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