TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
“I realized that even a child has the potential to bring about global improvement through local changes,” said Naureen Zaina of her experience participating in the Mission Possible program. Naureen spoke to an audience of students, teachers and stakeholders gathered at Vidyashilp Academy in Bangalore to celebrate the achievements of Mission Possible’s latest cohort in India.
Organized by WFUNA and hosted in partnership with Vidyashilp Academy on 29 March, the event brought together 80 students and seven teachers from three schools in Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Students presented on their path to becoming Agents of Change and shared the results and lessons learned of 14 community-based projects, developed as part of the Mission Possible program. The student-led projects addressed eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, by providing sustainable energy sources to orphanages, challenging gender stereotypes and inequalities, and reducing pollution through terrace farming, amongst others.
Critical dimensions to students’ success were the ability to work in teams, the importance of consulting with project beneficiaries, and the openness to adapt and find creative solutions. Community support also proved key, as students drew from their teachers’ and parents’ guidance and networks at different stages of the project design and implementation.
The event culminated with the distribution of certificates of completion to participating students and teachers and plaques to partner schools. The day concluded with reflections on the importance of providing enabling environments for young agents of change, as Isabelle Tibi, who leads WFUNA’s Mission Possible program, thanked teachers and schools for their commitment in guiding and supporting students and trusting them to lead projects.
The following day, the Mission Possible team gained additional perspective on student initiatives by visiting Angel’s Children’s Home in Bangalore, where three groups of students had implemented projects in consultation with 50 orphaned children. Students proudly explained the different steps they took and showed the physical results of their action: Solar water heaters, a kitchen and dining area, and a paved courtyard to improve standards of living and facilitate children’s play and study hours. These were developed following consultation with the residents on changes they wanted to see in their home.
“My favorite component of this program was working with our community, the Angel’s Children’s Home. (...) It was extremely satisfying for all of us that we touched 50 lives in a positive manner,” concluded Naureen.
Mission Possible was launched in India in 2015 with the support of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF), the Government of Sweden, the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA) and the WFUNA Foundation. Learn about Mission Possible here.
