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.

The Award Ceremony: The Acknowledgement of Countless Efforts

When one puts one’s heart and soul into what one desires to achieve, it is not merely the end result that ought to be celebrated but the journey, as a whole, that needs to be cherished. The IAYP Award Ceremony took place on 8th March, 2019 at the Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty, marking a moment of pride in IAYP’s work and goals.

The charm of the event was enhanced by the presence of Ms. Sue Walker, Asia Pacific’s Regional Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The team from NAA comprised Mr. Kapil Bhalla, the National Director, and Mr. Bivujit Mukhoty, the Programme Manager. Among the other guests were Mr. K Prabhakaran Nair, Headmaster, Lawrence School, Lovedale, Mr. N. Rajan, Deputy Headmaster, Lawrence School, Lovedale, Col. (Rtd.) Sudhakar Babu Thota, Bursar, Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ms. Deborah Waller, Principal, Hebron School, Mr. Gary Everett, Principal, The Laidlaw Memorial School & Junior College, and the Award Leaders of Hebron School. We are grateful to Mr. S.S. Sorna Kumar, The Vikasa School, Tuticorin, Mr. K.V. Muraleedharan, Good Shepherd International School, and Mr. Kuldeep Singh, Award Leader, Lawrence School, Lovedale.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Bhalla, followed by an enchanting classical Bharatanatyam dance performance by the awardees of Lawrence School. The awardees welcomed the Chief Guest, post which the felicitation ceremony began. Participants from The Vikasa School, Tuticorin and the Laidlaw Memorial School and Junior College received 54 Bronze Awards; Good Shepherd International School and the Lawrence School, Lovedale were conferred with 39 Silver Awards, while 29 Participants from the Lawrence School received their Gold Awards. It was a moment of gratification for both the awardees and their schools alike. Following this, Ms.

Sue Walker addressed the gathering, after which Mr. Kapil Bhalla presented a memento to the Headmaster of the Lawrence School. The ceremony ended with lunch for the guests.

Events like these acknowledge the efforts of both the IAYP and the institutions it has collaborated with in building an environment which recognizes the achievement and development of young people. The participants gain the confidence to become committed young adults and channelize their aspirations to achieve something big and to bring about positive changes in their environment. The Award Ceremony is yet another milestone moment in IAYP’s stride that acknowledges the dreams of young people and their efforts to realize them. Click here for more pictures

Gold Award Ceremony 2018 - A Report

The annual Gold Award Ceremony was organised on 10th July 2018 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The National Award Authority (NAA) took immense pride in felicitating the Gold Award Achivers, Award Leaders and Volunteers. Eighty-two Award participants were selected for the recognition at this ceremony, and fifty-eight participants attended the ceremony to receive their Gold Award. This Gold Award ceremony is dedicated to appreciating the milestones and the commitment of each participant. The day was dedicated to celebrate, enjoy and cherish their achievements with friends, family and the IAYP team.

We were privileged to have His Excellency Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, United Kingdom’s High Commissioner, to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and felicitate the Gold Awardees and Award Leaders.

Mr Kapil Bhalla, National Director, welcomed the Chief Guest His Excellency Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, Mr Himmat Sher Singh Kalsia - Trustee Chairman, Award Programme Foundation, and Dr Sanat Kaul, Managing Trustee, Award Programme Foundation. The Principals and Directors of different YES Centres were also welcomed and honoured by the National Award Authority.

A variety of entertainment performances were presented by Award participants. The first was a dance performance by the participants from Sri Sarada Math, Baladband, West Bengal, based on a song written by Rabindra Nath Tagore - Aguner Poroshmoni. This was followed by a group western dance performance by the participants of Khaitan Public School, Sahibabad. A dance recital, Shakuntalam, was performed by the students of Indirapuram Public School, Ghaziabad.

National Director Kapil Bhalla addressed the audience, sharing information about the progress of the Award. He outlined future plans that have been designed to spread the Award Programme to untouched areas of the country. Kapil Bhalla also highlighted the achievements of the Gender Diversity and Empowerment Project run by IAYP India under ISPG Grant.

The National Director's speech was followed by the Award Presentation Ceremony where the Chief Guest His Excellency Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG handed the Gold Certificates to the Gold Award achievers. In addition, thirty-six Award Leaders and Volunteers were recognised with the Outstanding, Voluntary and Special Service Meritorious Certificates.

The Chief Guest congratulated all the Awardees and Award Leaders for their success. He also shared his life experiences with the audience and welcomed the Gold Award Holders to the United Kingdom for their higher education and promised support for this on behalf of the British High Commission, India.

Himmat Kalsia, Trustee Chairman, Award Programme Foundation proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the ceremony.

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 success. For Gold Award Ceremony pictures, please click here.

Congratulations and Thank You

Congratulations for your fantastic achievement! Your dedication, enthusiasm and insight are really inspiring. A big round of applause for all Gold Award Achievers, Award Leaders and Volunteers. Our thanks to all stakeholders who made the Annual Gold Award Ceremony 2018 a huge success. Thank you, Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG for gracing the ceremony.

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.

The Honorable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG

The Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG is a British diplomat and former Ambassador to Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. He is currently the British High Commissioner to India, since March 2016. Sir Dominic will be accompanying HRH throughout the Royal Visit.

We welcome His Excellency to the Gold Award Ceremony.