· Mumbai based rapper duo ‘Dharavi United’ from Dharavi share stories of strength amidst Covid crisis in the region
· Change champions urge masses to keep environment safe
Mumbai, 12th August 2020: This International Youth Day, Population First and UNFPA hosted a ‘Candid Conversations with Change Champions’ who shared their personal experiences on how they have tried to change the perception on Gender equality and their exemplary contribution during the Covid-19 Pandemic on safety and assisting the elderly in their families and community to stay safe.
The conversations explored what it takes to be a change champion. The four change champions who shared their inspiring journeys were Srishti Bakshi, Founder, Crossbow Miles Movement, Deepak Ramola, Founder & Artistic Director, Project Fuel, Dharavi United and Archana Soreng, Member, Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, United Nations.
“The theme for International Youth day this year is ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’ which focuses on how the young generation is engaging on local, national and global levels which opens the doors for youth’s opinion on environment change. India is now competing equally with other countries in terms of talking about the climate change and help the world to be a better place to live in. I feel Education is the only thing which will help to develop the country and when education is combined to scientific, all the vocational training and life skills will bring change to life.” shared Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, Country Representative, UNFPA India.
Dharavi United is a rap crew from Dharavi who have been representing Hip Hop Music since the age of 14 years. They played a crucial role in supporting frontline workers to create awareness through their rap songs on Covid-19 and related precautions in Dharavi. The two members heading Dharavi United, Tony and Rajesh shared, “As dharavi was affected because of Covid 19 with increasing number of Covid patients, we thought to make a video on phone and spread the awareness about Covid and how we can deal the situation without going out of our homes. As more youngsters listen to our music, it became easy for us to make them understand that we have to take care of the elders and the family members and how we can save our life.” Along with the session there was a LIVE Rap by Tony & Rajesh and LIVE painting by N. Ghanapriya, a self taught visual artist from Chennai.
Odisha-based, Archana Soreng, a climate activist from India who was invited to be a member for a UN advisory group on climate change comprising of young leaders from across the globe to provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as part of the Covid-19 recovery efforts. Archana shared, “As I belong to tribal village from Odisha, for us the forest is very important, and when the lockdown was announced, the season of letting the forest grow started. The villagers normally sell the fruits and vegetable grown in the season, and this made it very easy for them to survive in the lockdown as in cities people were facing problems to buying food for themselves, and here the villagers instead used the vegetables grown the forest as their two-time meal. So here we understand how important it is to keep our forest and environment safe and abundant.”
Dr. A L Sharada, Director, Population First shared, "In these Covid times young people have been in the forefront of reaching out to vulnerable people with services and relief. We need to celebrate the youth who are combining their passion with their desire to make a difference and build a better world. We are showcasing them to the large number of youth, joining from across the country to inspire and motivate them to be the change makers, to build a world they dream of.”
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