1. Home
2. World

Singapore publisher launches mentorship programme for KP youth

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/20/2021 1:01:44 AM

‘On Moti Basecamp Six Steps to Success’ off to a start

SINGAPORE, Jan 18: Sun Media Private Ltd, a Singapore based publishing house, known for
Several publications as well as IN Diplomacy magazine, last night launched a unique
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative called ‘On Moti Basecamp Six Steps to Success’.
According to a Press Release, the initiative has an international element and pays tribute to the company founder’s late father who was born in Kashmir.
The Basecamp programme was launched by Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Singapore HE KakhramonShakirov. In his inaugural speech Ambassador Shakirov, said: “It is a great initiative that aims to sow the seed of learning in youth, who are the future of our world, which is always a great asset to invest in. Formal training from institutions when complemented with life lessons from mentors can have far reaching effects.”
During the online inauguration ceremony Sun Media’s Managing Director Nomita Dhar explained that Basecamp is a mentorship programme for, initially, Kashmiri Pandit youths aged 18 to 26 who were selected after an intensive two-month selection process (pandit refers to the Kashmir Valley where their families originally came from).
She also said: “I wanted to start a scholarship programme in my late father’s Pandit Omkar Nath Moti’s name, but when I communicated with Vinivesh, one of the students from Jagti Camp (a Kashmir migrant camp in India), he said “We don’t need a scholarship or money, we need knowledge and exposure”. This sowed the seed of the Basecamp project.” Nomita is one of the programme’s chief mentors along with Sunil Dhar, the President of Renesas Electronics Singapore.
As mentioned earlier this initiative was first started to continue the legacy of Nomita’s father O.N. Moti who was a passionate proponent of education, learning and giving back: “This programme has been created in his memory and to keep his legacy alive, but the mentorship programme can offer greater possibilities for growth beyond just the Pandit youths, to hopefully something more international.”
Sunil Dhar, while sharing the road map of the initiative, said that the 6-month programme will be delivered through regular dialogue and completions with internal mentors and specially invited mentors who are specialists in their fields.
The nine students make up a diverse group with different skill sets and made an impressive pitch in their inaugural presentations. One of them, Mayur Koul, an engineering graduate, declared that: “Upon completion of the course, I would like to be a mentor to my juniors too.” YashikaMantoo, a chemistry graduate, beamed with confidence after being selected and quipped she was: “set to get the chemistry going.”
The mentors have a special role to play as the students will have weekly meetings and allocated time daily to get the complete benefit of this mentorship programme. “The participation and sharing by mentors from Australia, Singapore, UAE, Uzbekistan, was an eye opener; completely thrilled to realise we can reach the Summit of our dreams anywhere in the world, especially in this borderless world. We are grateful for the opportunity,” said Sukriti, who is a Sanskrit Scholar.
The key note presentation at the at the inaugural session titled “Pushing Your Own Boundaries”, was delivered by Special invited Mentor Mr Johan Burger, Executive Education Specialist at the UAEU College for Business and Economics.
The community success story “Too Was There Once” was shared by Mr Paras Kher, an Assistant Vice
President of Credit Suisse who also shared some of his life lessons.