Glocal After School initiates the South Asian Youth Festival 2020; aims to virtually connect thousands of young minds from South Asia for 3 coming weeks

Glocal After School (venture of Glocal Pvt. Ltd) who is working for the skill development organizing various projects, has organized the South Asian Youth Festival 2020 on the occasion of International Youth Day 2020 on 12^th August. The 3 weeks long festival has started from today and will go till 3^rd of September. The festival is organized in collaboration with various South Asian organizations like: UNICEF- ROSA; UNESCO; A2I, Cabinet Division, Bangladesh, UNDP; National Youth Council Nepal; CYDA, India; CYN, Sri Lanka; Pinnacle Consultancy Pvt. Ltd, Maldives; Dynamic Youth Afghanistan; Maldives National Youth Council; Coca-Cola; Turkish Airlines & South-South Network.

Throughout the festival, there are various exciting segments like: Insightful Panel Discussions; Skillful Workshops and Creative Competitions. Youth aged from 14- 24 years from South Asian Countries can participate in these, free of cost. Youths all over South Asia are encouraged to participate in this event and register for the activities that they are interested in.

South Asian Youth Festival 2020 is organized with the motive to gather youths from South Asian Countries, connect them, share and learn their perspective and develop the strong bond between these groups. The festival is being organized virtually.

The festival started with an Opening Panel comprised of Government, National/International Delegates and Inspiring Youth from South Asian Countries.  For the opening panel we had, Hon. Rameshwor Ray Yadav, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of Nepal as Chief Guest; Hon. Aishath Athiya Naseer, State Minister of Education, Government of Maldives as Special Guest.

During the discussion we had the speakers from South Asian Countries: Ms. Jean Gough, Director at Regional Office for South Asian, UNICEF; Dr. Dewan Md. Humayun Kabir, Joint Project Director and Joint Secretary, A2I, Cabinet Division Bangladesh; Smt. Vandana Chawan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Government of India; Dr. Md. Mozamel Haque Khan, Chairman, SAANSO and Director Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh; Mr. Madhab Dhungel, Executive Vice- Chairperson, National Youth Council Nepal; Ms. Humayra Ibnat Badhon, Senoir Rover Mate Samatat Open Scout Group, Bangladesh; Mr. Pamir Hassas, Director of Relations to IPU, House of People Afghanistan; Mr. Kusala Fernando, Principal, Prince of Wales College, Srilanka. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Sujon, Education Technology Expert, A2I, ICT Divison, Bangladesh; Mr, Asish Thakur, Executive Director at Glocal Pvt. Ltd.

The festival was inaugurated with the opening remarks by the Chief Guest Hon. Rameshwor Ray Yadav, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Nepal. He shared – “I would like to congratulate Glocal Pvt. Ltd. for creating a grand platform to celebrate the youth power. Also, thankful to the multi country organizers for coming together to celebrate the “International Youth Day”, 2020 in unique way. I believe that; 3 weeks long SAYF will definitely bring a solution on youth issues”.

Ms. Jean Gough, Director, Regional Officer for South Asia, UNICEF during the panel shared-

“I am very honored to be here to celebrate SAYF. Thank You Glocal Pvt. Ltd. for putting this forward to celebrate the “International Youth Day”, 2020 in grand way. I am proud that Glocal and public enterprise has come together to support and empower the South Asian Youths to lead the way.

On behalf of UNICEF, I allow to thank Glocal Nepal team on their effort in advancing the youth agenda in the region”.

There are a series of Panel Discussions to overview the situation of Youth, challenges, opportunities in South Asian Level. Also, country specific discussions where youth from specific country will come together and discuss on the topic related with Youths Engagement and Skilling.

Apart from the country specific discussion, other scheduled events include

• Entrepreneurship and Skill Panel
• Youth Social Engagement Panel

These panel are being organized with the motive to discuss about the hinderances in youth sector and solutions in South Asian Perspectives.

There are also Creative Writing Competition; Painting Competition and Video Making Competitions which is open for the youth of South Asian Countries. International Youth Day this year has themed on Youth Engagement for Global Actions and considering the same objective, the theme for all competitions in this festival is “Reimagining Youth Employment and Skilling Solution”. These competitions will not only give an opportunity to showcase their skills but also a platform to spread positive message in as a scope to development on different arena at the South Asian region.

The festival also holds skillful workshops facilitated by national and international trainers. These workshops are;

1. Youth Empowerment for Active Citizenship
2. Public Speaking Workshop
3. Digital Storytelling
4. Virtual Strategy for productive team
5. Policies for Education

A fun and friendly, real time South Asian Quiz will also be conducted in between the festival, where the participants will be asked questions related youth’s engagement in world affairs.

South Asian Youth Festival Schedule

The South Asian Youth Festival aims to gather thousands and thousands of youth from all over South Asia to gather in a single platform to celebrate youth power and capabilities. The festival will bring out productive discussion and skilling solutions for the South Asian region through engagements; competitions, workshops and panel discussions.

The festival also leads in the official formation of South Asian Youth Group where we will have youth representation having different insights, perspectives, cultural background from all over the South Asia Region. This group accompanies young people and its aim is to accompany them to work together to drive innovation and change, participate fully in the development of their societies. Youths from the South Asian Countries can join viz Facebook.