Amity International Schools together with "The Global Times", an Amity Newspaper organised the Grand Finale of "Youth Power 2008- 09" at Amity University, Sector- 125, Noida which aimed to identify youth envoys from eight Amity International Schools who would work to root out several social issues haunting the society.

The event provided a platform for the students to interact with iconic achievers and media professionals including Ms. Santosh Yadav, the first woman to climb Mt Everest twice, Mr Punya Prasun Bajpai- Consulting Editor, Zee News, Mr. Shubham Mukherjee- Editor, Sunday Economic Times and Ms Poonam Singh Jamwal- CMO Extramarks.com.

Reacting to the presentation of a finalist on gender discrimination, the Chief Guest Ms. Santosh Yadav shared her own experience as to how despite several hardships and reservations of her conservative family, she pursued her studies and realized her dream of climbing Mt. Everest. She called upon the society to change their outlook and attitude towards girl children and encourage them to fulfill their dreams. She remarked that youth power is the foundation of the country''''''''s progress and it is the responsibility of mothers to unleash and channelize the power of the youth in a proper manner. If society and world are progressing it is because of the mothers, who share 70% of the credit. She stressed upon the importance of proper upbringing of children and their emotional bonding with the parents for their social, mental and physical well being. She called upon the students to cultivate love, passion and "Junoon" for learning rather than for glory, which is short lived and gives evasive happiness.

Sharing some nuggets of wisdom with the students, Mr. Punya Prasun Bajpai called for a change in outlook and priorities of Indians, who would not mind spending 2.5 lakhs for being the proud owner of a brand new Maruti Car but would not shell out 2 lakhs for opening a primary school in far flung and remote areas, which can be instrumental in providing basic education to the underprovided children.

Launching the website of Global Times newspaper "www.theglobaltimes.in", Dr. (Mrs.) Amita Chauhan- Chairperson, Amity International Schools said that it''s a historic occasion for the newspaper, which will ease its access by the students for sharing their ideas and creativity. Dwelling on the reason behind organizing "Youth Power 2008- 09" contest, she said that students needed an appropriate platform to work for the society and against the social evils, which have spread their tentacles in the society. She applauded the incisive research done by all the students in their respective areas and the efforts put in by them to bring about a change in the society.

Dr. Ashok Chauhan- Founder, Amity Universe compared the youth power with the power unleashed by the explosion of an Atom Bomb. He shared that youth power, if guided in the right direction can change the country and change the world. He also announced the launching of "Amity Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports", which will work under the able guidance of Ms. Santosh Yadav.

During the Grand Finale, eight finalists from Amity International Schools and Amity Indian Military College took up various social issues like road rage, junk food, smoking, girl foeticide, bullying, child labor and illiteracy, substantiating their viewpoints and presentations with adequate statistical information and surveys carried on in their localities by the finalists.

They were adjudged by Mr. Shubham Mukherjee- Editor, Sunday Economic Times and Ms Poonam Singh Jamwal- CMO Extramarks.com.

Ruchi Avatar from Amity International School, Vasundhara became the proud winner of “ Youth Power” and Akhil Bharadwaj from Amity International School, Saket and Ashima Khanna from Amity International School, Noida won the first runner''''s up prize and the second runner''''s-up prize respectively.All other participants including Utkarsh Rathi from Class VIII, Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, Purshottam Sharma from Class XII, Amity Indian Military College, Manesar, Gurgaon, Satrajit Sahni from Class IX, Amity International School ,East Delhi, Procheta Chattaraj from Class IX, Amity International School , Gurgaon, Sector-43 and Sayesha Bhattarchraya- Class VII, Amity International School , Gurgaon, Sector-46 were given participation certificates.