Introduction:

GUSD is an exclusive global brand of Audacious Dreams Foundation, India which aims to inspire, inform, engage, enable and empower the youth around the globe towards Global Understanding for Sustainable Development.

We believe this GUSD programme will give an opportunity to unleash the potential of our youth and Indian nationals to empower themselves and community around them. This GUSD visit help our fellow youth to create peace talks, civic responsibility, culture understanding, policy exchange, Management skills, communication, rich diverse experience, field visits etc. We see opportunity for youth to develop and engage with societal issues to be a part of new generation change agent.

 

Host Organizations:

Audacious Dreams Foundation:

  Audacious Dreams Foundation (ADF) India which aims to inspire, inform, engage, enable and empower youth for global understanding and sustainable development. We engage youth in various process of             development from grassroots to global level including mutual dialogue, education, sports for development and peace, rural development, policy making, adolescent health, civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, environment, women empowerment, vocational training & skill development etc.

ADF is working with many global, regional, national organisations, Inter governmental agencies, International NGOs, governments, for the development of youth, contributing for influential global policies, mainstreaming youth participation to achieve sustainable development goals etc. as part of this ADF is having one of the global networking project Global Understanding and Sustainable Development (GUSD) in which we promote Mainstreaming youth participation at International level by various measures using Exchange programme, Interstate/country cultural forum, Inter Country Youth forums, policy making at international level to raise youth voice and strengthening “Be Seen, Be Heard”.

India – Sri Lanka Youth Exchange programme is an initiative made to enhance the mutual collaboration and international peace among youth in the two participating countries. The programme is hosted by National Youth Services Council (NYSC), Sri Lanka and Audacious Dreams Foundation, India.

Lee Shreyu’s Foundation:

Lee Shreyu’s Foundation is an organization that is started by NSS volunteers of Hyderabad, Telangana in 2013 and was registered in 2014. The organization works for nature, cleaning rivers and other water bodies and also bringing global opportunities to the community youth of the state of Telangana.

National Youth Services Council:

                                       The National Youth Services Council in Sri Lanka has been established with the aim of guiding the Sri Lankan youth in the proper direction to enable them to empower themselves to the fullest potential while contributing to nation’s prosperity.

The Youth Services Council was established under the Volunteer National Youth Services Act No. 11 of the year 1967 and was revised by the Act No. 52 of 1968. Over the years, activities of the Youth Council were expanded beyond volunteerism and subsequently the scope was revised again under the Youth Services Council Act No.69 of 1979 giving the status of a fully pledged youth development organization. This autonomous body comes under Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Delegations:

The Sri Lankan delegates consisted of Assistant Director of National Youth Services Council, Youth Service Officers, Youth Parliamentarians, Youth Club Members, Youth Federation Representatives and other Social Workers. There were totally 36 delegates hailing from different regions of Sri Lanka. It was a very diverse group representing all the ethnicities of Sri Lanka.

VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THE PROGRAMME IS DIVIDED INTO:

Diplomatic Forum:

Model Youth Parliament:

As a part of their programme the delegates had a diplomatic forum in India. In this forum the delegates attended a model Youth Parliament session with Indian youth at Scient College of Engineering. In the model youth parliament more than 30 Business students of Scient College participated along with the 36 Sri Lankan delegates. The topic was on the inclusion of youth for nation building and pollution. These two topics were discussed in a larger youth perspective and it was very informative. Few of the Indian representatives did talk on the inclusion of youth in the nation building and few from the Sri Lankan delegates did talk on the pollution in a wider perspective. Then at last students and the delegates decided to work towards reducing the emission as much as they can. One of the business students acted as the speaker of the model youth parliament. She did her job pretty well and headed the session with full potential. This gave an idea of how the youth parliament works in Sri Lanka. Indian representatives asked many questions on the powers and duties of the Sri Lankan National Youth Parliamentarians.

Interaction with Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University:

Delegates then had an amazing interaction with Dr. Mohammed Aslam Parvez – Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) about the purpose, the outcomes of the visit, delegates’ expectation from India and the exchange programme. He also shared his views on the youth exchange programme.

They also interacted with the Registrar of the MANUU University Mr. Sikkandhar. It was a very informative interaction that the Registrar shared his personal life experiences with the kids of Sri Lanka when he was young and living in the southern part of Tamilnadu. This gave the delegates a close feeling that made them to feel more involved.

Adventure Forum:

Delegates, as a part of their Adventure forum, had an intensive training programme at Telangana Adventure Club of Hyderabad. There they learned and enjoyed Rafting, Climbing and Spontaneous decision making lessons. The delegates shared that it was a lifetime experience that they had and will be very useful in the times of natural calamities like heavy rainfall and floods all around.

 

Sports Forum:

In the Campus of Malla Reddy College of Engineering delegations played a friendly cricket match with the Indian students. This lasted so long that they played two consecutive matches. This created a strong bonding between the delegates and with Indian team members. Staffs and Coordinators started appreciating the players later on. It was such a wonderful experience for the delegates that they had played cricket with Indian members at the same time the Indian and Sri Lankan National players were playing cricket on board. This forum helped the delegates to regain their energy and enthusiasm.

 

Educational Forum:

As a part of their Educational Forum the delegates visited many educational institutions such as colleges and schools. They are as follows;

 

• Scient College of Engineering, Hyderabad:

 

This institution is one of the premier institutions in Hyderabad. The delegates were given a warm welcome by the college management and the principal of the institution gave a detailed explanation of the curriculum, its benefits, corporate training and other training which they give their students to stand out. The delegates had raised a few questions for which the management of the college answered pretty well. Catalyst & Executive Director of Audacious Dreams Foundation had signed a MOU with Scient Engineering College.

 

• Shreyas Institute of Engineering and Technology:

 

Shreyas institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad hosted our delegates one day. There the delegates had a very good time and interaction with the college students and the staffs. They wandered round the college and studied the infrastructure of the Indian Institutions. This gave them an idea of visiting India again for their higher studies.

 

• Aurora Engineering College:

 

In Aurora Engineering College, the delegates had a great youth dialogue with the business students. The dialogue is on the inclusion of youth towards nation building. Where, the head of the institution gave a beautiful speech on the youth inclusion in India. Students then shared their opinions and ideas on the education system in India. This gave the delegates a deeper understanding on the Indian educational system and they were able to figure out the differences in the education system of India and Sri Lanka. Audacious Dreams Foundation signed a MOU with Aurora Engineering College of Hyderabad.

 

• Malla Reddy College of Engineering:

 

As a part of their educational forum of the youth exchange programme the delegates visited a premier institution named Malla Reddy College of Engineering. This institution is run by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament Mr. Malla Reddy. This was one of the thirty institutions that belong to the Malla Reddy group of institutions. Students here learned the structure of the education system and its divisions.

 

• Maulana Azad National Urdu University:

 

Abbreviated and called as MANUU University; Maulana Azad National Urdu University is one of the premier educational institutions run by the central government of India. It has its institutions almost all over the nation from the North to South and from East to West. The delegates here had enjoyed the peaceful and amazing infrastructure and environment of the MANUU University. There they got a chance to interact with the students of different departments.

Arts and Cultural Forum

Golconda visit:

The delegates visited Golconda fort, which is one of the oldest forts that is well known for its diamond mines. Golconda means ‘round shaped hill’. That region is famous for its mines that it produces world’s famous gems such as Kohinoor diamond, the hope diamond, Nassak Diamond and the Noor-ul-Ain diamonds in the morning. It took more than half a day to see all the places in the Golconda fort for the delegates. But, without hesitation the delegates visited all the places inside the fort which we were in great surprise.

Charminar visit:

After Golconda visit the delegates then headed to Charminar which is a monument in the city of Hyderabad. It was built by the then Nizam of Hyderabad. It is one of the longer living structures in India. By this visit the delegates came to know about the importance that the Nizams and other rulers gave to the monuments, arts and culture.

Visit to the Temple:

Then the delegates visited the Goddess Kali Mata Temple which is one of the crowded temples in Hyderabad. This visit gave an idea to the delegates about the Hindu culture and tradition practised in India.

Cultural Performances by the Delegates:

Sri Lankan delegates showed their cultural talents wherever they went. In each and every institution the delegates performed any of their cultural performances and made the entire stage to be in shock.

Shilparamam:

The delegates then visited Shilparamam which is an arts and crafts village located in Madhapur, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Delegates had a wonderful time there in Shilparamam’s rural museum, boating, rock museum, and the recreational area. This was a very beautiful place to spend time and get refreshed. Delegates enjoyed their time here with their friends. Here they saw wax statues, stone carvings, natural carvings done in the earlier eras etc.

Industrial Visits:

Lions Club of Hyderabad:

Sri Lankan delegates had the opportunity of visiting Lions Club, an International Organisation in Hyderabad. The proposed visit gave them the understanding on the projects they do in India, the reason of the existence of Lions Club etc. The District Governor of Lions Club of Hyderabad attended the function and shared his ideas on the international exchange programme between India and Sri Lanka. After that the delegates had a heavy dinner there in the Lions Club office and had a cultural event, where the students from Hyderabad performed some of their traditional performances. Then the delegates started dancing with the students and it was full of fun and laughter. Delegates then returned back to the MANUU university campus for the night stay.

92.7 Big FM:

As a part of their organizational forum, the delegates visited one of the big radio stations of India that is 92.7 big FM, which has offices in almost all the states of India. There the delegates had a wonderful interaction with the manager of the radio station. The discussion was about the importance of the radio station, especially in the time of natural calamities. Then the delegates also got an opportunity to see the live radio show performed by RJ J Krish. He explained how the radio station actually works and how the programmes and ads are played. This became an important part of this youth exchange forum where the delegates gained experience performing live radio recordings.

 

Political Forum:

As a part of their programme under political forum the delegates had an opportunity to visit Mr. Sekar Rao, the Vice – Chairperson of National Yuva Kendra Sangathan, an autonomous body that comes under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. NYKS has more than 2 lac clubs in all over India. The delegates got an idea about the how youth developmental projects are being executed and how the youth are involved in decision making.

Recreation

A Movie:

The Sri Lankan delegates had a chance to watch a blockbuster Indian movie named ‘Baahubali’ at the land of Baahubali, Hyderabad. This programme was hosted by the Shreyas College of Engineering, Hyderabad. The delegates enjoyed the movie very much and had great refreshment by watching the Indian movie in India with the Indian friends.

Meditation:

Sri Lankan delegates started their days with the meditation throughout the programme. The meditation was facilitated by Mr.Kamruddin of ‘Heartfullness’ organization. Every day in the early morning the delegates used to meditate for an hour. After meditation the delegates use to have their breakfast and then start their day. This became their routine.

Shopping:

Shopping experience for the delegates is one of the unforgettable ones that they’ll never forget in their life. The delegates were taken to D-Mart one of the biggest shopping malls in Hyderabad, where they bought so many things as they wished. This gave them the understanding on the price and rates of the Indian goods. They then compared the price of the same Indian Good there in Sri Lanka and in India.

Partners engaged/ Institutions / Organisations:

1. National Youth Services Council, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Govt of Sri Lanka.
2. Lee Shreyu’s Foundation, Hyderabad, Telangana.
3. Scient College of Engineering, Hyderabad.
4. Shreyas Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad.
5. Aurora Engineering College, Hyderabad.
6. Malla Reddy College of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad.
7. Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad.
8. Telangana Adventure Club, Hyderabad.
9. Heartfullness Meditation Organization, Hyderabad and
10. Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad.
11. Lions Club of Hyderabad.

The Way Forward:

Thus, this wonderful youth exchange with lots of experiences, relationships and learnings came to an end on 5th December, 2017. This exchange proved that this is slowly spreading and is reaching the governments of different states as initially a few exchanges have happened only in Tamilnadu and now it came all the way to Hyderabad. Audacious Dreams Foundation is looking forward of a delegation from Hyderabad to Sri Lanka representing India in future.

Invitation to the Institutions:

Audacious Dreams Foundation takes immense pleasure in inviting all the institutions and organizations engaged for this India – Sri Lanka Youth Exchange to nominate delegates for the next youth exchange in which a young energetic team would be getting ready to experience Sri Lanka and represent India to the masses out there in Sri Lanka. Audacious Dreams would also like to thank all the partners who supported and made this exchange a great success.