Orientation at Coimbatore

Pallavi Gill, Programme Officer visited Coimbatore from the 31st of March to the 2nd of April 2019. The three-day visit to Coimbatore began with an ORB Orientation with Aldin Anthony Montaut, Award Leader, Global Pathways School (GPS), Coimbatore on the 31st of March. The Orientation commenced with discussions on how to Register as an Award Leader and Participant, followed by discussions on how participants can choose their activities and fill in their logs. The session ended with an overview of the Award Leaders ORB responsibilities, the ways of assessing and tracking a participant’s progress in the ORB.

The second day, the 1st of April 2019, began with an inspection of Diaries of the young Award participants of GPS and a discussion on how to fill in logs in each of the sections. During the afternoon Pallavi Gill and Mr. Montaut went on a Community visit to the student’s villages to view the social environment and the impact the young participants have made in their community. The second day concluded with an Award Orientation for the participants of GPS. The orientations commenced with a Q&A session where Award Participants shared their views, experiences and any queries that they had regarding the Award. The orientation then began with an introduction to the Award Programme, the philosophy of the Award and its framework. The orientation elaborated on the Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and the Gold Residential Project. The session 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 2nd of April began with an Award Orientation for the mentors at GPS in the morning. The Orientation introduced the Award Programme, the framework and the philosophy of the Award. Followed by an in dept discussion on, the Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and the Gold Residential Project. The session concluded with discussions on the benefits of the Award and responsibilities of a mentor.

During the afternoon, Pallavi Gill visited CS Academy, Coimbatore where the young participants resolved their queries regarding the Award. The discussion was concluded with discussions on the benefits of the Award, ideas for Service projects and the experiences of the Award Participants, on their recently concluded their Adventurous Journey. (Report next week, stay tuned!)

CS Academy, Erode Campus share their Adventuruous Journey Experience.

Bronze Award participants under the International Award for Young People( Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award ) of CS Academy, Erode Campus went a two-day Exploration as a part of their Award Journey to Dharmapuri, Salem Coop forest. The Exploration provided an opportunity for the Grade IX and XI students of CS Academy, Erode to spend time in the lap of nature, far away from luxuries and their comfort zone. The journey was filled with learning and new experiences.

The Adventurous Journey started with the students helping clean the lake premises of Salem. This was followed by an interactive session at the bamboo factory and a session by Mr. Piyush Manush, a renowned environmentalist, on the irreparable damage caused by plastic and speedy urbanisation. Award participants had hands on experience in relation to soil and water conservation and management. Students were also taught first aid by Dr. Lavanya. Finally, a tough trek through the bamboo forest and sleeping in huts amongst nature taught them lessons on perseverance, tolerance, environmental protection, motivation and leadership.

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