ADVENTURE ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR ADVENTURE OPERATORS

9th November 2013 at Award Training Centre, New Delhi

The National Award Authority organised the first Adventure Orientation Programme for Adventure Operators.  This one-day programme targeted to deliver the theme and essence of the Adventurous Journey section to Adventure Operators.  The focus was on explaining the Award's requirements with respect to this section and updating the adventure operators about the new developments in the Award. Eight participants from 7 different organisations participated in the programme and discussed the various issues related to organising the Award Adventurous Journey. Kapil Bhalla (National Director) started with an ice-breaking session and introduced the philosophy of the Award.  Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) continued the session with an interactive presentation on the Expedition and Exploration Manual, in which he discussed the Technical and Integrated Skills.  He also described the basic requirements in respect to the Award at each level.  There was a Q&A session where the Operators and the NAA team discussed and resolved the various issues. The programme concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants. click for pictures

VISIT TO GENESIS GLOBAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

8th November 2013

Mr Pramod Sharma, Director

Kapil Bhalla (National Director) along with Gold Award holder Dhanurdhar visited Genesis Global School, Noida on 8th November 2013. They had a detailed and interesting interaction with the Pramod Sharma (Director), A N Dar (Chief Mentor) and Seema Hanvey (Head IB programme). 

 

 

The National Director met and had lunch with the students and discussed the benefits available through participation in the IAYP programme. Dhanurdhar shared his experience of participation in the programme and the fun he had and the benefits he gained while pursuing the programme.

REGIONAL CONFERENCE - ASIA PACIFIC REGION - DUKE OF EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL AWARD

'Transforming the Award'

A three-day conference of the 15 NAAs of the Asia Pacific region of the IAF was held in Bangkok, Oct 26-28. There were delegates from:

• IAF -- John May, Secretary General; Steve De Wint, Chief Operating Officer; Ellie Rocks, Fundraising; Laura Thakray, Communications; Mike Heath, Head Technology
• APR -- Sue Walker, Regional Director; Rob Oliphant, Regional Manager; Kathleen Hewitt, Regional Coordinator
• India were represented by Himmat Kalsia (National Chairman), Dr Sanat Kaul (Managing Trustee), Kapil Bhalla (National Director)
• IC Youth Representative - Mr Ravichandran Balasubramaniam

The annual conference was a follow up to the conference held at Malta in Nov 2012 (coinciding with the International Forum) and the theme "Transforming the Award" was a focus of the workshop sessions and presentations.

The sessions kicked off with a presentation by Secretary General John May, laying out the focus of future directions post the Forum on "Transforming the Award", that the Award is the premier Youth Service & Development organisation in the world.

There were interactive sessions by:

• Laura Thakray -- Communications & Branding updates, with examples of India using the 'Endorsement route to branding; using the India specific Award logo and the International Logo
• Ellie Rocks -- Fund raising & Corporate Relationship avenues for raising resources; India has a successful relationship with JCB Ltd for sponsorship and with HSBC for implementing the Award in Corporate entities
• Mike Heath -- Progress of the Online Record Book, to be launched in Asia by April 2014. It is a powerful data management and operations review tool and India is keenly looking forward to its launch and implementation.
• Rob Oliphant -- Training Framework and the New Learning Hub, will ensure that all training and branding material is available online to ensure best practices are shared and available to all NAAs and Award Operators.

Under the new Licensing policy, all 15 NAAs have signed new licenses with the International Award Foundation. This meant upgrading systems and new levels of governance. The license validation process commenced in 2013 and India is one of the 5 countries in APR that have successfully concluded validation visits from the International team. The new Branding guidelines and governance structures were reinforced and welcomed by all participants as they will make the administration of the Award a stronger force in the Youth Development field.  click for pictures

AWARD LEADER ORIENTATION AT JCB-SPONSORED GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

31st October 2013 

An orientation programme for the Award Leaders & Volunteers for JCB Sponsored Govt. Schools in Haryana was organised by the NAA Training team at Govt. Primary School, Ladiapor, Haryana on 31st October 2013.  Sixteen Award Leaders form Govt. Primary School, Ladiapor; Village Govt. Senior Secondary School, Village Jharsaintly; Govt. Secondary School, Village Deoli and Govt. Secondary School, Village Ghogola, Haryana participated in the orientation programme. The orientation was mentored by Kapil Bhalla (National Director) and Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager).  The trainers detailed the philosophy and essence of the Award and explained the four pillars of the Award through different practical activities. click for pictures

SILVER LEVEL ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY FOR INTELLECTUAL DISABLED PARTICIPANTS

24th - 27th October 2013
  
The National Award Authority organised a Silver level Adventurous Journey and camp for differently-abled participants of Raphael Ryder Cheshire, Dehradun from 24th to 27th October 2013, under Special Projects. The group comprised 16 differently-abled participants (12 boys and 4 girls) escorted by three Award Leaders, Maninder, Lata and Madhu who work as Special Educators and two support staff. Five specially trained instructors of the Institute of Climbers and Nature Lovers (ICNL) Kolkata led them on their Silver Level Adventurous Journey. The camp was supervised by Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager). Priyank Kumar Gupta (Head, YES Comm. Project) also represented the NAA for this adventurous journey.

The first day started with a briefing session about the journey. The instructors explained the importance of safety and helped the participants understand the different equipment. They taught them how to pack their backpacks and other equipment while on their Adventurous Journey. Next, the instructors explained the process for pitching tents and helped the participants perform this activity. The students enjoyed the learning activity. The Instructors demonstrated rappelling and other activities and showed the use of different types of rope knots that are normally used on the Adventurous Journey. The participants enjoyed their evening of dance & music and sleeping in the tents.

The next morning the group started their journey to Maa Ananadmayee Memorial School, Raiwala, by bus. Arpit Panjwani (Director) welcomed the group and arranged the stay for the participants. After lunch the instructors took the participants for a Jungle Walk where they were exposed to the wonders of the dense forest for the first time. There was much excitement with the sighting of a group of wild deer in the forest. They also enjoyed crossing a small stream and doing a little climbing on the unmetalled road. After a trek of 3 kms the group reached the banks of the Ganges. The participants enjoyed their jungle walk thoroughly and returned to the campsite happy with the experience.

The next day the group started their journey to the banks of the Ganges near Haridwar, to perform various adventurous activities. The activity site was almost 6 kms from the camp.  The instructors taught the participants rope obstacle activities like single rope bridge crossing and river crossing.  The participants enjoyed these activities a lot and also played with water in the river stream. In the post-lunch session the participants performed another rope obstacle activity, Tyrolean traverse. The evening brought another celebration of singing and dancing. On the 27th morning after the usual physical fitness training and a late breakfast the group departed for Raphael Ryder Cheshire, Dehra Dun. 

This Adventurous Journey was full of fun for the 16 students, helping build their confidence and exposing them to a different environment.  The NAA wishes to thank Maa Anandmayee Memorial School's team for providing support and organising this camp.  

"It was an absolute pleasure having you and everybody else over at MAMS. I must commend you on the wonderful work you're doing by positively impacting the lives of kids at Raphael. Needless to say, it is one of the greatest service to mankind that you are rendering."
- Arpit Panjwani, Director, MAMS 


click for pictures