CYP Asia Graduation Ceremony at Annamalai University.

Chidambaram is a sleepy little town in India’s Tamil Nadu State. To an outsider from the State, it would have meant nothing but for its two famous landmarks i.e. a seventh century temple of Lord Natraj and the Annamalai University situated on its outskirts known as Annamalai Nagar. Very few universities in the world would boast of what this 79-year old academic institution of excellence has achieved – a staggering figure of 310 on-campus and 401 distance education courses with an enrolment of close to 25,000 students in the campus and over 300,000 outside enrolled through distance learning.

The University is one of the 8 partner institutions in Asia implementing the CYP Diploma in Youth Development Work. On the 4th of August 2008, one hundred and fifty students enrolled for the diploma under its first and second offerings received their awards in an impressive graduation ceremony presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. M. Ramanathan. Mr. Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre was the chief guest and gave away the awards to the successful students. Others present on the occasion were Dr. S. B. Nageswara Rao, Director, Distance Education, Dr. M Rathinasabapathi, Registrar and Dr. S. Ravi, Mentor of the CYP Diploma Programme.

“This is, indeed, a memorable day in your life and you have been looking forward to it with great expectations. The event is significant as it marks the fulfillment of your dream to secure the CYP Diploma from the Commonwealth known for its eminence and excellence”, said the Vice Chancellor while congratulating the successful students. He also lauded the values and principles of the Commonwealth and expressed the hope that the students would have imbibed some of these through the diploma course. He thanked the CYP Asia Centre for reposing their confidence in his University and giving them the opportunity to deliver the diploma.

Mr. Mishra in his speech congratulated the students and the faculty for their achievement. He stated that the number of successful candidates (85) in the second offering out of a total of 186 is a record as for as the Asia Region is concerned. This has been possible through the dedication of the tutors and the students, he added. One of the striking features of the two offerings, notably the second one, has been the large number of female students who have come out successful (60 females as against 25 males in the second offering). The other laudable feature has been that a large number of students from the rural areas had enrolled themselves in the second offering as compared to the first. Mr. Mishra further added that the primary objective of the CYP diploma course is to create a carder of dedicated youth professionals who could not only work for the empowerment of young people but in the sphere of development as well.

The graduation ceremony was marked by the sharing of experiences on the part of some of the successful students. “The diploma has put an additional responsibility on me to serve the nation and the international community,” observed D.K. Srinivas, a student from neighboring Andhra Pradesh. The diploma also made him realize the difference between “a social worker and a youth worker.” For Sister Nirmala, Vice Principal of the University’s Nursing College, who holds a Ph.D in her profession, the desire to further “hone my skills” in dealing with young people was what prompted her to take up the course. To Sathya, the diploma instilled in her a “new sense of self confidence” and taught her a “new approach to life”. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi’s famous words, “Be the change that you want to be”, she hoped that she would be able to bring about positive changes in her own life and in the community she lives in.