I joined TYPF as a volunteer and later took over as The Coordinator of The Right to Information Branch. Nervous at first about heading a team of 15 volunteers- I didn’t realize how time flew. It was only yesterday that I had 15 wide-eyed faces staring back at me, trying to get a sense of what the project needed them to do.

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 continue to think of The YP Foundation as an organization in the present tense, and not really a figment of the past. I think it holds relevance to me personally, and certainly to my work today. I can say the same for many others whom I have known, worked with and interacted with over the course of my association with the organization.

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!

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Dear Friends & Colleagues,

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

Positive Approaches to implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education with young people

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)

An Evening of Music!

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! ~