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About Us |
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| | The Kendra has a
unique history. In 1959, the executive committee of the
Indian Assembly of Youth came to the conclusion that if
youth work has to be developed in the country on
scientific lines, a national youth centre should be
established, which would provide on a continuous basis,
training in youth work to the workers of youth
organisations. The committee also visualised the centre
as an international meeting place for young people from
all over the world. Since a centre of this type had to
have a certain permanency, it was decided to set up an
independent trust, which would command the neccessary
respect and support. |
| The Indian Youth
Centres Trust was set up on 10th August 1961 with the
following trustees :
| | Shri Morarji Desai
(Chairman), Shri Ram Krishna Bajaj (Managing Trustee),
Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri Naval H. Tata, Shri Ravindra
Varma and Shri Viren J. Shah.
| | In 1960, the
decision was taken to build a youth centre. Although the
building plans were drawn up in 1962, the India-China
conflict which engulfed the sub-continent in October of
that year caused unexpected delay in starting the
construction of the building. The India-Pakistan war of
1965 caused some more delay. It was decided to proceed
with the construction of the building in two stages. The
first phase comprising mainly the hostel and the central
hall was completed and was inaugrated on 22nd December
1968 by Dr. Zakir Husain , the then President of India.
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| Shri M.V.Rajasekharan
Chairman
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| Shri Shishir Bajaj
Managing Trustee | Shri Suresh Ambekar
Director |
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At present Shri
M.V.Rajasekharan is the Chairman and Shri Shishir Bajaj
is the Managing Trustee of the Indian Youth Centres
Trust. The other trustees are:
| | Shri Manohar Golpelwar
| | Shri Rajat Kumar Narain
| | Shri Viresh Pratap Chaudhry
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| | Shri Suresh
Ambekar is the Director of Vishwa Yuvak Kendra.
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| | A pioneering
organisation in the field of youth development, the
Kendra was set up by the Indian Youth Centres Trust with
a view to:
| | Orient the youth
to the developmental process and enable them to
participate I the process of nation building.
| | Foster initiatives
for unfolding the potential of youth through a constant
process of self evaluation and self - exploration.
| | Enable youth to
acquire such knowledge, skills and techniques which will
help them in their personal and social growth as well as
foster in them a sensitivity towards problems in the
community
| | Promote national
integration and international understanding by
developing youth leadership and providing a forum for
youth from diverse background.
| | Promote regional
co-operation and exchange between people of various
countries.
| | Promote research
in youth work.
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| | The unique
positioning of Vishwa Yuvak Kendra clearly equips it to
meet the challenges that lie ahead. While the Kendra
feels the need to grow and expand in response to
increasing demands, it also recognizes the need to
consolidate and bring into focus its programme
activities with a clear thrust on development issues.
After serious introspection, the Kendra presently
envisages to strengthen and involve itself in the
following fields of activity:
| | Assisting small
voluntary organisations by way of providing conceptual
forums, technical training and information support,
especially to those groups working in remote areas.
| | Involving youth in
voluntary action in a sustained manner.
| | Offering a
certificate course in youth work.
| | Initiating
development education so that middle class citizens can
contribute and participate in voluntary development work
more effectively.
| | Producing a
bi-annual development journal.
| | Setting up an NGO
advocacy and outreach centre so as to provide support to
the smaller and more vulnerable voluntary organisations.
| | Initiating
community-based development projects carrying out action
research in rural and urban areas.
| | Promoting regional
cooperation and exchanges between people of the South
Asian countries.
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| The need was felt in August 1958, while hosting the third General Conference of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) in Delhi.
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| | Young leaders of WAY, India considered the
need and with the support of Government of India, VISHWA
YUVAK KENDRA came into existence.
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| | The entire building complex was designed by a team of architects including Mr. Friedrich W. Schwerdtfeger, Professor of Anthropology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Mr. R. G. Desai, Mr. R.N. Kacker and Mr. S.R. Tikekar and Mr. Schwerdtfeger specialized in tropical architecture and his services were loaned to VYK by the West German Government.
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| | UNESCO extended
its support in 1961.
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| | Collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung e.v. of West Germany since 1968
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| | In 1972, the Kendra provided three months training to youth worker from Western Samoa, as requested by the United Nations Development Programme, New York.
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| | In 1974, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) of the United Nations
organised an Asian Regional Workshop for rural youth
workers in collaboration with Kendra.
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| | Prestigious Commonwealth Secretariat in London recognized Kendra's work.
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