India's Youth Parliament, making informed decisions

Everyone needs a voice, no matter how young, says Ishita Chaudhry, founder of India's Youth Parliament Foundation. After India's Gujarat violence and riots in 2002, Chaudhry gathered support to help inform the country's young people of various national issues, from how to control riots to understanding the food crisis. The now 23-year-old holds that the country needed a forum for young people's voices to be heard and topics understood. Now six years later the Delhi, India native's foundation is going strong drawing on support from NGO Pravah's SMILE fellowship and The Ashoka Foundation. Plus, in 2007 they were legally incorporated. Just this year the organization was given the Seen and Heard 2008 Award, an International UK based award given by British Telecom and The UK Youth Parliament to recognize exceptional initiatives that have created platforms for young people. And Chaudhry herself picked up a nomination for the MtvIndia Youth Icon as well.

The YP Foundation's financial and social support of innovative work by young people between the ages of 13 and 28 years helps promote a passionate future. Initiatives range from socio-cultural, economic, legal and environmental issues. Now the Youth Parliament a film series, dubbed the Butterfly Project about breaking stereotypes and raising environmental awareness through the Indian Youth Climate Network's Climate Solutions Road Tour.

more info: theyouthparliament.blogspot.com