Say Y, Say P, Say YP

YP, YP, YP… the chants continued to reverberate in the air long after the Youth Power Grand Finale 2021-22 came to a close. Packed with the energy of youth and wisdom of age, sensitivity and competitive spirit, tears for a narrowly missed trophy and cheers for the one that was narrowly won – the   event was one to remember!

Bhawna Tuteja, GT Network

Youth Power 2021-22 grand finale was grandeur at its best. No chandeliers, no red carpets, no lavish luncheon – and yet the event was as big as it could be, both on screen and in everyone’s hearts. Organised online from July 25-27, YP finale saw the coming together of Amity schools across India. The event was also live streamed on YouTube.

Over a decade of nurturing socially conscientious leaders, the programme in its 13th edition was sensitising, compassionate and transformative. With 11 participating teams from Amity schools across India, the programme championed a multitude of social causes – financial literacy, caring for the elderly, eating disorders, saving water, saving the environment, mental health, physical decluttering, boosting immunity, sleeping disorder, colourism and hand hygiene. This year long journey culminated with a grand finale, where the participants showcased their work.

Uplifting the spirits of the participants and all those in the audience was
Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan, Chairperson, Amity Group of Schools & RBEF. Jury members, Prof Manish K Verma, secretary, Indian Sociological Society and
Dr Sanjiban Banerjee, molecular biologist and cofounder, AbGenics LifeSciences Pvt Ltd, also graced the grand occasion. In attendance were the who’s who of Amity including school principals and heads of institutions.

Three days of sensitising presentations and gripping videos showcased during the finale, left everyone with the zest to strive for a better and brighter tomorrow. Each presentation commenced with a 59 second sensitising video highlighting the cause undertaken. The teams then took over and gave a five-minute presentation, taking everyone through their journey of change. This was followed by a Q&A round.
Hybrid – we have all heard the term but Youth Power grand finale explained it and how! Organised on the online platform of Zoom and simultaneously screened across various Amity branches, the event brought even the mundane screens alive. The roaring cheers and applause reverberated through the screens, bringing in the much-needed mojo in our monotonous online worlds.

Power of applause remains undisputed! And if you have even an ounce of doubt, check out our social media handles for a recording of the event that almost seemed like a run for the best cheerleaders. Swinging pom-poms, echoes of chants of the name of respective branches, and claps that could be heard even when put on mute - you have to attend YP finale to know what rooting for your team means.

One on one’s are always engaging. No, we are not talking about a faceoff between the teams, but a rapid fire conducted by the GT editorial team members who were reporting live from all the Amity branches. From naming their competitors to showing their victory dance moves, the interviewees bared it all. Koffee with Karan, you’ve got competition!

Words of wisdom from Chairperson Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan left everyone energised. On addressing the audience, she said, “I am so happy, so proud, and so amazed at the extent of brilliant work done by all the YP teams. Youth Power aims to create the changemakers of the world and of this country. By the time India turns 100, it is these same changemakers who will be running our country and taking it to newer heights never seen before. I want to thank The Global Times and their team for creating this social impact programme.”

Ending with a glittering award ceremony, the event sparkled with both tears of joy and sadness. YP 2021-22 saw a first-time winner with AIS VYC Lucknow bagging the trophy, jointly shared by AIS Noida, which secured a hattrick win this year. Awards for various other rounds were also given (read sidebar).

Returning for a bigger and brighter future in its 14th edition – with that promise, YP 2021-22 signed off. And we are signing off too, leaving you to reel in the magic called Youth Power!

“In the current era of globalisation, each one of us is trying to chase development at the cost of the nation and planet. We have failed to lend our ears to various social issues plaguing our society. However, with programmes like Youth Power and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the youth of nation gets sensitised towards these issues and prepares itself for the challenges the world’s likely to face in the future. Since students are often referred to as the nation builders and, in that capacity, have a huge responsibility on their shoulders, Youth Power’s efforts to empower them and provide them with all the necessary transformational tools is nothing but commendable.”
Prof Manish K Verma
Professor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, and
Secretary, Indian
Sociological Society

“From the pandemic to the various territorial wars going on, the world is grappling with a lot right now. Since these issues are something that you, as students and as young adults, will have to face and tackle, there’s an evident need for you to be better equipped and prepared. In that context, thus, the YP projects that you undertook will be very helpful in training you to contribute well to the challenges that are going to crop up, and orient your abilities as per the needs of the time. Besides, the enthusiasm that I got to witness in YP makes me pretty confident that our future is in safe hands.”
Dr Sanjiban Banerjee
Molecular Biologist, and
Co-Founder, AbGenics Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.