A Mela In the times of Mall!

Recently YES in collaboration with University placement Cell JMI, participated in the Education Festival (Talimi Mela), held at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. It is a seven day community affair during which numerous cultural programs, exhibitions, university convocation etc are held. As part of the program a Mela is also organized where one can enjoy different kind of cuisines especially Mughlai, meet Book Publishers & distributors and see the work being done by different agencies/ departments in the field of education, craft, environment etc.
During the Mela, YES offered the following programs:

1. Conducted On the Spot Personality Tests.


2. Undertook registration for Aptitude & IQ Test, Skill development workshops.


3. Shown Films on different careers using Projector and TV.


4. Organized Quiz Completion in the evening

Response to the YES Program was overwhelming. thousands of people visited our stall hundreds of them benefited. you can see some glimpse of the event in the following video:

By the Grace of God, YES was successful in initiating the spark in the young minds that they can and should to do something worth while in their lives.

We continue to look forward to your blessings and good wishes for our program.

ASK A Question

"A black square box with 'ASK A QUESTION' tag attracted many eyes during confluence 2008"

This is not just an opening statement of this write up but a real scene at the stall of YES- Youth Enrichment Services, a not for profit organization concerned with youth development.
"Confluence 2008"- A Career & Placement Fair held on the days of 27th & 28th of August 2008, has been a very significant event for Jamia- the very first opportunity for students to put up their career queries and to be exposed to various career prospects.

Organisational stalls were the main attraction of the fair. The very first stall belonged to YES where a couple of volunteer were standing against the backdrop of YES & 'ask a question' box was kept on the table, inviting youngsters to put their queries about career etc. Every action consists of breaking the thin layer of hesitation & question, similarly the action started. Initially youngsters with a queer dithering look preferred to look at our stall from far, they agreed to hear what the volunteer had to say, which resulted into queries from many youngsters across all age groups.
From a happy go lucky Jeans clad college going to a simple Burqa clad lady, from a first year student who is interest in music but confused about career to students with specific question about MBA in disaster management. The number & variety of students goes on and on, in no time the box was filled with hundreds of queries, touching upon different problems of youth, career, counseling, placement, scholarships, fellowship and some philosophical too!

YES has been a great success not only in the event but in helping a large number of young, exuberant public to understanding the power of asking questions-the very start point of the process of problem solving.The whole event reminds me of a poster in Archie's with a caption- "Even EINSTEIN ASKED QUESTIONS…." Quit amusing…. but on a serious note, everybody has an Einstein inside.

Similarly every human has some innate ability & hidden potential, It is just a matter of developing it. If you want to cultivate your talent say YES to asking questions to others & asking questions to oneself.

Job Shadowing

A new tool for career search & planning- by Shadab Nazmi

“Should I do Bachelors in Business Administration or should I become a doctor or an engineer?” –That comes in everyone’s mind after high school, while choosing a career and it is toughest to decide a right career at that age. Job shadowing is a great solution used help kids decide about their career. What is job shadowing? Job shadowing is basically experiencing the real life professions under real professional people by spending hours or a day with them.

It is natural to select or reject the options for one’s life but the real challenge is to use one’s hobby and mould it into a career. And there are only a few people who get a chance to decide their career when they are a kid. Let’s take a common example of a normal kid who observes many happenings around him, sometimes he get fascinated towards air planes and wants to be a pilot or sometimes he likes cooking so he wants to make his career in cooking. To help him understand his type of career Job shadowing may be used.
Say for example Rajan wants to become a doctor as soon as he finishes his school, “After becoming a doctor, the life is real easy and comfortable.” Rajan is living in hallucination and he needs to know the reality, but he can’t easily figure out the real life experience of a doctor. Job shadowing will give him a chance to spend a day with a doctor and see his real life experience as a doctor. That will definitely help him see reality from close corners & understand life of being a real doctor. Same applies for all other career choices.

Job shadowing is really successful in European and American countries. For instance during summer time teen agers in Washington DC could be found in Suits and Ties, walking with a senator to experience the real life political situations and works. They work in the White House or in the Capitol Building with some congressmen to build up their political profile for their career in future. Besides, some teen agers can be found spending some time with a business man or with a teacher to build up their profile in their respective career choice.

Looking at the problem of choosing a career in India job shadowing would be a cost effective & efficient solution if applied in schools, where kids spend their most of the time. School can plot a day for kids to job shadow in their respective field of interest. It would be interesting to carve a project in English class or any other class where students could be asked to make a research paper or talk about his day while job shadowing. This would not only add interesting participatory stuff in the classes but will also teach students to learn more about different career choice.

Dare to exchange culture !

by Asma Yaqoob.

Friends, have you ever heard about Student Exchange Programs ?
These are programs in which a student, typically in secondary or higher education chooses to live in a foreign country to learn, among other things, language and culture. These programs are called 'exchanges' because originally the goal was an exchange of students between different countries.

Sometimes students live with a host family, who are usually unpaid volunteers and can be a traditional family, a single parent, or a couple with no children at home.

now days exchange programs have become very popular, it increase the participants' understanding and tolerance of other cultures, as well as improving their language skills and broadening their social horizons.

Luckily, YES have spotted out three shining stars who have set examples for others.
Shahdab Nazmi (18) and Iffat (16) form Jamia School went to US and Japan respectively under AFS Intercultural Program. Kabir (12) from Learnium School went to Turkey for Olympiad. He won the gold medal in it and added his contribution to our country’s pride.
These kids gave their maximum efforts and got selected. All three of them were provided complete scholarship to meet the expenses. Moreover, their school provided full help in getting their passport and visa in minimum duration.
They went there, shared their culture with rest of the world . and now they feel more confident and self dependent. They have rediscovered the world and themselves.

So…………. What are you waiting for? If you want it, start trying now. Fill your self with high spirits and energy and Dare to exchange!!

If you have any problems feel free to ask questions. send your mail to info@yes.org.in

1000$ for a Cartoon

Hurry! The countdown begins. Only twenty-four days remaining.

The deadline for the Southasian Cartoon Competition organised by Himal Southasian, the only regional magazine, published from Kathmandu, is approaching.

In every country, state, province, city, village and society as well as across Southasia, there is a dramatically growing divide. To explore the various aspects of this gulf, Himal invites cartoonists to submit works on the subject Dramatic Divide: The distance between the powerful and the powerless.

Established artists, wannabe cartoonists, new entrants and freelancers are all welcome, as long as the topic is relevant to Southasia.

A cash prize of USD 1000 will be awarded to the winning entrant, with USD 500 for the first runner-up, as well as publication of cartoons in Himal.

All short-listed candidates will receive citations. Winning candidates will also be flown to Kathmandu for the Southasian Cartoon Congress in November, where the prize will be announced.

The closing date for submission is Monday, 1 September.Visit www.himalmag.com for full details and regular updates on the competition.

Please contact surabhip@himalmag.com for queries.

Free Career Planning Course

So you want to plan your career. Actually by making this decision you have covered the half way. now you just need to click here to enroll in a free career planning course.

Remember that Career Choice is a huge decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. This five week email course will take you through the steps that will help you find the career that is right for you.

Go ahead !! and take the free email course.

Week 1: Self Assessment
Week 2: Exploring Occupations
Week 3: Finding the Perfect Match
Week 4: Setting Goals and Writing a Career Action Plan
Week 5: Next Steps

If there is any problem you can contact, Yunus at 09868597660 or email yunus@yes.org.in

10 Myths About Choosing Career

Do you think you know everything about choosing a career? Many people think they know the right way to go about picking an occupation, but they often wind up choosing a career that is unsatisfying. Here are ten myths of choosing a career along with resources that can help you make an informed decision.

-by Dawn Rosenberg McKay

1. Choosing a career is simple
   Actually, choosing a career is an involved process and you should give it the time it deserves. Career planning is a multi-step process that involves learning enough about yourself and the occupations which you are considering in order to make an informed decision.More: Choosing a Career: The Career Planning Process


2. A career counselor can tell me what occupation to pick
   A career counselor, or any other career development professional, can't tell you what career is best for you. He or she can provide you with guidance in choosing a career and can help facilitate your decision.More: Get Career Advice From a Pro


3. I can't make a living from my hobby
   Says who? When choosing a career, it makes perfect sense to choose one that is related to what you enjoy doing in your spare time, if you so desire. In addition people tend to become very skilled in their hobbies, even though most of the skill is gained informally.More: Make Your Hobby Work for You


4. I should choose a career from a "Best Careers" list
   Every year, especially during milestone years, i.e. the beginning of a new decade, there are numerous articles and books that list what "the experts" predict will be "hot jobs." It can't hurt to look at those lists to see if any of the careers on it appeal to you, but you shouldn't use the list to dictate your choice. While the predictions are often based on valid data, sometimes things change. Way too often what is hot this year won't be hot a few years from now. In addition, you need to take into account your interests, values, and skills when choosing a career. Just because the outlook for an occupation is good, it doesn't mean that occupation is right for you.


5. Making a lot of money will make me happy
   While salary is important, it isn't the only factor you should look at when choosing a career. Countless surveys have shown that money doesn't necessarily lead to job satisfaction. For many people enjoying what they do at work is much more important. However, you should consider earnings, among other things, when evaluating an occupation.More: Salary Surveys


6. Once I choose a career I'll be stuck in it forever
   Not true. If you are unsatisfied in your career for any reason, you can always change it. You'll be in good company. Many people change careers several times over the course of their lifetimes.


7. If I change careers my skills will go to waste
   Your skills are yours to keep. You can take them from one job to another. You may not use them in the exact same way, but they won't go to waste.More: Transferable Skills


8. If my best friend (or sister, uncle, or neighbor) is happy in a particular field, I will be too.
   Everyone is different and what works for one person won't necessarily work for another, even if that other person is someone with whom you have a lot in common. If someone you know has a career that interests you, look into it, but be aware of the fact that it may not necessarily be a good fit for you.


9. All I have to do is pick an occupation... Things will fall into place after that
   Choosing an career is a great start, but there's a lot more to do after that. A Career Action Plan is a road map that takes you from choosing a career to becoming employed in that occupation to reaching your long-term career goals.More: Career Action Plans


10. There's very little I can do to learn about an occupation without actually working in it.
    While first hand experience is great, there are other ways to explore an occupation. You can read about it either in print resources or online. You can also interview those working in that field.