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GLOBAL YOUTH CONFERENCES
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1) INDO-PAK YOUTH PEACE INITIATIVES
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India and Pakistan are probably among the youngest countries in the world with the
median age of India at 24.9 years and that of Pakistan at 19.8 years. That’s a strong
enough reason to demonstrate that it’s the youth of both the nations who will play
a great role in opening up channels of communication and understanding, thus dispelling
the long clouds of suspicion, bitterness and war.
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The WAYE Directors, Mr. Khurshed Batliwala and Mr. Dinesh Ghodke toured Pakistan
for 2 weeks during March 2007. They visited Pakistan to bring about a greater understanding
among the youth of the two countries.
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Over 100 Pakistani youth from various universities underwent a 7-day program in
the age group of 18 to 25 years at the Indus School of Arts and Architecture, Karachi.
Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, Hindus and young people of the Sufi faith participated
in the Youth Empowerment Seminar.
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The aim was to empower the youth as individuals and then enable them to take responsibility
for a violence-free, stress-free society. Strategies were also discussed to take
initiatives for breaking prejudices by bringing together people through music, dance,
drama, arts, sports and social service. Almost all agreed to the fact that since
we take food, fashion, music and technology from all over the world, its time to
globalize wisdom, and not just potato chips and fizzy drinks. The youth thus has
a major role in deepening the roots and broadening the vision of the nation.
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EXPERIENCES OF PARTICIPANTS |
This workshop is very essential for those who want to achieve something in their
life, overcome frustrations, and to stay content throughout life.
It changes the meaning of life in a positive way and transforms it; it provides
relief naturally without any medication or force. I would recommend every individual
on this planet to take this course.
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Hussain Kamani
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The course helped me immensely. I have been dependent on drugs for a while. I never
thought I had the stamina to live without them.
Amazingly, I am more calm and happy. The changes have been so subtle that it is
difficult to describe them. I have discovered a new energy in myself.
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Maryam Mehboob
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I am student of mind sciences and human psychology, and I always wanted to know
the secret of yoga. In this course, the teachers, their presentations, and devotion,
especially the constant smile on their faces, amazed me. This course has really
helped me enhance my self-awareness, concentration, sharpness of mind and consciousness.
And I think and ultimately behave more positive.
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Erum Kausar
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2) International Conference on Integrated Value Education 760 Youths, 300 Educators ,
29 Countries
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Almost 70 young people met at the Art of Living International Ashram in Bangalore
on April 1, 2007 to attend a one-day seminar organised by the World Alliance for
Youth Empowerment.
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The seminar, on 'Integrated Value Education', was in association with UNESCO and
was sponsored by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India,
and was addressed by CEO of WAYE, Mr. Rajesh Krishnamurthy, and WAYE Directors,
Mr. Khurshed Batliwala and Mr. Dinesh Ghodke.
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The seminar addressed the definition of education as a combination of information,
imagination, concepts, attitude and freedom. The speakers also discussed in the
highly interactive sessions, packed with fun filled games, plays and knowledge sessions,
the necessity to break down the issues facing India, down to their root causes and
solutions. Some of the key issues mentioned were corruption, lack of awareness of
resources available to fight an incapable system, poverty, insufficient education
system, disrespect of our national identity and pollution.
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The theme of education was explored in depth, with a specific focus on the following
five aspects:
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 Information – Developing a strong sense of discrimination for sound information
sources and right information
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Creativity – This space to allow this quality to blossom is directly correlated
to sustaining the student’s enthusiasm
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Concepts – The fundamental grounding of any student should be impeccable and strong
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Attitude – Adaptable and respectful students are certain to progress.
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Freedom – Students should strive for this in all aspects of their life.
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As part of their efforts to refine the warped education system, which was identified
as the root cause of all issues, Mr. Khurshed Batliwala mentioned the endeavours
of Art of Living Foundation to have its own universities in Orissa and Gujrat. These
will have practical, professional courses in politics and governance.
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Asked about brain drain to other nations, Mr. Batliwala said, "The trend has reversed
as most IITians I have interacted with, say they want to come back as India is going
to be the most happening place for the next 20 years. Besides, even if people do
go there, consider it social service, we are doing them a favour!”
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The Directors also spoke at length about their recent visit to Pakistan and how
the youth there face the exact same problems they face in India, right from substance
abuse, violence, AIDS, inadequate education and attitude of indifference, issues
that WAYE is committed to tackling. Mr. Krishnamurthy concluded, saying, "Become
the change you wish to see" and encouraged ideas on issues that the youth want to
direct to the decision makers in our government.
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3) World Ethics Forum
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WAYE programs were represented strongly at this Forum, held at Keble College, University
of Oxford in April 2006. The WAYE Directors Mr. Khurshed Batliwala and Mr Dinesh
Ghodke addressed the audience on the need for universal health care for youth. With
the burgeoning population of people aged 15-35, the capacity to offer preventive
and curative health services to this population segment is critical and will be
a determinant to the economic prosperity of all nations. Additionally, the importance
of integrating ethics and human values into mainstream business and political culture
was promoted.
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4) Middle Eastern Programmes
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YES!+ Teachers’ Training Course was conducted for a group of 150 Iranian, Jordanian,
Bahraini, Lebanese, Omani, Moroccan, Saudi Arabian and Palestinian youth in August
2007 in The Art of Living International Center, Bangalore by WAYE Director –Mr.
Dinesh Ghodke.
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5) Arab Youth League
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In November 2007, WAYE Director – Mr. Dinesh Ghodke participated in this conference
which served as a forum for youth in the Middle East to provide their views, perspectives,
and insights on current societal challenges.
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6) Inter-Faith Conference on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care
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Since the early 1990s faith-based organizations have played a leading role in the
AIDS response in regions like southern Africa. Hindu groups, along with other religious
organizations, have mobilized strongly against AIDS in Africa but this is the first
time that such an initiative has taken shape in India.
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In a historic initiative by Hindu religious groups, over 70 prominent faith leaders
from across India came together to commit to incorporating HIV information into
their religious education and training of future faith leaders as well as including
AIDS in their discourses, rituals and festival celebrations.
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Senior Hindu religious leaders agreed to join the national effort to reverse the
spread of HIV at the first meeting of “Faith in Action: Hindu Leaders Caucus on
HIV/AIDS”, which took place 1-2 June 2008 at the Art of Living International Centre
in Bangalore, India.
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Coming together to sign a joint declaration, the religious leaders committed to
working with UNAIDS and the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) to increase HIV
awareness among young people and to end stigma and discrimination against people
living with HIV.
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The two-day conference was jointly organized by the Art of Living Foundation, UNAIDS
and the Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA). In addition to faith leaders, 200
other delegates took part in the event including WAYE, representatives of the National
AIDS Control Organization (NACO), state AIDS control societies, members of Parliament,
officials from the ministry of health and family welfare, UN agencies as well as
non-governmental organizations. Representatives from the World Conference of Religions
for Peace and other faith-based organizations also attended.
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7) Youth World Peace Summit
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Held in June of 2006, this Peace Summit galvanized 1,600 young leaders to advocate
collective action on contemporary social issues. Working in collaboration with the
United Nations, the conference established a framework for participant to develop
socially productive habits, to engage in public service, to meet social entrepreneurs
from the field, and to realize their own potential as responsible participants in
the world.
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8) India Young Leaders Forum
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WAYE, along with The International Association for Human Values (IAHV), an international
non-government organization in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations, organized India Young Leaders Forum entitled
"Building Tomorrow", from 3-4 June 2007 at the Art of Living International Centre,
Bangalore.
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The Forum was an initiative to provide a platform for a select group of young high
achievers (age 25-40) from industry to proactively and collaboratively generate
solutions to critical issues related to national security and the business environment,
especially in the context of the challenges that globalization brings to a country
looking to retain political sovereignty and autonomy of decision-making.
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Eminent experts like Prof. Brahma Chellaney (Professor of Strategic Studies, Centre
for Policy Research), Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik, Mr. Rajeev Srinivasan (Visiting Professor
of Strategy and Innovation, IIM-Bangalore), Prof. P.V. Indiresan (former Director,
IIT-Chennai), Prof. R. Vaidyanathan (Professor of Finance and Control, IIM-Bangalore)
and Prof. R. Vaidyanathan (Professor of Finance and Control, IIM-Bangalore) moderated
and led discussions on topics such as Building Long-Term National Security, Vishnu
in the Boardroom, Leveraging India's Competitive Advantage in Global Markets, Making
SEZs Widely Acceptable - Villager-friendly High Quality Habitat Development; Leveraging
Caste as Social Capital and on Reservations - Leveraging Caste as Social Capital.
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9) HIV/AIDS Conference in Mexico
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WAYE and Art of Living participated in the international HIV/AIDS conference organized
in partnership with all of the major HIV/AIDS practitioners, including UNAIDS in
August 2008. This conference, which took place in Mexico City, touched upon a wide
range of issues, including coping with the disease, medical dimensions and treatments,
prevention amongst high-risk youth, and dealing with the psychological aspects of
HIV/AIDS.
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