Tired of blame game, SoBo kids take charge

Change is the keyword for a group of South Mumbai teenagers who have organised peace rallies, designed tees to raise funds for families affected by 26/11, even held unity cricket matches. Coming up: a free-for-all workshop that discusses climate change, and lets the youth decide what career to take up after shadowing a professional from a chosen field

Change is the keyword for a group of South Mumbai teenagers who have organised peace rallies, designed tees to raise funds for families affected by 26/11, even held unity cricket matches.u00a0Coming up: a free-for-all workshop that discusses climate change, and lets the youth decide what career to take up after shadowing a professional from a chosen field

A lot of things changed for Mumbai in November 2008. Even a year-and-a-half later, police nakabandis, once deemed a nuisance, are perceived as a welcome necessity. Security at five-stars and malls is tighter, and the sound of a cracker burst is enough to make jittery pedestrians run for cover.

A bunch of kids in Mumbai changed too. Seventeen year-old South Mumbai student Ananda Boga and his friends wanted to steer clear of finger pointing, and send out a message of unity.

Akshat Mullerdad, Ananda Boga, Karishma Kewalramani and Ayesha Kirpalani are the core-committee members of Youthrise.

The peace rally they subsequently arranged at Marine Drive, was the group's first endeavour. Since then, they've held workshops to endorse global-warming campaigns, hosted 'cricket unity-matches' that saw privileged adolescents from The Cathedral & John Connon School, one of Mumbai's most prestigious, play underprivileged children from the Akanksha Foundation and slums of Dharavi.
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Ayesha Kripalani and Karishma Kewalramani, members of Youthrise's core-committee, first joined forces with Ananda Boga in 2008, to push the sales of the 26/11 tees they had designed, to collect funds for families of police constables who had lost their lives in the terror attack.
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"Our Facebook page is a forum for discussions on social issues and allows fresh ideas to flow among youth from across the country," says 16 year-old Ayesha, urging 14 to 21 year olds to sign up, post their views and learn about upcoming workshops.

Eighteen year-old Akshat Mullerdad says there's no charge for attending the group's upcoming workshop slated for next week.

"Attendees will not only participate in climate change and leadership seminars, but also take part in job-shadowing, to various different career options, and make short films about the city. Veejay Cyrus Broacha has generously pledged his support to the video-making workshop and is expected at the final ufffd."

The Youthrise's Ignite Workshop starts on July 1 and continues till 11. Call: Ananda Boga at 98195 73139 for details or e-mail ananda@youthriseindia.com