very day, we had our flight to Delhi at around 3 p.m. We were very upset as we did not want to leave. We were all so attached to the beautiful land of Ladakh that when we boarded the Delhi flight, all went mum!

This trip made us realise that life is not easy. Hardships come, but surviving it depends on us, whether we want to run away or face it. Travelling to a height of 18000 feet above sea level was not easy, but we faced it. The IAYP trip has empowered us with a lot of learning lessons. Meeting new people and knowing their culture has given us a sense of satisfaction. Although we had to leave, the Ladakh memories will be forever cherished in our hearts.

How Service Helped us Become Better Human Beings

Community Service is an essential part of the Award Programme, and the Award Participants from Euroschool Airoli kept themselves deeply involved with the community. Deepali Bhagwate (Award Leader) is sharing the viewpoints of two Bronze Participants, Neel Vinchi and Shravya Kanungo, on their Service section.

Neel Vinchi (Bronze Participant) says: 

The International Award for Young People Programme has developed many abilities in us, one of them being the ability to make some time for the people in need of our help. I feel very proud to say that I have managed to set aside time every week to do my community Service. I started my Service with a Christmas party for the underprivileged children of Mulund, Mumbai. I learnt that there are a lot of people in this world who live so close to us, and yet so far. I had volunteered to help the Rotaract Association of Mulund in organizing the party. My visit to Prem Daan, Airoli, Navi Mumbai completely changed my perspective. The people living there were very poor; indeed, Prem Daan was there only saviour. I was very moved by this and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with them and helping them in their work. I had also gone to a kindergarten where I was transported back to my childhood. Such was the joy I gained in meeting those little children! When I went to an institute for the blind I loved interacting with the people and also read to them. That was when I realized that I am indeed lucky to have my body functioning properly and that the ones who don't are facing a ton of difficulties in life. Therefore, through the IAYP Service, I have learnt to be happy with the little things in life!

Shravya Kanungo (Bronze Participant) says: 

When I enrolled myself in the IAYP programme, I had no idea that it would make such an impact in my life as a young teenager. It has probably been the most important educative tool that my school has given me, wherein I learnt things, not just by reading and writing, but by doing them practically. The IAYP programme has not only helped me develop my survival skills and make my connection with nature but most importantly, it’s Service section has made me aware of my duty and responsibility as a human being towards the underprivileged sections of our society. As a part of these programmes, my school had organized a visit to Good Shepherd School in Navi Mumbai, where we taught the junior students about the solar system through origami. We also visited a remote area of Maharashtra called Shahpur, where we conducted various activities and study sessions for the primary, middle and senior school students. The awareness brought in by these kind of programmes has made me a better human being. Such activities have become a part of my life now. I have started visiting orphanages and elderly institutions and spend time there by doing whatever best I can in my capacity as a student.

Click here for more pictures

Introduction to the Award - Who We Are

The Award is known in many different ways, by many different people around the world. And it's important that we all talk about the Award in ways which resonate within our own countries.

We are The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, a global non-formal education framework which challenges young people to discover their potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

We operate in more than 130 countries and territories, helping to inspire young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements and make a difference in their world. In India, the Award is run in the name of the International Award for Young People under the supervision of the Award Programme Foundation, a non-profitable, charitable trust. 

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award offers an international currency and credibility across the world; an Award stands for something and showcases success. 

We're not limited by boundaries. There are 1.3 million young people currently completing their own unique programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offender institutions. 

We've got more than 60 years of experience and we're just getting started. Our ambition is to make the Award accessible to every 14-24 year old around the world, regardless of ability, experience or culture.

We Believe ...

• That today's young people are the most important resource - and championing their growth and development should be a top priority
• That not all learning happens in the classroom - some of life's biggest lessons can happen in the least likely locations
• That every young person has the potential to do something extraordinary
• That exciting things happen when you step outside your comfort zone
• That the development of character and skills such as confidence, communication, problem-solving and resilience is crucial if young people are to be ready for the world = a world which is changing at a phenomenal rate
• That the Award helps young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world
• That the Award can positively impact, inspire and empower all those involved - including volunteers and supporters

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award challenges young people to develop the character, skills and confidence they need to improve themselves and their communities, by encouraging them to step outside their comfort zone and build positive habits, that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.

With the support of adult mentors, the Award helps young people to unleash their passions and believe in the power of their own potential. 

Through the Award, young people can be empowered - and not just to confidence, but the desire to create meaningful changes; to find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

Please subscribe to our e-weekly The Award Weekly to know more about the Award Programme in India

Award Ceremony at Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital

An Award ceremony was held at Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital on 26 May, 2018 with enthusiasm. Parivesh Pandey, Award Leader shares a brief report here.

The aim of this Programme is truly reflected among our young volunteers, which is that young people don't just enjoy an excellent academic education, but are able to develop for themselves the skills, behaviour and attitude that are needed to be a great global citizen.

It was a very prestigious moment for our school to announce that 15 students registered themselves in 2017 for the Award Programme and all of them brought laurels for our school by achieving 7 Silver Awards and 8 Bronze Awards.

Being an Award Leader, I salute the undaunted spirit of our Award participants and hope that they will continue their commendable efforts for serving society.

Thanks to the National Award Authority, especially Bivuji Mukhoty (Programme Manager). I would also like to thank R. S. Pant, Asha M'am and above all, Principal A K Sharma for providing this opportunity to our participants to prove themselves and for showing his belief in us.

‘OOTOPIA’ at the Ooty Lake

Students of Ooty get together to cherish Ooty Lake on World Water Day

On the 22nd of March, 2018 the Award participants of Good Shepherd International School, in liaison with the Citizen Voluntary Group Make Ooty Beautiful, celebrated the World Water Day at the Ooty Lake as ‘Ootopia’: a dream for an eco-friendly and culturally sensitive Ooty.

Attracting almost 3 Lakh tourists in 2017 alone, Ooty Lake has proved to be invaluable in securing Ooty’s current economic state. Yet, with the vast influx of sewage water, waste, and muck into the lake, its name has become almost synonymous, among the local citizens, with that of a cesspool. Thus, the Award participants of Good Shepherd International School found it thoroughly imperative for some form of ownership to be inculcated within the primary stakeholders for the condition of the lake: the citizens themselves.

To further strengthen their initiative, they collaborated with 18 other schools of the town, each school putting up a performance for ten minutes, with regard to water sanitation. To also broaden the expanse of the students’ creativity, the schools produced on canvas their interpretations of ‘Ootopia’, how the town could be the true epitome of ecological stability while also basking in the splendour of its cultural significance.  Click here for more pictures

A new dawn… efforts still a long way to go

Award participants of Delhi Public School Megacity, Kolkata took part in a Campaign on Health and Sanitation. A brief report from Atanu Chatterjee, Award Leader.

As a part of the social initiative project, DPS Megacity is in the process of adopting a village nearby. We started with the donation of articles and food-grain to the village. The Award participants felt an urgent need of toilets there and conducted an awareness programme on health and sanitation with the local people, where the basic importance of cleanliness and how they can keep themselves and their surrounding clean was demonstrated and discussed. The Award participants are now in the process of building a toilet there too for proper and sustained sanitation.

Fostering Maturity and Compassion through Service

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just sharing your riches, but reveal to them their own.”

Award participants from Bawa Lalvani Public School, Kapurthala visited and offered their services at the Kusht Ashram (Leprosy Home) in Kapurthala. Below is a report from Ms Ekta Dhawan, Principal, Bawa Lalvani Public School, Kapurthala.

Award participants of Bawa Lalvani Public School, through their Award routine at school, are committed to serving society. The BLPS Award volunteers remain on their toes to work towards the noble cause of community service, i.e., lending a helping hand to leprosy patients. In this Academic Year session 2017-2018, the team adopted "Kusht Ashram" (Leprosy Home).

The Bronze and Silver Award participants have been assigned a facility in the Kusht Ashram and each student is individually responsible for the upkeep of the earmarked space.

The participants have made it their mission to cater to the well being of the residents of the Ashram; this is an endeavour to make them feel a part of the general population and 'wanted' in society.

The official caretaker at the Khusht Ashram, Shri Keshav Pandit, informed the IAYP Team that the residents being cared for come from within India and also from Nepal and Bhutan. This effort has brought about a sense of maturity and compassion and, further, has had a very positive effect on the personality of the participating students.

Training Workshop for Trained Activity Service Providers for IAYP

The National Award Authority organised a two-day Training Workshop for Trained Activity Service Providers for IAYP & ITAP license and interested Award Leaders of YES Centres to operate Adventurous Journeys and Residential Projects.

Twenty-eight participants from twenty-two institutions: Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur; Harvest International School, Ludhiana; The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty; Nature Trails Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Thane; Juniper Wings, Kolkata; Pawar Public SchooL, Pune; Calcutta International School, Kolkata; The Vikasa School, Tuticorin; Mayoor School, Ajmer; Selaqui International School, Dehra Dun; G D Goenka World School, Gurgaon; O P Jindal Modern School, Hisar; Peevees Public School, Nilambur; S N Kansagra School, Rajkot; K C International School, Jammu; Sushila Birla Girls' School, Kolkata; Pugmarks Eco Tours Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai; Euro School Aroli , Mumbai; Sunbeam Suncity, Varanasi; Sunbeam Bhagwanpur,Varanasi; Hollotoli School, Dimapur; and National Award Authority, New Delhi participated in the workshop on 23rd - 24th January 2018.

The workshop was a blend of field work, classroom lecture and demonstration, covering various aspects of the Adventurous Journey and the Residential Project, in which the participants gained knowledge of the need and requirements for the same. The evening session before the bonfire was on the Role of the Assessor and the Supervisor, a critical input for a successful Adventurous Journey.

Day two activities started with an Adventurous & Exploration Journey, where the participants took part in trekking and exploration. This session included the learning and demonstration of the Preliminary Training, Practice Journey and Qualifying Journey, followed by a drill on Recording and Management of the Diary. There were Q&A sessions where the participants shared their experience and the problems that they come across during the AJ, and the NAA Team helped them in finding solutions. The workshop was mentored by Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and Tanushree Paul (Programme Assistant) with a team of instructors from Institute of Climbers & Nature Lovers. Click here for pictures

Award Ceremony at Chennai

December 8, 2017

NAA organised an Award Ceremony at Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Chennai, on December 8, 2017. Secretary General John May was the Chief Guest at this ceremony. The day started with an informal interaction with the Award Leaders and Principals of different institutions present for the ceremony in which John May expressed his views about the Award. He explained the ethos of the Award and the importance of non-formal education and how this is becoming the need of the hour today and for the future. John also explained how best the Award concurs with this non-formal education. After this interaction, the School NCC team and School Band gave a Guard of Honour to the Chief Guest. Formally the Award ceremony started with the lighting of the lamp. This was followed by a solo song presentation and a musical Jugalbandi and presentation of the School Song.

Award participants and Award Leaders from AMM Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai; Athena Global School, Chidambaram; Crescent School, Chennai; Ebenezer International School, Bangalore; Good Shepherd International School, Ootacamund; Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Chennai; Olcott Memorial School, Chennai; TI Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai; and Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai were present. Eighty Bronze Certificates and sixty-five Silver Certificates were awarded. Twenty-three Award Leaders and Volunteers were recognised for their services with Special, Valuable ad Outstanding Meritorious Service Certificates.

NAA expresses sincere thanks to the volunteers, staff and management of Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Chennai, and to the Principals and Award Leaders who were present during the ceremony and gave their support. To see the pictures of the ceremony click here

Award Ceremony at Kolkata

December 7, 2017

NAA organised an Award Ceremony at The Heritage School, Kolkata on December 7, 2017. John May, Secretary General, was the Chief Guest at this ceremony. The ceremony started with the lighting of lamps by John May (Secretary General, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation), Sarah Robson (Head Fund Raising, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation), Kapil Bhalla (National Director, IAYP India) and Seema Sapru (Principal, The Heritage School, Kolkata). This was followed by a classical dance presentation by an Award participant and later a small play on "Longwa Village – One village, two nations". Seema Sapru welcomed all the guests and invited John May to felicitate the Awardees.

Award participants and Award Leaders from Akshar School, Kolkata; All Bengal Womens' Union Home, Kolkata; Calcutta International School, Kolkata; Delhi Public School, Newtown, Kolkata; Emmanuel Ministries, Kolkata; La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata; Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Kolkata; Modern High School for Girls, Kolkata; Open Award Centre; Ramkrishna Mission Blind Boys Academy, Kolkata; Sri Sarada Math, Kolkata; Sri Sri Academy, Kolkata; Sushila Birla Girls' School, Kolkata; The Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society School, Kolkata and The Heritage School, Kolkata were present. One hundred and twenty-three Bronze certificates; forty-eight Silver Certificates and five Gold Certificates were awarded. Besides this, twenty-six Award Leaders and Volunteers were recognised for their services with Special, Valuable and Outstanding Meritorious Service Certificates. John May also interacted with the audience and shared his life experiences with them.

NAA wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the volunteers; staff and management of The Heritage School, Kolkata for all the help in organising a wonderful ceremony. Also, we wish to extend our thanks to the Principals and Award Leaders of different schools and institutions, who were present during the ceremony and boosted the morale of the Awardees. You can see the pictures of ceremony by clicking here