“We developed life-saving skills; something that we would not have gained in our classrooms”

Akanksh Sanctis, a Silver Award participant, narrates his and his fellow participants' experience of an Adventurous Journey to Ramnagara, Karnataka, where they not only engaged in activities for personal growth but also became aware of life at a different place, outside their comfort zone.

On June 14, the participants of IAYP Silver Award left the campus of Sarala Birla Academy at the crack of dawn for a hidden campsite in Ramnagara, Karnataka. On reaching the ten-acre, huge campsite, we were instructed to divide ourselves into three groups that would continue to function in almost every activity that we undertook at the site. We engaged in activities like Burma bridge crossing, zip lining, rope climbing, pipelining, forming human pyramids and hitting the bull’s eye using a ring and tennis ball. Having pushed ourselves rigorously in these activities, we retired for the day in the tents that we had pitched near the site.

We commenced our next day pretty early as we were supposed to leave for a 16-kilometer trek. We had a wholesome breakfast, filled our water bottles, put on our caps along with protective clothes and started on a soon-to-be-tiring trek. During the trek, we passed through dense canopies of trees and thorny bushes that we really had to keep a look out for. We also passed a pristine lake and experienced an opportune moment of witnessing a wild hare hop downhill. After reaching the summit of the enormous hill, we relaxed for a while and continued our trek back to the campsite. The view atop the hill mesmerized almost all of us. Some of us even meditated in the calm and serene environment that it offered. The trek, though tiring, gave us amazing new experiences, such as witnessing the wild flora and fauna of the vicinity and also helped us learn life-saving skills that we would not have gained in our classrooms. Having drunk water that tasted rusty through a pump at a nearby village, we delved into understanding life in a village and how it differs from what we experience in towns and cities. That is when the vital importance of water conservation really dawned on us.

On the final day, we were taken to a nearby village where we were able to witness routine life in a rural area. We had the opportunity to visit a village member’s house and observe the way people lived in their relatively cool houses made of stones and mud. Seeing a deified ox was yet another interesting part of our visit. We also visited a silk producing establishment where we received an enthralling hands-on experience in the silk manufacturing process. After visiting the village, we headed back to the camp and prepared lunch together. We then boarded the bus to our school.
The experience taught us how to function in team-oriented environments and cultivating dependability. We developed new skills such as agility, concentration, efficiency and innovation. Primarily, it taught us to cherish the satisfaction that followed the efforts we put in various activities that were directed towards making us stronger, both physically and mentally.

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 expedition enlightened a new approach towards our perspective on life.

Twenty-two Award participants, together with three Award Leaders of Hopetown Girls' School, Dehradun, visited Har Ki Doon, a valley situated at approximately 12,000 feet in the Himalayas from 25 to 29 April as part of the Gold Award. It was a moderately difficult trek and the participants showed remarkable grit and determination by trekking for approximately 60 kilometres with their rucksacks over four days. They pitched their tents each night, cooked food and washed their own dishes. During the visit, the group slept in tents with the sound of the river flowing, gazed at infinite stars each night and woke up to witness the breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains. They also saw different hues of the rhododendron, the blue pine and walnut trees that added to the exoticism of the location.

The experience was a major turning point in the lives of the participants; something that has left unforgettable impressions on their lives. The participants showed undaunted courage and crossed two glaciers. Backed by remarkable leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, and positive attitude to survive, they experienced being in the lap of nature with minimum resources available to them. This helped to develop great camaraderie between their peers and teachers and gave them a bag full of memories to cherish for a lifetime. For most of them, it marked a new approach to looking at life. Inhibitions and anxieties about taking up challenges were replaced by confidence, leading to a sense of achievement. It made them discover their hidden potential and transcend boundaries of their comfort zones willingly to know the unknown. Loaded with memories, the participants found the experience almost magical.

“This episode of my life was an unforgettable experience”

Gurleen Kaur, a Gold Award participant from Cambridge International School, Phagwara, visited Chail, Himachal Pradesh, for a Residential Project, together with other participants. She narrates her experience and shares insights on what she gained from each aspect of the project.

My experience as a member of the Award Programme was equally enlightening and adventurous. I see my journey as a flight of stairs; beginning with the Bronze Award and ending with the Residential Project for the Gold Award. I opted for the Bronze Award in 2016, keeping the motto ‘service before self’ in mind. We Award participants of Cambridge International School, Phagwara, served senior citizens and kids in an orphanage, to begin with. The earning of the Silver Award gave us a similar experience and filled us with excitement and encouragement to move further for the Gold Award, for which did a Residential Project.

I have always had a fascination for mountains, clear blue skies, vast green meadows and dense forests, all of which I experienced during the Residential Project in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Lasting for 5 days and 4 nights, the residential camp was at a snow valley. The aim of the camp was to repaint a government school built a few years ago and to make the classroom environment lively through experiential learning. The day began with morning exercises, followed by trekking to reach school and then working on the project. Blue, green and brown were the most used pastel colors of my childhood; little did I know that these colours would forever leave their imprint on my life. Work at the project site was done in groups; each group was allotted the required tools such as paintbrushes and paint, gloves, head-covers etc. Three groups were formed that were asked to paint the washrooms, paint blackboards and the staircase and paint the pillars and the roof of the school, respectively. The groups completed their task within the given time. All the members might have worked in groups to carry out the work, but the team was one. On the last day of the project, all participants worked on the huge wall at the back of the school with a spirit of team work and mutual cooperation. Towards the end, we organized a small learning class and distributed the charts to kindergarten students; some of the charts depicted moral values, while some were related to academics.

I really like interacting with people. Through my interaction with the school students, it dawned upon me that we are so engrossed in our own world that we have lost our capability to look beyond ourselves. We learnt that only when we are exposed to rough terrains wherein we are cut off from civilization and see local people living in harmony and complete submission with nature, do we ponder about life’s hardships.

The day was then followed by adventurous activities such as a full day trek which taught us how to survive in a forest, the zip lining activity which gave me courage and confidence, and the hangman educated me about weights and directions. The lesson that I would take home from these activities is to face fears with strength rather than escaping them. The night treks were equally amusing; the full moon night and clear sky with glittering stars seemed to describe the beauty and serenity of nature. The bonfires at night were symbols of quality time spent.
This episode of my life was unforgettable; the thrill and the enlightenment has transformed me and given me memories that I will recall with a smile on my face throughout my life.

IAYP Team visits Chennai for Award Leader Training and Student Orientation Workshops

On 26th and 27th April, 2019, a team from NAA, IAYP, comprising Mr. Kapil Bhalla - the National Director, Mr. Bivujit Mukhoty – the Programme Manager and Ms. Pallavi Gill – the Programme Ofiicer visited Chennai for an Award Leader Training workshop. The workshop was held at APL Global School where a total of 10 Award Leaders were present. The purpose of the workshop was, essentially, to welcome the Award Leaders into the journey of the Award Programme and to remind them of the important role that they, as guides and motivators, play in shaping the future of young adults pursuing the Award.

The workshop commenced with an ice-breaking session, followed by an introduction about the Award Programme. The team threw light on the philosophy of the Award and its framework. They then went on to explain its various facets that includes Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and the Adventurous Journey. They also elaborated upon risk management, stressed the benefits of the Programme and touched upon the residential project for the Gold level of the Programme. What followed next 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.

In addition to the workshop, Mr. Kapil Bhalla met with K.C. High, Chennai to discuss the prospects of the Award Programme being offered at the school. Apart from that, Ms. Pallavi Gill conducted the orientation of the students at APL Global School to acquaint them with the ideology and structure of the Award Programme. Such workshops are stepping stones in IAYP’s stride to build aware and able young people who can make productive use of their capabilities.

AEROMODELLERS OF CPS KATOL ROAD EXCEL IN NATIONAL AEROMODELLING COMPETITION

The team of Centre Point School Katol Road aeromodellers consisted of Zaosh Khambata, Akshat Vishwakarma, Aaryan Vasu, and Chaitanya Patil.

The team was declared First Runners Up in the finals of the Boeing National Aeromodelling Competition held in IIT Delhi on 20th April ’19. From among 978 aeromodellers from all over India, 12 teams were declared finalists after qualifying in the Zonal Round held on Dec’18 in IIT Powai. The team from CPS Katol Road was the youngest team among the 12 finalist teams!

After qualifying for the Finals the team of four geared up, designed and fabricated a fixed Wing Aircraft System that could perform any task commanded to it. In the finals, they demonstrated their Aircraft before a panel of judges in IIT Delhi and were declared First Runners Up. During the prize distribution ceremony held in IIT Delhi they received a cash reward of 50,000/- and Certificates of Excellence from Mr. Sahil Gupte, President, Boeing India.

The young Aeromodellers are presently active participants in the Award.

IAYP India would like to wish the young participants the heartiest congratulations and all the very best for their future endeavors.

The Stride to Keep Indian Heritage Alive

The Award participants of Bawa Lalvani visited the Moorish Mosque and the State Gurudwara in Kapurthala as part of the Service section of the Award Programme. This project helped them strengthen their knowledge of two important cultural sites whilst making them more aware and committed young adults.

The vastness and vibrancy of the Indian heritage sites is unparalleled. In view of that, preserving their grandeur is of utmost importance. No matter how far we reach in terms of progress, it is imperative that we keep them alive in our memory and strengthen their hold as an inseparable part of our larger culture.

For a better understanding of the heritage sites and for imbibing values to preserve them, the Award participants of Bawa Lalvani School visited the Moorish Mosque and State Gurudwara in Kapurthala in April 2019 as part of the Service section of the Award Programme. Situated in Kapurthala, the Moorish Mosque was built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh in 1927 and possesses the unique feature of a tall tower and the absence of external domes. This important site symbolizes social integration. The striking red sandstone building (now painted white) of the State Gurudwara was consecrated in 1915. Having adopted an Indo-Saracenic style, it has vast expanses of marble, enveloped by the feet of the hundreds of devotees.

The participants thoroughly studied the rich architecture and history of these two important sites but more importantly, they were engulfed in the feeling of oneness. They performed the ritual of praying at both the sites and learned the omnipresence of the Almighty. The participants also engaged in service at both the sites by cleaning the area, making it more sanctified. Moreover, to spread awareness on the need for a green environment, they watered the plants and launched a campaign to plant more trees in the vicinity. Activities like these are not merely landmarks in the participants’ journey of personal growth; they are important factors that contribute towards bringing about a change in how they see their environment and the larger world around them.

Okhrey-Barsey Expedition by the Participants of DPS Megacity

The Award participants of DPS Megacity, Kolkata visited the Okhrey village in Sikkim for their Adventurous Journey section of the Award Programme. Mr. Atanu Chatterjee shares insights on the journey of the participants and narrates how it enlightened them.

The Award participants of DPS Megacity, Kolkata set off for Okhrey village in West Sikkim for a 5-day long expedition from 11th to 16th March 2019. Considered to be the base camp for one who is keen to visit the wonderful Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Okhrey is situated at about 7200 feet and offers a great opportunity to witness the splendid diversity of nature.

We boarded the NJP Shatabdi Express from Howrah station and reached Siliguri on 11th March. After a night’s stay at Siliguri, we started for our destination and reached Okhrey via Jorethang by lunch time. After an hour's rest, we started the first day’s acclimatization trek to Okhrey Government School, and the trek became more strenuous with increasing altitude. The next morning saw the participants waking up at 6 a.m. for a warm up session and then being taken to Hiley - the entry point of Barsey Wildlife Sanctuary. The journey to Guras Kunj, which was 5 km away, started with a briefing session where the instructors explained the concept and importance of safety and helped the participants comprehend different equipment. The students saw different varieties of rhododendron and numerous chirping birds during the trek through the thick jungle trail and finally reached Guras Kunj. The temperature was around 2 degree Centigrade and everyone was enraptured by the breathtaking view of Kanchenjunga. Having had lunch in Guras Kunj, the participants headed towards Hiley, where they engaged in a session, learning about rope knots and camp craft in the evening. Next morning, after warm up and early breakfast, the participants began their third day’s trek to a very old monastery in Okhrey. They also visited the Okhrey Government School for a cultural exchange programme, where they put up some lovely performances. The participants also experienced a thoroughly challenging yet blissful session of rappelling and had a lot of fun during the campfire in the evening. Next day after breakfast, we began our retreat journey to Siliguri and boarded the Howrah Shatabdi Express.

This Adventurous Journey was a thrilling experience for the participants; one that helped them build their confidence by exposing them to a different environment altogether. It helped them mould themselves according to the needs of the environment and then push themselves to excel in that very environment. Through intense and mild activities, the participants tested themselves, building themselves into stronger and more self-assured individuals.

IAYP Conducts Training Workshop at the Award Training Centre, New Delhi

On April 5 and 6, 2019, a training workshop was conducted at the Award Training Centre, International Award for Young People, New Delhi. Among the team members of IAYP who were part of the workshop were Mr. Kapil Bhalla - the National Director, Mr. Bivujit Mukhoty - the Programme Manager, and Ms. Pallavi Gill - the Programme Officer. The workshop 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.

IAYP congratulates the following Award Leaders on attending and successfully completing the their Award Leader Training:

The Galaxy School, Wadi- Girishkumar Seshadri Rao, Vishal Vijaybhai Doshi, Patel Heta Harsh, Mayuri Mahendrabhai Pandya and Bharmal Sakina Jainuddin

Indus International School, Pune- Rohit Jude Pingfu and Rajiv Bali

Sreenidhi International School, Hyderabad - Sai Mounika Murarisetti

KC International School, Jammu- Poonam Bhagat and Radhu Gupta

Birla Public School, Pilani- Kapil Marhetta, Piyush Kumar and Preeti Sharma

GD Goenka International School, Naukuchiatal- Puneet Bisht

KD Ambani Vidyamandir, Jamnagar- Suhas Kohale and Vaishali Ingle.

JBCN International School, Mumbai- Prameela Satish and Marx Francis Gomes

Nahar International School, Mumbai- Nikita Bhan

Chatrabhuj Narsee School, Mumbai- Gowda Lata Jagdish and Kateshiya Rajesh Ramniklal

Such workshops are stepping stones in IAYP’s stride to build aware and able young people, who can make productive use of their capabilities. In its stride to be an all-inclusive platform that provides opportunities for individual as well as growth of a community and to charge young minds with passion, such workshops take the Award Leaders through the Award’s framework, guiding them towards becoming approachable and committed mentors to young people.

The Trail of an Insightful Journey

The Silver Award participants of Sri Sri Academy, Kolkata, together with their Award Leaders, visited Jayalgarh for their Adventurous Journey. By falling and getting up again, they gained not just experiences but the true essence of life.

On 1st October, 2018, 15 Silver Award participants accompanied by two Award Leaders ventured into the wilderness of Devbhumi, Uttarakhand, as part of their Adventurous Journey section.

We commenced the journey by departing from Kolkata and reaching Delhi, from where we boarded the Nandadevi Express to reach Jayalgarh, our campsite. When we reached Haridwar at the crack of dawn, we boarded the bus to Jayalgarh, located at a distance of about 110 kms from Haridwar. On reaching Jayalgarh, we were allocated our tents. With heightened anticipation, we undertook our first adventure activity called ‘valley crossing’ in which we had to slide on a zipline with proper safety equipment. What followed next was ‘stream walking’ that required us to walk against the stream in our floater sandals. We then went to Malitha village on foot for ‘rappelling’. Rappelling is a descending technique widely used in mountaineering, which involves the use of ropes, helmets, harnesses, figure of eight descender and other equipment. After acing this, we came back to our campsite and had a fun-filled self cooking session, which was followed by a plethora of team games. We had some time to ourselves for reflecting on the activities done on that day, where we recorded the details of the activities done.

On the next day, the fog had encompassed the camp and the peaks of the snow clad mountains looked like some ethereal world untouched by man. Our day started with morning exercise, which was followed by ‘free floating’ and ‘body surfing’. We were then taught ‘kayaking’ by the authorised mountaineers and dive masters who have been in this profession for a decade and more. Post lunch we went to a local primary school for service. We spent around two hours interacting, teaching, playing and singing with the young students there. We also interacted with the villagers and learnt about their challenges. This was followed by a jumaring session which is another widely used technique for ascending a mountain. It mainly involves the use of a jumar and other equipment such as ropes, harnesses and helmets.

We then trekked up the hill to a sunset point through the wild outgrowths where we did some bird watching and observed the diversity of flora there. We walked back to our campsite and engaged ourselves in team games like volleyball and a diary writing session. After dinner, we had the much awaited part of our tour, the bonfire night, coupled with ghost stories. The following day saw us engaging in a meditation session. Then, we proceeded to the Malitha Bridge for bridge slithering, which was yet another spine-chilling activity and the last one of our journey. The day concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, followed by a vote of thanks for the organisers. The next day, with sad hearts and a plethora of memories to cherish, we boarded our bus, which took us to Dehradun from where our retreat to Kolkata began.

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

Award Orientations for Students

In its stride to provide opportunities for the youth as well as the growth of a community and to charge young minds with passion, student orientation workshops were conducted by Bivujit Mukhoty, the Programme Manager, at Global City International School, Bangalore, on 5th March 2019 and Indus International School, Bangalore on 6th March 2019. The objective was to interact with students, introduce the Award programme to the new participants and highlight its ideology and benefits.

The orientations commenced with a Q&A session where students shared their view about their future goals. The Programme Manager explained how the Award Programme helps them to achieve their goals. This session was followed by an introduction to the Award Programme. The team threw light on the philosophy of the Award, its journey and its framework. They elaborated upon its various facets that include Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and Gold Residential Project for the Gold level of the Programme. The orientations concluded with discussions on the benefits of the Award Programme and its power to bring about a difference in the lives of young people.

The orientation at Global City International School, Bangalore was attended by over 120 students, while the orientation at Indus International School, Bangalore was attended by over 110 students.

Regional Director Asia Pacific Visiting India

IAYP India welcomed Sue Walker, Regional Director, Asia Pacific Region to India. During her visit, Sue met with Himmat Kalsia (Trustee Chairman, APF) and Dr Sanat Kaul (Managing Trustee, APF) in Delhi. Kapil Bhalla and Sue Walker also met with Ruchira Ghosh, Regional Director, South Asia, from global partner Cambridge Assessment International Education at Mumbai. Sue and Kapil also visited Global Pathways Matriculation Higher Secondary School (Coimbatore) with Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation World Fellows, Mike Steele & Stacey Coote from the Steele Family Foundation and discussed further possibilities to collaborate with IAYP India. On 8th, Sue Walker attended an Award Presentation Ceremony at the Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty and presented Awards to successful achievers.

Thank you, Sue, for your visit and guidance.  Click here for more pictures

We have learnt to think independently

The Award participants of Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur, visited the Narveli Caves and nearby villages for their Adventurous Journey section. Mr Sasi Krishnan, an Award Leader from SGI School, narrates the experience of the trip, highlighting insights that the participants gained, both about their surroundings as well as themselves.

Sanjay Ghodavat International School aspires to nurture each child as a skilled personality. Here, we lay equal emphasis on academics and activities like field trips, trekking, bird-watching, nature walks and adventure camps. These outdoor activities are organized at regular intervals to provide the students with opportunities for experiential learning.

As part of IAYP’s Adventurous Journey section, a camp was organized for two days and a night for Bronze participants, three days and two nights for Silver participants, and four days and three nights for Gold participants. The participants, accompanied by nine members of the teaching staff and four attenders, journeyed to the Narveli caves and temple, a reserved forest area, Brobet village and Gaganbawda, around 85 km away from the school. The journey was operated by an adventure team ‘Kolhapur Hikers’, assisted by IAYP Award Leaders Mr Venkat and Mr Dushyanth.

The participants were pumped up to commence the journey on 23rd November 2018. The team carried all the necessary items like rice, vegetables, flour, spices, utensils, lights, sound systems, etc. After reaching our planned destination at 11:30 in the morning, the participants cleaned the area and set up 27 tents. Having been divided into eleven groups, the participants, along with the staff, trekked towards the Narveli caves. The trekking distance was about 8 kilometres up and down and we returned at 7:30 p.m. At around 9:00 p.m. we lit the bonfire, which was followed by playing games, singing songs, narrating stories and dancing. Our Director Principal was kind enough to join us on our Adventurous Journey on that day. The next day commenced with the participants preparing for another trek. During the trek, the participants engaged in a multitude of activities like bird-watching, discovering rare plants, peacock feather collection, etc. Post lunch, games like the treasure hunt, essay writing and sketching were organized. The journey concluded at 4:00 p.m. and the Bronze Award participants prepared for their return, while the other participants stayed back.

The journey was a life-changing experience for most participants. They have learnt teamwork, independent thinking, creativity, and dignity of labour. Most importantly, they have emboldened themselves, learning to take on the challenges of life with indomitable courage. Click here for more pictures

We minted memories with the IAYP family

The Adventurous Journey section of the Award Programme is not just a platform for expanding the knowledge base of young adults; it’s an opportunity for participants to build human connections and develop their leadership abilities. Advaita Singh, an Award participant from Billabong High International School, Bhopal, narrates her experience of visiting Chandigarh, Manali and Delhi, highlighting how she made a new family in the process.

Here is the thing about an adrenaline rush -- there is nothing like it; the racing pulse, the thudding heart, the shaking of the feet in anticipation and fear and the doubt that constantly knocks against your once logical mind. So, we can proudly proclaim that the journey that we undertook to Chandigarh, Manali and Delhi as part of IAYP’s Adventurous Journey section was unmatched in terms of experience.

On 22nd December 2018, a bunch of exhilarated participants boarded the Bhopal Express to begin a journey that they would cherish forever. After hours of journeying through the plains and the hills, we arrived in Manali. With its snow-capped mountains, breathtaking landscape and starry skies, Manali had an air that made us push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. The temperature being sub-zero there, we realized the importance of sticking together, quite literally.

Having travelled for long hours, we were exhausted on the first day. However, with renewed zeal, the next day we trekked up to Solang Valley where we participated in adventure sports like zip lining, snow-mobile ride, skiing and snow tube ride. We walked back home before nightfall where a comfortable bonfire evening awaited us. We spent the evening under the stars, singing songs, playing games and planning our rafting trip, scheduled for the next day. River Beas was our rafting point in Kullu. We cut through the chilly breeze as our rafts raced across the snow-fed stream, bumping over the river rapids, leaving us with an enthralling experience.

Though our trip was amazing in its entirety, its highlights were activities like trekking, zip lining, rafting that challenged us to vanquish our fears. We not only developed as individuals but also learnt to move forward as a team. We have become more adaptable and receptive, learning to push our limits. The trip has brought us closer to our existing friends and offered us opportunities to make new ones. This week-long experience was one where we minted memories with people who had now become our family. Now that we have resumed living our normal lives and routines, we can say that the people who have returned are not the same anymore; they have undergone a complete transformation of their personalities and ideologies.

Award Holder’s and Participants shine at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards

The International Award for Young People would also like to congratulate the sixteen Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award Holders for their fantastic achievement in topping the various sections in their Cambridge Assessment while pursuing their Award Journey. Their achievements exhibit how the Award creates opportunities for the young person to develop skills, get physically active, volunteer within their local community and experience adventure outside the classroom, which inherently helps them in being more focused and aids them in achieving the higher educational standard in a holistic environment.

Doing the Award is a personal challenge and it pushes young people to step outside their comfort zone and recognise their achievements. Through the Award, students become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged learners. The Award provides a young person with new insights into their capabilities and by trying new things helps grow confidence and develop useful skills.

IAYP wishes the following young people all the very best in their Award Journeys, and in their journey of life ahead!

• Advaita Singh (Bronze Award Holder, Silver Award Participant from Billabong International School, Bhopal) : Top in India – Physics (Cambridge IGCSE); Top in the World- Mathematics (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Kathan Nileshbhai Pandya (Silver Award Holder from The Galaxy School, Rajkot): Top in India – Literature (English) (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Khushi S. V. Mehta (Bronze Award Holder from Good Shepherd International School, Ooty): Top in India – Global Perspectives (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Prerna Baid (Bronze Award Holder, Silver Award Participant from Good Shepherd International School, Ooty): Top in India – Global Perspectives (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Aryamaan Manish Dholakia (Gold Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in India – Physical Education (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Aman Ladia (Silver Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in India – Geography (Cambridge IGCSE); Top in the World- Additional Mathematics (Cambridge IGCSE); Top in the World- Biology (Cambridge IGCSE); Top in the World- Physics (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Keerti Mukul Gupta (Silver Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in India – Drama (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Mahika Jain (Silver Award Participant from The Daly College, Indore): Top in India – English as a Second Language (speaking endorsement) (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Avantika Garg (Silver Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in India – History (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Anushree Gupta (Silver Award Participant from The Daly College, Indore): Top in the World- History (Cambridge International A Level)

• Arjun Pasari (Bronze Award Participant from The Daly College, Indore): Top in India – Geography (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Shubhanshi Nileshbhai Gaudani (Bronze Award Participant from The Galaxy School, Rajkot): Top in India – Global Perspectives (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Anjali Nair (Bronze Award Participant from Trivandrum International School, Trivandrum): Top in India – Biology (Cambridge International AS Level)

• Arjun Vinit Kejriwal (Bronze Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in the World- International Mathematics (Cambridge IGCSE); Top in the World- Additional Mathematics (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Chang Jie Wu (Bronze Award Participant from DPS International, Saket, New Delhi): Top in the World- Mathematics (without coursework) (Cambridge IGCSE)

• Jai Parera (Bronze Award Participant from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai): Top in the World- World Literature (Cambridge IGCSE)

IAYP Celebrates the ‘Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards’ Ceremony

Accomplishment is the product of constant struggle, backed by courage, focus and motivation. To celebrate the efforts of young adults who’ve participated in the Award Programme, IAYP presented certificates for Gold Level achievement and Silver level achievement to some of the participants from Cambridge curriculum schools at the ‘Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards’ ceremony took place on 9th February 2019 in Mumbai. The occasion was graced by Ms Christine Ozden, the Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education, who was the Chief Guest at the ceremony. More than 90 Cambridge Awards were given while the Principals of more than 70 schools attended the ceremony.

Having joined hands in creating committed young people, it was a proud moment for both IAYP and the various schools that had been given the Awards. Mr Kapil Bhalla, the National Director, IAYP, addressed the gathering and detailed the benefits to the students from the partnership of Cambridge Assessment and the Award programme.

IAYP congratulates the following Award Holders for their achievement:

The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai 

1. Nazah Mistry - Gold 

2. Samiksha Hiranandani - Gold 

3. Arshia Agarwal - Gold

Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore 

1. Shanay M. Ranka - Gold

Symbiosis International School, Pune 

1. Pragnya Ramprasad - Silver 

2. Sanjana Advani- Silver

Such events become milestone moments in IAYP’s stride to help educational institutions develop so that their students can imbibe skills that are required for their overall development. It is this process of the attainment of dexterity that IAYP celebrates.  Click here for more pictures

Greening the Desert – Build a Greenhouse

Adventurous Journey and Gold Residential Project

1st - 15th June 2019, Spiti, Northern Himalayas, India

Gold Award participants from around the globe are welcome to apply for the two-weeks Solar Conservation Project at Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, organised by Ecosphere in collaboration with IAYP India. The project is one of its kind, combining an Adventurous Journey and Gold Residential Project exclusively for Gold Award participants.

During this journey, the Award participants will be travelling through Spiti and will spend 5 days assisting the local community in the construction of a Greenhouse enabling a local farmer or a Monastery/Nunnery to have access to green vegetables throughout the year. You will participate in the actual construction of a greenhouse and will be assisted by a dedicated team comprising a qualified mason and trained person from Ecosphere. The activity will entail physical work and you will get hands-on learning of traditional mud building techniques – both mud blocks and rammed earth. One will also learn the basics of solar passive architecture and how best to insulate using readily available local material and the sun to heat up the structure.

The trip is a mix of work and pleasure. During this trip participants will be visiting some of the highest villages in the world, going on a high-altitude trek, visiting some ancient monasteries dating back to over a 1000 years, and taking a yak/horse safari and mountain bike -- if interested. Traditional homestays further enrich the experience by giving one an authentic understanding of the life and culture in a Spitian home.

Detailed information and application form can be obtained from here. The last date for registration is 30th April 2019.

Service before Self

Serving others is a spiritual experience that instils calm in every human being. Rajyasri Rao, a Gold Award participant of The Lawrence School, Ooty visited Bokapuram village and Masinagudi as part of her Gold Residential Project. Defining her visit as a ‘life-changing experience’, she shares insights on what it means to serve others.

“Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy; while giving, the mind of the giver is made peaceful; and having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted.” says, Buddha. We seemed to have seen this insightful quote come to life when, as part of IAYP’s Gold Residential Project, we visited Bokapuram village and Masinagudi. During our five-day visit that began on 27th September and concluded on 2nd October 2018, we became the embodiment of ‘work hard, play hard’. At the school we were residing in, we engaged in levelling the ground and painting a primary classroom with colours most appealing to children. In Bokapuram, we engaged in renovation work on the houses of two elderly women. Another facet of our project was spreading awareness about the consequences of alcohol addiction in a village adjacent to the school, as part of which we painted signs on walls and conducting awareness campaigns in the village.

Putting up at a school with basic amenities, cleaning our own dishes and living spaces and contributing selflessly – all these instilled a sense of responsibility and consciousness in us. The contentment we derived after having finished our visit was supreme. The teachers who accompanied us guided us towards looking beyond the comforts of premiere boarding schools. They taught us to be humble and considerate by exposing us to an alien lifestyle departing several life lessons discussion sessions after dinner each night. Our teacher incharge, Mr Kuldeep Singh and other teacher escorts Ms Kamaljeet, Mr Kartikeyan, Ms Anjali and Ms Samina were as much a part of this labour intensive project as we were. Their dedication towards the cause together with their guidance enlightened us on what true service meant. Our support staff’s contribution made our stay comfortable and we would never be thankful enough for it.

I had never fathomed that the Gold Residential Project would be a life-changing experience for me, bringing age-old quotes to life. Despite bruises, cuts, sunburns, insect bites and challenging physical activities, we learnt to get up and vanquish the forces that caused us to trip. The most striking aspect of our journey, however, was how gracefully we transcended our comfort zones, motivated by the idea to extend our hands in service. Click here for more pictures

Spreading Love and Warmth

Sneha Singhal, an Award participant from Uttam School for Girls, narrates her experience of visiting Sewa Samarpan, a school for underprivileged children. Recounting this visit, she highlights how ‘happiness’ has been redefined for her and her fellow participants.

'You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay'.

Donation is an act of charity; it symbolises kindness and generosity on the part of the donor. Every year on Christmas and New Year’s, Uttam School for Girls hands out clothes and toys to students of Sewa Samarpan, a school for underprivileged children. Besides that, it organises workshops and programmes for these children while also supporting them financially.

This year as well, IAYP participants collected old toys and woollens from the students of all classes and then packed them neatly. Some participants, accompanied by a teacher, visited Sewa Samarpan and were elated on receiving positive responses from the students there. It was an immense pleasure seeing them feeling jubilant on receiving gifts. Contrasting our privilege with theirs, we felt our urge to do something for the underprivileged growing stronger. We concluded our visit by singing Christmas carols and getting photographs clicked with our new friends. Keeping up with the spirit of sharing, we also donated huge amounts of warm clothes to Eazy Hug, an initiative by Godrej to spread love and warmth this winter.

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving”, says Albert Einstein. Real happiness is attained through sharing. We take this opportunity to thank IAYP for inculcating in us the true value of community service through the Service section of its programme. We’re proud that Uttam School for Girls has taken this initiative and we really hope that others, too, make efforts to better the lives of marginalised individuals and communities.