Wind beneath their wings

They say there are no strangers, only friends we haven't met. The world's biggest student organisation, AIESEC, follows this policy to the tee.u00a0 Run by the youth, for the youth, it gives you internship opportunities abroad and the chance to make friends from all over the globe in the process

When first year philosophy student Karishma Duggal, sat down to plan the holidays after her exams she had the following options. Learn to play the guitar from her musically inclined cousin and gulab jamuns recipes from neighbourhood gourmet expert Chopra aunty.


Delegates from other countries bond with each other in the capital

Or be a part of something more fascinating and meet motivating people in the process. Chopra aunty's gulab jamuns could wait so Karishma joined AEISEC, the largest student driven organization in the world. Today the 19-year-old girl has made friends from world over and "my business card also reads- vice president, communications, AIESEC in Delhi IIT," says a beaming Karishma.

The idea behind Association Internationale des tudiants en Sciences conomiques et Commerciales or AIESEC was conceived in Europe during 1930 when representatives of schools exchanged information about business and economic programs. Today, spread over 110 countries with 45, 000 members it is a global organisation run by students and recent graduates interested in world issues, management and leadership. It offers international internships through its Global Exchange Programme encouraging institutions to use the global manpower and provide the students international exposure in the process.u00a0

We are the world
There are more than 10, 000 Indian students who have benefited from its foreign internship programs. "Our Global Entrepreneur Program is a platform for college students and graduates seeking a multi-cultural, entrepreneurial, social and leadership experience and gain an international edge over their peers," says Prithvish Uppal, a third year student of Bhagat Singh College and local committee president, AIESEC-IIT. The six week to 16 weeks program gives students opportunity to live and work in a foreign country in areas of management, technology, education, and development on various subjects like human rights for ethnic groups, cultural education, youth, environment and HIV/AIDS. "This year alone we have already facilitated almost 500 internships so far," says Abhishek Kaul, vice president, outgoing exchange.

Flying away
"I went to Ukraine where I got to work with students from school and universities and had sessions with them on social and cultural issues," says Akshay Garg, who joined the organisation in February this year. "There were participants from Turkey, Korea, China, Poland and a lot of other countries, I got to network with them. At the age of 19, I can say I have made friends in more than 15 countries," he adds. It is such experience sharing between the students that keep the students excited and informed about the trips. "I am extremely excited about living with other trainees from various parts of the world," says Disha Pandey, who is going to Shanghai in China for 30 days. "I will be giving lectures and holding workshops on topics like Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership in high schools and universities. The time I spend there will help me enjoy an unforgettable experience of a lifetime," she adds with pride.

But it is not foreign trips and career prospects why the students come here. It is more than that. In the organisation's Vice President, Talent Management Kavya Kriti's words,
" We are responsible for developing the finest young minds in the country. That is the biggest kick we get out of it. We are a force of change."

AIESEC IN INDIA
For more information log on to
www.aiesecindia.org or call 9999309391