The South Asian Youth Summit 2018 has selected Priya Dalvi to represent the
country amongst the 450 youth selected under the global theme of ‘Creating a
sustainable future in the fractured South Asia’.
This is the second edition of the Summit
and it is being held from November 28 to December 1, 2018 at Bandaranaike
Memorial International Conference Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The conference
has a unique aim of producing a joint outcome between the states and the youths
called ‘Colombo Youth Declaration 2018’. The Summit will be attended by youths
from over 80 countries of the world.
“I applied for the summit in the last
hours, when a teacher of mine, Ravi Armo, informed me about it. I barely
expected that I would get this opportunity, assuming there would be thousands
of applications from all over the country. Today, as I see the invitation
letter, being one among the selected 450 participants and representing India,
I’m overwhelmed. Getting a platform to voice my instinct, withyoung minds and
delegates from all spheres of life from over 80 countries around the world,
excites me and at the same time, I feel it’s a huge responsibility representing
my own country,” says Priya.
To apply, one needs to fill up an
application on the SAARC Youth portal mentioning his/her work for youth and
community along with a portfolio.To get selected, the International Youth
Committee (IYC) under SAARC has to determine that your work is organic,adds
value and contributes to the community in terms of development, sustainability,
etc as compared to the other competing applicants.
“Perhaps, some work in the past worked in
my favour. Such as my work with an NPO calledMake a Difference (Pune) as a
volunteer teacher, where my role was to visit an orphanage and teach the
assigned students every Sunday for over six months. Fund raising was another
role which I had actively participated,” says Priya.
Priya, who hails from Keri, Sattari, completed her BE (IT) from
Goa Engineering College in the year 2012 and while she is a software
professional, based in Punefor the last six years, she is also a full time
author and speaker.Her debut book, ‘What About PASSION’, which talks about the
journeys of 12 engineers who found success in non-engineering careers, was a
major hit.
“Secondly, my book ‘What About PASSION?’ – a youth oriented
non-fiction book that emphasises on following a career around ones interest
area, turned out to be a means to showcase work in the same area.Also, my
visits and talks to educational institutions and youth gatherings in and around
Goa and Maharashtra probably added to my chance of getting noticed and
selected,” she adds.
The South Asian Youth Summit allows youth of SAARC countries
(India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and
Pakistan) to voice their ideas and concerns and make opinions directly.
“I’d
certainly take this opportunity to share my perspective on how an individual
can revel his life fully if he follows what excites him. This might sound
clichéd but I completely adhere to it. Although not rapidly, but India today is
certainly evolving and the youth are on their pursuit of discovering their
interests and building careers around their passions. At the same time, I would
touch upon the fact that following one’s passion doesn’t mean quitting your
jobs or studies. Passion can still be connected to your existing line of work.
With that, I’d share my expedition from working in a software corporate for
over 6 years to writing a book, and eventually being recognised as a youth
speaker,” adds Priya.