The GEYC Dubai 2006, is being organized by Dubai Municipality in co-operation with the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University, Sweden and the Euro-Arab Cooperation Centre with the theme, Peace and Sustainable Development. The convention, a global gathering of more than 600 students, and their teachers and mentors from over 40 countries of the world, including 100 participants from the UAE, held on 9^th – 13^th December 2006. The convention, participated mainly by students in the age group of 15-18 years, deliberated on global environmental issues with multi-faceted perspectives and methods.

Our Delegation India 10 in GEYC Dubai 2006, From Left: Dr. Anand Rai, Abhishek, Suhas, Vaanchitta, Prateek, Dashma and Ms. Namita Dogra		Bagged the Second prize in the Project Work

 Convention objective was to carry of students’ passion for environmental awareness and take up much serious assignments to fulfil their commitments to their societies in general and to their environment in particular. The CLEAN-India students team of Prateek Shetty and Suhas Keshava Murthy from Bangalore, Vaanchhita Bhatia from Delhi, Abhishek Agarwal from Jhansi and Dashmi Soni from Indore and the CLEAN-India team of Dr. Anand Kumar Rai and Ms. Namita Dogra as Mentors participated in the Convention. Vaanchhita was also selected for the Reuters training and as the official photographer / reporter for the event. Prateek was selected to give the closing address.  

The programmes in the convention included project sessions on different themes such as energy, food and agriculture, mobility, poverty, production and consumption, waste and water (presentations of over 120 projects), learning and interactive workshops for students and teachers, study visits, field works and special stage events, in addition to distribution of awards to Best Conducted Projects, Most Active Teams in Young Masters Programme, Best Presented Project and Ultimate Online Learner.Our team INDIA 10 (our team’s official designation !) Won second pize for the project presentation on e-waste ‘Small steps towards managing e-waste’. It was greatly appreciated by the participants and the jury for the originality of topic, team spirit and the Assessment, Awareness and Advocacy approach of the theme.

Before leaving for the convention the students studied an 8 month long Young Masters distance learning course, which covered fundamental environmental topics ranging from Eco-systems, PEMS (Preventive Environmental Strategies), bio-diversity and socio-cultural aspects. Through the Internet they received the course material and submitted assignments after lively and informative discussions. The last part of the course consisted of a project work that was to be presented in Dubai during the Convention. After much deliberation the issue of e-waste Management in India was selected as it was felt that it was posing a huge emerging crisis in our country and it did not has a practicle solution which has to be found. To base their project on first hand experience students did a lot of field work which consisted of visits to informal recycling area, kabadi wallahs, companies like BHEL and talking to people involved at various levels of e-waste management.

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum sharing his thoughts with Vaanchitta

There has been numerous articles about the event in local media. Visit from Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai visited the Young Masters Convention

The gathering was the best opportunity to learn about the cultural and social differences between people of various nationalities, and the convention would be the right platform to transcend the borders between participants and they would get to know each other. Shaping up the mindset of children at an early stage will help in carving out an environmentally responsible and devoted generation for a hassle free and peaceful tomorrow. 

Our students shared some of their experiences with us.  

Prateek: “It was like we had developed an unseen bind with the place. All the same the experience would be cherished throughout my life.” 

Abhshek: “One thing, which is clear, is unless belief is there, miracles can't happen. And that's what this convention taught us! I think that this convention went away like a dream and left just oodles of curiosity and excitement.” 

Dashma: “The five days were indeed great. We not only met people from different countries and learnt about their cultures but in the backdrop of a wonderful city like Dubai we realized that the steps we are taking are not enough and we need to do more to protect the environment.”   

Suhas: “We were five students – all from geographically segregated regions within the boundaries of India. But we weren't really aloof from each other; instead, we were connected with a common band of enthusiasm and zeal! And this is what created the difference there. We were like Indian Tigers roaring all across the convention and blasting of all the myths.”