Plain cold water that allows you to jump and splash, that gets you so wet that you get goose bumps, get refreshed and don’t care about language or age, you have fun.

After much deliberation at Blending Spectrum, we decided to have a day of pure fun, and introduce paints to the children we work with. It’s a big achievement for us in the project. We NEVER take paints. But the simple logic of water+ paints+ fun+ colour = us won out. We also had interns Hannah and Jess work with us from the University of Birmingham observing how we taught life skills and crafting geography lesson plans for class. Taking a break with colours seemed like a super fun and slightly ridiculous idea.

Blending Spectrum is a project that connects urban young people through a peer-to peer community interaction with street and slum children with the aim of increasing sensitivity between street and slum children and the urban youth. Blen Spec, as we affectionately call it, provides healthcare and non-formal education (including Life Skills Education), building the potential of children with limited access to opportunities.

The project works in two locations, the Nizamuddin Basti and the Umeed Home for Boys with partner Aman Biradari in South Delhi respectively. Blending Spectrum currently supports over 130 street and slum children. In the past two years, we have supported 110 children transition into mainstream education by equipping them with basic knowledge of Math and English, with a 0% drop out rate. Blending Spectrum is currently supported in part by the Global Fund for Children.

Coming back to paints. I don’t know whether I was shocked or surprised by the way children reacted to the paints. I have never seen them so engrossed in class, beautifully attempting to draw something on their white sheets. Usually it’s the battle of crayons and rolls of sheet thrown about. This was completely different. Maybe it was due to Hannah and Jess, with whom they interacted really well with, or the charm of the paints, or the artists within each of them. I have no clue. By the end of the day, we got completely wet and I discovered that it didn’t matter whether it was paint or water.

Children love you more when you are not afraid to have fun.

- Chandini Gochhayat

Language. A barrier.

“Is this your first time at Nizammudin? Will you come again?”
Their first questions and I can’t answer.

Still, taking the hand of a little girl, we’re soon singing our way to the park outside Humayun’s Tomb. Gathered on a hillock, Chandini didi rallies the troops and when their raucous squeals crescendo to an unbearable pitch, Chandini emits a scream that outdoes theirs and shocks them into obedience.

I observe the ‘energising exercise’ from behind the camera. It is peaceful here – almost safe.

But soon paint pots are distributed and painting day begins. It looks too fun to miss out on, so I relinquish my role as observer and join a circle of artists. I love getting paint on my hands. Our pallet is bright and soon I have scribbled a cluster of trees under a sunny sky. Another painter, who poses to be photographed with her artwork, soon claims my picture.

The boys are playing with a football and I fold a paper aeroplane for them. We chase the ball and the plane into the waterlogged grass. I look around. Our elation has attracted a gaggle of spectators – all smiling as though they are living the fun we are having. And soon the paints are abandoned in favour of spouting water, splashing games and children cleaning up.

Water – pure life, pure fun. Later a young man approaches the volunteers. He wants to volunteer too. He sees how rewarded we feel, realizes the importance of the child, seeks the satisfaction of investing in the young.

- Jessica Zausmer

The selfish barrier of language on our part proved to be a problem, sometimes even a little frustrating! Nevertheless I managed to be included with the painting and playful games. They were eager to copy and learn new things, getting me to write out numbers and telling them what they were. They looked for reassurance on their drawings, as if they using their own ideas could be wrong. This was the furthest possible from the truth, as I was encouraging them to draw from their own imagination.

Approaching the nearby broken sprinkler primarily to wash their hands, obviously the simple fountain soon turned into a bathing/splashing occasion for all genders and ages! The children were very patient but always wanted to be involved with the activities that were going on around them.

I found the way the Basti children were unfazed by the lingering on-looking men, surprising in contrast to how it made me feel. They showed me that the men were just as inquisitive as the children to begin with; this made me forget about the countless stares, recognising the lack of interaction people at the Basti may have had with foreigners, in particular young women like Jess and me.

Building bridges and breaking away from the norm was a positive experience and hopefully broke some barriers that may or may not have been there. We helped alongside Blending Spectrum’s tremendous work.

- Hannah Gale

A million trainings, meetings, conference calls, feedback sessions and the like later, came the workshops and discussion forum we had been working towards. It was suddenly a whirlwind of work! We didn’t realize the extent of the impact we were making, but we just kept going on, pushing ourselves and the team to do better.

It wasn’t until the end of the project that the realization of what we had achieved this year dawned upon us. It was then that emails and messages from the volunteers started pouring in, stating how much they had learnt from the project, how they suddenly realized why each meeting had been mandatory, how it felt so good when someone at the workshops looked back and thanked them for telling them how to file an RTI, how they could finally connect the dots. It was that realization, at that moment right there, that made all the sleepless nights, chaos and hard work worth it.

Working in this organization has made me discover and understand myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my likes and dislikes, my beliefs and politics, and most importantly- who I really am. It’s taught me much more than I can point out. It’s made me challenge myself and what I thought I was capable of.

Ila Reddy
Ex- Coordinator
The Right to Information Branch

I remember my first meeting at Tarini Barat’s house over 4 years ago, with team facilitator Harsh Malhotra, both of whom now alumni of the organization, and also dear friends today. To me this is the true relevance of TYPF – it creates lasting relationships and relevant situations for young people to converge and converse, and to create conventional, and sometimes exceptionally unconventional change.

I never believe in pivotal turning points in time, an “aha” moment – they is illusory. One of the key values I learnt during my time working with TYPF as a team member and staff member was perseverance. I worked in the Facilitative Branch (project on the Indian Education System), and as the Administrative Coordinator (2007-2008) with a host of projects. Subsequently to leaving the staff team, in 2008 I worked on another project of which I am very proud – a cultural exchange project with Afghan students in Delhi through film, art, literature and dialogue. TYPF gave me 100% freedom and creativity to source, compile and edit and design a 180-page magazine featuring work on the issue of “Understanding Afghanistan Today”. I can’t think of any other organization that would do that!

I never fancied myself a management oriented person (most of the time I still don’t!), but that experience though challenging, really helped me understand what goes into creating and sustaining development work, particularly in an urban setting, which is volunteer oriented. Though only with research, practice and experience have I really learnt what volunteer management, project management or program development are – I cannot honestly say I would have had the confidence to move out of TYPF and begin Music Basti. I owe the staff team and projects at TYPF for their trust in and encouragement to me.

By mid 2008, I had realized that I wanted to go back to music, but to also carry forward a social conscience, which was growing within me, which still is. Writing now, two years hence I realize that I have learnt so much, yet so little since that time. The struggles become easier in some respects, and harder in others. Most people will scoff at this reference, “We’re never gonna win the world, we’re never gonna stop the war, we’re never gonna beat this, if belief is what we’re fighting for. What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand? Belief can” (John Mayer, “Belief”)

I find myself confronted constantly with the dilemma of not knowing what is enough, when to stop. I started Music Basti as a collective – to collaborate and create music to make a difference and to change people’s lives. Is it enough? Truthfully, sometimes even I really don’t think so. But it changes people’s lives – and that is what matters, and continues to matter.

In 2008 when Music Basti began implementing workshops with the “Dil Se” Campaign, Aman Biradari along with many key artistes, musicians and mentors, it made a difference to my life, and to the attitudes of everyone we worked with. It unraveled a world often unvisited by us; it triggered conversation, laughter, tears and most importantly lasting relationships. TYPF played a critical role in assisting Music Basti to launch its program, through infrastructural support, planning assistance and volunteer help. Music Basti’s first public program at India Habitat Center in November 2008 was co-hosted with TYPF – which was a showcase of a documentary film about the pilot project Music Basti, a concert by supporting band Advaita and a photography exhibition documenting music- workshops by Shiv Ahuja.

With the completion of many successful projects in 2008-2009, I graduated in 2009 and have been working full time with Integrated Development Education Association, of which Music Basti is a part. The program has scaled up its activities; outreach and most significantly, broadened its vision. TYPF has been a constant actor and support in this process, along with many other organizations and institutions who have joined in to support Music Basti including Aman Biradari, Bridge Music Academy, EFICOR, Gibson Foundation, Project Ahimsa, Furtados Music India among others. Music Basti was selected for the Change Looms (DAC program) in July 2009 (Pravah and Ashoka).

What encourages me is the process we believe in – to give children voices where they have had none, to give our team of volunteers and musicians an engaging and distinctive musical opportunity and to promote the shared vision of these voices. I believe strongly that children’s voices need to be heard – that they have important things to say. There are many ways to listen to these voices and music is one.

Music has the unique ability to transcend differences and to promote cooperation, positivity in the group and self, laughter and enthusiasm. The right to expression exists on the premise that participation and inclusivity exist, which unfortunately they often do not, particularly for children who are marginalized from society or subjugated by it.
An example of a project Music Basti is currently doing in July 2010 Music Basti is doing a project with UK based producer Ian Wallman, with Andrew Dubber and Jez Collins who are members of the Interactive Cultures Research Unit and are behind the Music As Culture project, to record an album of children’s songs, performed by children affected by poverty, homelessness and abuse. The album will be released online to showcase the change music effects in these children’s lives through music.

This piece will never be a cohesive one. Its timeline swings back and forth to reveal an outstanding relationship that is important to me personally and professionally. I still value my commitment to TYPF in the time and capacity I can offer, and work with assisting their projects and teams when possible. TYPF and its Founder, Ishita Chaudhry have consistently supported my programs, events and mission from the inception of Music Basti. I admire organizations that are carried by individuals with a vision and a perspective for change, and those who are armed with perseverance, because this work is far more often not easy than it is effortless – TYPF is one such organization.

We turn 8 years old today!

Over the past 8 years, we have been privileged to have the investment and guidance of some of the most incredible mentors, volunteers, alumni, staff members and partner organizations.

On behalf of the organizational staff, members and Board of Directors, I take this opportunity to express our sincerest appreciation for your encouragement and contribution to the various programs of March 2009- 2010. We are deeply grateful for your support and generosity.

TYPF was founded as The Youth Parliament on July 26, 2002 as a response by young people in schools to the Godhra Riots addressing the growing indifference and apathy amongst youth in urban Delhi. The question we asked ourselves when we began TYPF was – What can we each do to challenge and change this?

Our core focus is on creating programmes and influencing policy in the areas of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts and governance.

Our mission is to promote, protect and advance young people’s human rights by building leadership, and strengthening youth led initiatives and movements.

Read a detailed account of the YP Foundation’s progress this year

Capacity Building Workshop, 6th to 8th September 2010, New Delhi

Organized by The YP Foundation and The International Planned Parenthood Federation- South Asia Regional Youth Network (IPPF SARYN), supported by The Girls Decide Campaign.

About The Workshop

An approach to addressing sexuality that considers an abstinence-only or non-comprehensive approach to providing information to empower young people to address their health and rights is in an approach that no longer works to address the growing misconceptions on sexuality and health amongst young people, restricting access to youth friendly, confidential and safe health services. Based on this premise; the workshop aims to address the following issues:

- The workshop aims at providing young people with an overview of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS), to empower young people working with initiatives that focus on young people’s health and rights to access the skills, information and tools available.

- Advancing young people’s right to access comprehensive services and information regarding their sexuality, health and rights, particularly addressing that their sexual rights are human rights.

- Realizing and investing in Human Rights as supporting choice, respect diversity, equality and justice that are often compromised on, and not seen as a part of young people’s right to health.

The workshop comprises of interactive sessions that will be conducted by peer educators from the organization as well as external professionals and partner organizations working in the fields of Gender, Sexuality, Health and Rights, with a particular emphasis on work with access to information and services, research and advocacy.

Applications are due by 20th August 2010

Participants - All applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 26 years at the time of submitting their application. All applicants must have prior experience of working with YFHS or CSE for young people, either as full time or part time work or volunteer experience. Please note that this is a mandatory requirement for participation. As per mandate, 17 seats are reserved for women and girls.

Please download the application form and the concept note for more details. Final applications are to be submitted to divya@theypfoundation.org

Download Concept Note (PDF)

Download Application (Doc)

The YP Foundation in collaboration with The Kri Foundation present an evening of music featuring Members of The Texas (TPSMEA) All-State Choir, Chayan Adhikari (Advaita), Adhir Ghosh (Five8), Faith Gonsalves and Ishita Chaudhry (Social Entrepreneurs and Singers), Dharna Noor (Western Classical and Folk), Gangotri (Indian Folk) & Cobbled Street (Funk Jazz).

Date: 5th August
Time: 7 pm
Venue: India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road.

For any queries please contact +91 9910337160 / +91 9811073010

We look forward to seeing you there!

~ Entry is Free. Bring your friends! ~

I wrote :

“Because I can. Because I want to be a child again. Because I want to learn how to work with 125 children and understand their quirks, their spectrum of emotions and their thirst for knowledge. Because I want to help them.

Because I want them to help me. Because I am an artist a sportsman or just a person who wants to impart their skills to children. Because I want to have fun! And just play with them. To understand how individuals from different backgrounds are beautiful and interesting and driven, kind and selfless yet naughty and angry and fun. To understand them and let them understand us.

Why me? Because every you can make a million me’s and all of us together want to make a difference.”

What I didn’t write was that it’s not just the children that become a part of you it’s the people you work with. In this organization the thing that I have learnt from the most and learnt to value the most are the people that I have met. Our entire volunteer team has been driven, committed, passionate, vibrant and just so much fun. We have stuck it out together through grueling training sessions, insane on location visits, fights over what to do next, moments when we watched the organization flourish, bits where it wasn’t so rosy but we were in it together for the most part.

My favorite memory of last year would have to be when we had the blending spectrum annual day! All of us were working with the kids on dance numbers, songs, and an art exhibit. That day I got to see Pankaj, the hard working LSC team member, who is passionate in a silent sort of way wearing a dance costume with pink flowers behind his ear dancing to All is well with 30 children next to him with this energy that I had never seen before! Every volunteer, staff member, individual present at that event would second me when I say that for our team it was an epic closing, not grand but epic. We packed up that day and just sat around eating ice cream with a bunch of kids.

All the many people that I have worked with in the last 2 years have helped me understand how I work , What they brought to this organization has been phenomenal! Our project would be no where near where it is now if it wasn’t for each person who has contributed to it’s growth in the last 4 years.

Aditi Kaul

Project Head,
Blending Spectrum

Earlier this evening, one of the groups struck up a conversation about how the YP has given us the space to make realizations that we often take for granted today about the lack of power, rights and privilege faced by young people and what we can each do, in order to change that. Many of them notice the changes it has made in their approach to their work, their sensibilities, their decisions, and experienced shock when they graduated and actually saw how excluded young people are from development and policy spaces in India. They realized how much needs to be done to ensure that all young people’s human rights can be recognized. We rested on the agreement that there are far too many gaps between young people who work at the field level, with communities and at larger international policy tables, or those who live in the glasshouse comfort of their homes.

What we’ve learned through our years at The YP Foundation, I think, was not that all young people are the same or have the same values, but that building bridges between differences and diversities is where a youth movement, or a proactive movement of change for and by young people, lies.

When I look at these friends and colleagues whom I have mentored and trained at different points and times throughout their lives, and who have trained and challenged and taught me as well, I have no doubt that they will impact the years to come in India in solid, concrete and positive ways. We’ve grown so much, from where we first where, when we came together- in how we respect and understand ourselves, and each other. And yet, the fundamental understanding that we shifted as people in the years that we worked together at the YP remains as common thread – one that I think will bind all of us, for a long time to come.

TYPF is about helping young people help themselves, to challenge the world around them, to change it for the better. Our relationships with our work are about our relationships with those we have worked with, and the solidarity we have learned so much more about. I complete 8 years of working with this organization on the 26th of July 2010. I can almost trace for you, the trajectory of growth I have made. I could imagine a lot of different decisions, choices and possibilities, but I cannot imagine never having met these people. I met them here, at the YP.

Ishita Chaudhry
Chief Executive Officer

THE YP FOUNDATION (TYPF) BEGINS ITS INDUCTIONS THIS MONTH for young people who would like to volunteer and work with us in 2010.

DONATE YOUR TIME FOR A CAUSE – JOIN TYPF!

When: You can join us on either one of the 3 days:
July 31, 2010; August 7, 2010 & August 14, 2010

Time:
4.30p – 6.30p

Venue:
American Center, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.

The YP Foundation is a youth run and led organization that supports and enables young people to create programmes and influence policies in the areas of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts & governance.

The organization promotes, protects and advances young people’s human rights by building leadership, and strengthening youth led initiatives and movements. Founded in 2002, we have worked over the last 8 years directly with 5,000 young people to set up over 200 projects in India, reaching out to 300,000 young people.

For more information:

Please call 011.46792244 or email at yp.volunteer.mangagement@gmail.com or log onto our website www.theypfoundation.org

If you feel strongly about addressing issues of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts & governance, WHY WAIT?

Join The YP Foundation. Voice your opinions. Work and make a difference.

* If you’re interested, please RSVP and email us to confirm your attendance.

* Please carry any valid photo identification to the venue (sorry, security regulations!)

Let us know what you think?