Feature

Global Youth Service Day 2008
Youth changing the world

S. M. Fahad-Bin-Kamal & Samia Seraj

THE YES Alumni of Bangladesh, in association with the Bangladesh Education and Resource Network (bEARN) organized a successful awareness campaign, art competition and a tree plantation program at the Onnesha International School and College (OISC), Banani, Dhaka to commemorate Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) 2008.

The Program started at 12pm at the premises of Onnesha International College and alumni member Samia Seraj conducted the program. Mr. Golam R. Hiru Executive Director, bEARN delivered his opening speech.

A note of thanks was given to bEARN for its assistance and particularly to Mrs. Nasreen Monem Khan, Principle of the school and Mrs. Shirin Monem Khan, Chairperson of OISC.

Those attending the program consisted of OISC teachers and management, YES Alumni-Bangladesh members, bEARN management, YES students who will be leaving for the USA in August 2008 and representatives from popular television channel ATN Bangla.

The audience, consisting of OISC teachers and management among many others, were briefed on the history and importance of Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). The worldwide commemoration of Global Youth Service Day was emphasized to the audience and promotional material was also handed out.

Students from grades 1 to 5 of OISC participated in the Art Competition. A total of 45 students were chosen to participate in the program. The children were told of the importance of trees, caring for the environment and were told of how they could help save their environment. An interactive discussion was held to enlighten the children on the need for community services and to care for their environment.

After the competition, YES Alumni members performed a skit in order to interactively create awareness among students about the importance of planting and taking care of trees. The skit was performed by Alumni members Sameriah Ahsan, Sanjana Venus and Samia Seraj and was greatly enjoyed by the students. Students were thus able to learn about environmental awareness in an enjoyable manner.

Students were then divided into groups of six and each group was assigned a YES Alumni member as team captain in each group. They were then led into the schoolyard and each group planted a tree in the yard. Students planted their group trees, watered them and were then told that it was their respective responsibilities to make sure that their planted trees were in good condition.

After the tree plantation session, First, Second and Third prizes for the Art Competition were handed over to the winners by Mr. Golam R. Hiru. Prizes handed out consisted of children's classic storybooks both in English and Bengali languages. The winning drawings will be published in the upcoming YES Program newsletter.

After the prize giving ceremony certificates were handed out to the five YES Alumni members who helped coordinate the whole GYSD program. The alumni members consisted of Sameirah Nasrin Ahsan-2006-07, Razewana Wahid-2006-07, Fahad Bin Kamal-2004-05, Sanjana Venus-2006-07 and Samia Seraj-2006-07.

After the program the students of OISC, YES alumni members, newly recruited 2 students of YES program presented a cultural show. The program ended with a final word from the Principal of

Onnesha International School & College, the Chairperson of OISC and Mr. Golam R. Hiru.

The YES Alumni would like to thank the OISC staff for their unending cooperation with the alumni. The institution had gone to great lengths to ensure that the program ran smoothly and the alumni would thus like to express its gratitude towards the school. A thanks also was accorded to the members of bEARN who coordinated with the alumni and helped the program become as successful as it was.