Program Report My Choice 2008

 .:|:. Program Report 2008 

Contents  About My Choice!.........…………………………………………………………..3 Execution Report………………………………………………………………….4 Our Impact…………………………………………………………………………6 Innovation Corner…………………………………………………………………7 New Horizons for My Choice!.....………………………………………………..8 Leadership………………………………………………………………………...9 Financial Report………………………………………………………………….10 Our Supporters…………………………………………………………………...11

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    About My Choice!  My Choice! is a program for social innovation, emerged from the passion of 4 expatriates living in Bangalore, India. From the start, we recognized the existence of a gap needed to be genuinely filled; to create / facilitate learning environments about Sustainability for young people in developing countries where their specific realities are match. My Choice! activities took root in India. Our aim was to raise awareness among Indian young generation about Sustainability Issues; leading them to be responsible citizens, empowering them to act and inspire others to act sustainably. My Choice! Model; our comprehensive learning package disclosed several unique aspects: 9 Expatriates volunteer as facilitators & mentors 9 The cross-use of different learning approaches comprising theory teaching, mentoring, experiential learning, team practice and outdoor adventure. 9 Imparting value to all stakeholders (volunteers, learners, schools, community…)

‘By Sustainability, we understand People, Economy and Nature as ONE system that carries whole life on earth, inclusive system to be infinitely maintained where responsible human actions can greatly contribute.’

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Execution Report My Choice! Model My Choice! Model followed a 4-step activity process scheduled to happen between November to December 2008 with the objective of empowering 1000 young people in Bangalore, India. Classroom Presentation 1st week of November

Sustainability Simulation 2nd week of November

What is it? Share an understanding about sustainability issues through interactive, inspirational sessions in private and government schools.

What is it? Give interested groups of students the opportunity of going deeper into the subject through hands-on activities and a pioneer live simulation (school playground).

What is the reach? 20 Expats will deliver classroom presentations to over 1000 youth aged 12-16.

What is the reach? 4-6 students will be selected from each class (20) totaling more than 100 participants being facilitated by 20 expats.

Expected outcome? Students will be exposed to various issues on sustainability. Youth will know and be encouraged to make better sustainable decisions. Some youth are expected to be inspired to get more involved.

Expected outcome? Students will get a deeper understanding of sustainable living choices and be equipped with skills and knowledge to encourage others to be more sustainable.

Sustainable Projects (My School is Sustainable!) 2nd-4th week of November What is it? Facilitate the creation of teams among class-mates and give them the chance to act through the realization of a project on sustainability, supported by a My Choice! Mentor and a mini grant of Rs.1000 (eq. USD 20).

My Choice! Awards Night! Dec 6th, 2008 What is it? Showcase the teams' projects, involve the community and award the best achievements. Raise social attention to the subject and promote the reproduction of My Choice Initiative around Indian schools and abroad.

What is the reach? 100 students who participated in the simulation will now develop their projects with guidance from their expat mentor.

What is the reach? Projects will be on display for their family, friends and school/community supporters. All active supporters of My Choice! and the general public will be invited.

Expected outcome? Sustainable projects realized at Schools will challenge the resourcefulness of the youth and allow them to see what sustainability truly means for their immediate surroundings.

Expected outcome? Highlight best case practices for sustainability as developed by youth. Encourage and support youth ideas and confidence. Celebrate a greener future and the announcement of phase II of the project.

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Milestones Tracker 

Strategic Goals

Learning Experience / Environment

Events Management

Communications & Information Management

Funding & Sponsorship

1,000 youth aged 12-16 benefit from My Choice! model, our learning environment 10,000 people are sensitized about sustainability issues through our communication campaign Our learning materials are licensed under Creative Commons for a free and open-wide use We secure the agreement of an organization willing to pursue My Choice! We create a documentary film, a social communication tool aimed to inspire other youth in schools in all over India & abroad We host 2 Board of Experts Meetings where high knowledgeable experts add input to the learning materials Our learning materials are created We host a Sustainability Training Day for Volunteers (Mentors) Classroom presentations are delivered The Sustainability Simulation Live Day! is delivered 20 Projects around ‘Zero Waste in My School’ happen The Awards Day!, our closing ceremony happen We obtain 4 consistent prize packages for winning project teams Logistics are secured for all our learning activities/events An online registration system is made available to interested volunteers We develop and maintain a website We develop and maintain a social network where youth, mentors and the public connect for knowledge sharing We send out periodical newsletter(s) We receive Media coverage & press documents Photo-document and Videography of My Choice 100% of the budget is secured

  Realized

Partially Realized

Not Realized

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Our Impact

  18 volunteers,  11 nationalities,   4 continents        4 BoE members  with a cumulated  experience of 25  years       Youth Zone!  Social Network  launched        3 prizes with 2  nature trips all‐ expenses paid  secured   

  Learning materials  with a  comprehensive  curriculum  developed   

  600 youth  empowered 

  4 media  coverages  including Times  of India and the  Hindu      2,200 unique  visits on website  

  11  Hour  screenings &  presence at other  public events  th

  10 projects for  reduction/  elimination of  waste in schools 

6 partners 

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Innovation Corner Simulation Day goes Live! On Saturday 22nd November, 60 students from 3 schools gathered at the playground of the Government Boys High School in Shivajinagar area, Bangalore; all present for the Simulation Day! For the next 4 hours, thanks to the use of Gaming Scenario where was created a completely fictitious environment; those youth had a taste of what it means to put Sustainability into life practice. Fish for the future, watch where you step, 4 corners to name few games brought those youth either individually or in teams to opt between apparent colliding choices, see de visu the impact of ones’ actions and have fun at the same time. The attempt of this day was to ensure youth would gain team work and cooperation skills, while learning about resource management, individual impact on the environment, redesigning systems, understanding of governance and design making, complexity of self-interested groups in achieving sustainable change, leaving with a vision for a sustainable future and their role in achieving it. We lowered some expectations but overall, we could feel those youth acquired high willingness, skills and knowledge to make better sustainable choices.

Projects from the heart For the last 2 weeks of November, students worked with a mentor to realize a micro project around waste reduction / elimination at school. In itself, the objective was to give exposure to those youth to actually do something. The 10 projects that made it were as diverse as water treatment, restoring the library, introducing medicinal plants in the yard, running an awareness campaign for salubrity, organic manure. 6th December, 2008 marked the culmination of My Choice! activities with the Awards Day celebrating the achievements of the student teams competing with their projects. The 1st prize for the most sustainable project went to 7 girls from 9th standard from Dispensary Government Girls School who will enjoy a trip to WWF eco marine camp in Gujarat in January, allexpenses paid. Most Sustainable project 2nd prize – a retreat in wild life SAI Sanctuary in Coorg - and Public Favourite – a set of educational literature offered by Rotary Club of Bangalore - went to 2 classrooms in Lawrence Private High School. The 1st prize winning team designed an innovative solution around waste segregation. * Valuable lessons have been learnt from the field and the 3R concept (reduce-reuse-recycle) would be eliminated from next year ongoing.

‘What an amazing experience. Actually, I  think I learnt as much as those youth when  speaking of sustainability. ”    Alexandra Jaimes, Colombia ‐ Mentor 

‘I am so happy, this is a great moment for  me and for all my friends; I say let us act  sustainable. Thank you to My Choice! for  teaching me this.”    Neha, 9th standard – Dispensary Girls School  1st prize winning project team  

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New Horizons for My Choice! We are dedicated to see My Choice! keep running over the next years. Following discussions about My Choice! Sustainability, we pointed out to 2 strategic orientations. We consider investigating their full value potential, engage with different stakeholders, receive your feedforward and only then consider the most suitable options.

My Choice! Open Source  Learning Curriculum /  Learning Partners 

  We offer open source quality  learning materials about  Sustainability for a wide use 

My Choice! Training &  Consultancy Services 

  We match highly innovative  learning approaches with  Sustainability teaching and offer  advisory/consultancy products  

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My Choice! logo as an umbrella visual Youth Education for Sustainability as a unique leveraging proposition Creation & packaging of learning materials to suit different audiences Online community of best practices Differentiation factor for revenue generation In the case of Learning Partners, derived their own content from our materials crediting its use / no visual association

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Strengthening the curriculum with the use of new learning approaches Trainers pipeline/certification Corporate Edition Consultancy for child-related corporate programs Advisory/Consultancy

 

 

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Leadership Team Richard Seshie (Ivory Coast) Initiative Lead / Coordinator Former Socially Responsible Investing Analyst at Solaron India and Member of the Association of Sustainability Practitioners. Rides a bicycle to work.

Raquel Lemos (Portugal) Events Manager Former Volunteer Project Manager at Lalita Ubhayaker Foundation for the Arts and former Communication & Events Manager at Millennium bcp Bank. Salsa dance teacher.

André Maciel (Brazil) Communications / Mobilization Manager Former Communications Executive at Alcatel Lucent India and National Vice-President of AIESEC Brazil. A beach lover of its kind.

Kurt Archer (Canada) Learning Content Development Manager Currently travelling Asia inspiring youth with DAMU Eco-Tour 2008 and former vicepresident of AIESEC Pakistan. Co-director of youth apathy film “Why Should I care?” filmed in Kenya (2005).

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Financial Report Accounting ended 20 December 2008* Rs. Revenues Sponsorships, Donations Team provision In-kind

Rs.

35490 107960 143450

Other income Expenditures Administrative Expenses Logistics Communication & Information System Simulation Day Playing Materials Refreshments Award Prizes Videography/Photography Venues rental Volunteer stipends Other expenditures

3500 146950 (3500) (33000) (2350) (2200) (8000) (50000) (10000) (25000) (9900) (5000)

Excess of revenues over expenditures

(148950) (2000)

* Account unaudited covering the period September 1, 2008 to December 20, 2008 ** Figures in roupies (45 Rs. = 1 US$)

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Our Supporters School Engagement Partner 

                                                Giving Prizes Partners 

Sponsorship         

 

Special Mention 

Board of Advisors 

Board of Experts

Distinguished Speaker 

Ms. Aditi Gupta; Senior Associate at Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship Ms. Reetika Joshi; Former Sustainability Coordinator DPWN/DHL Global Head Office Mr. Vipul Arora, Managing Director Solaron India

Mr. Aakash Sethi, Executive Director Quest Youth Foundation Mr. Syed Sultan Ahmed, Managing Director, The Activity Mr. Anugraha John, Executive Director Global Citizens for Sustainable Development Mr. Hari Prasad, Founder and Director Unlearn To Learn

Mr. Suresh Heblikar, Founder - EcoWatch

  

  Videography/Phoography  Credit Mr. Arvind Shenoy, Madamscam Productions

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www.mychoicebangalore.org | [email protected] | (+91) 9008092614