A Lesson Learnt

- by Aditi Narain

When I decided to write this blog, I didn’t want it to be just another one of those blogs where I go on (in circles) about what a fantastic experience I had, how great and how important the work Pratham is doing is, how many youth we are impacting etc.  Because the truth is, yes I did have a fantastic experience, Pratham is doing outstanding work and we are impacting thousands and thousands of youth across the country.  But that is not the point of my blog. A lot is said about what we do for the students.  I guess the main point of my blog is to share what meeting the youth at the Aurangabad Center did for me. 

"Once you decide to do something, you should give it your best and never quit!" - Shiv Kumar

Shiv Kumar, who is currently 20 years of age, works as a waiter at the Rajputana Resort in Udaipur. One year ago, when he first arrived at Pratham’s hospitality training centre in Udaipur, he was very shy and found it hard to make eye contact with the teachers and to express his views. Today he is a self-confident young man who not only understands and speaks basic English, but also helps guide other students in making the transition to a life in the hospitality industry.

Dr. Madhav Chavan wins 2012 WISE Prize for Education

Dr. Madhav Chavan was awarded the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Prize for Education on the 13th of November, 2012. The WISE award was launched by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 2009 upon the initiative of Qatar Foundation Chairperson, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. This annual event is an international, multi-sectoral platform for creative thinking, debate and purposeful action. WISE also raises the status of education through a growing number of year-round programs. The winner of the WISE Prize for Education is determined by a Jury of eminent individuals of global stature following a call for nominations and an initial selection by a pre-Jury of education experts.

The Laureate of the 2012 WISE Prize for Education was announced at the opening plenary session of the fourth World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar, before more than 1,200 innovators from over 100 countries, including figures from the worlds of social enterprise, business, government, media and education.

Congratulating the Laureate, WISE Chairman H.E. Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani said: “Madhav Chavan serves as an inspiration to all of us. His story combines the passion of a social entrepreneur with the patience and method of a scientist.  His approach shows that the most important resources for successful innovation are a clear vision, determination and the ability to apply unrecognized capacities to a shared cause. Madhav Chavan has brought light into the lives of many millions of people and I congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.”

Accepting the WISE Prize for Education, Madhav Chavan said: "Some 25 years ago I saw that new thinking was needed to improve the lives of the millions of underprivileged in my country. Many individuals and organizations have contributed to what has been achieved, and I share this tribute with them. WISE is pursuing a similar mission on a global scale, and I applaud its bold vision and inclusive approach. This Prize is a major landmark that reminds me how much more remains to be done.  It is an enormous honor for me to be recognized by this unique community of innovators, and I hope to perform my duties as a global ambassador for education to the best of my ability.”

Please click on the links below to view various articles, press releases and pictures:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20272305

http://www.media.wise-qatar.org/2012-wise-prize-for-education-awarded-to-madhav-chavan/

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/indian-awarded-top-education-prize-in-doha/1031095/

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-11-14/news/35110812_1_numeracy-indian-scholar-world-innovation-summit

WISE Coverage Report, 2012

Le Monde Report on the event

Watch the related videos at:

http://www.wise-qatar.org/content/2012-wise-prize-laureate-dr-madhav-chavan

http://www.wise-qatar.org/content/closing-plenary-session-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F9sIE15R0M

http://youtu.be/8C-kljWeKDI

http://www.skollfoundation.org/madhav-chavan-wins-education-award/

My experience at an Awareness Mela

- by Ashvini Sawant

I recently visited the Awareness mela (job fair) that was conducted in the Beed district of Maharashtra. The purpose of an awareness mela was to provide information about employment opportunities to youth in that particular locality and to give information and guidance related to the different courses that Pratham Institute offered. This Awareness Mela was one among the 5 melas that was to be used as a proof of concept.

The moment of epiphany

- by Rohin Kumar

As the last student stepped out of the room, I looked down at my watch , it was 9.00 pm. I has spent the past 12 hours with our hospitality students. It was the placement-day and things had not gone as expected. I had just got done with the mock interviews for our students to help them feel more confident. As I stepped out, the lights in the hallway of our training center in Aurangabad were dim. I got a call from my mother and throughout the conversation my frustration & irritation was quite evident, as I kept on reiterating to her that I had been working for 12 hrs and things didn’t seem pretty. After my conversation with her, I was thinking of different ways to motivate myself and the students, when lights from the admin room drew my attention. It was Avinash, our admin guy (actually our one man army), who takes care of many ground-level things in the centre, from collating data to reaching out to the students.