Mumbai ,August 13, 2010, The Indian Federation of United Nations Association –(IFUNA), Maharashtra United Nations Association – (MUNA), United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan- (UNIC) New Delhi in collaboration with SNDT Women’s University Mumbai have jointly launched International Year of Youth 2010-2011 in Mumbai along with Film stars, entrepreneurs, academicians, Lawyers, administrators and young Students.

The UN-proclaimed International Year of Youth was launched in Mumbai at S.N.D.T. Women’s University on August 13, 2010 at the Auditorium of the University’s Juhu Campus. The Launch was marked by a formal program followed by a cultural program organized and arranged by the students of the University. The University was chosen to launch the year because of its pan-India presence (National Jurisdiction) and so that a larger number of youth are reached.

The Vice-Chancellor of S.N.D.T. Women’s University who is the guiding soul and extremely encouraging human being, Prof. Dr. Chandra Krishnamurthy, Registrar, Dr. Madhu Madan, Executive Chairperson MUNA and Vice President IFUNA Ms. Mohini Mathur, Assistant information officer of UNIC New Delhi, Ms.Rineeta Naik,  campus in-charge, Dr.Chandrakant Puri, The Hon. Secretary MUNA and IFUNA Executive Committee Member, Adv. Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh graced the occasion and gave inspiring speeches to encourage the young students to actively participate and contribute their part.
Film Actor Ruslaan Mumtaz and entrepreneur and Former Miss Morocco Imane Karouach, were special guest at the event who motivated student and young members of the society with their personal experience.

From Corporate world Mr. Gurvinder Pal Singh Kalra and Mr. Abhishek Pai and from Legal Field Secretary of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa Ms. Varsha Rokade was also felicitated as Youth Icons.
Advocate Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh Introduced the programme and mentioned in his address about the significance of the year and further said that “The World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), adopted by the General Assembly, provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world. The WPAY covers fifteen youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas.
Each of the fifteen priority areas identified by the international community is presented in terms of principal issues, specific objectives and the actions proposed to be taken by various actors to achieve those objectives. Objectives and actions reflect the three themes of International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace; they are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.
The fifteen fields of action identified by the international community are education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and the full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making, as well as globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, and intergenerational issues. “
The year commencing on 12 August 2010 and will end on 11 August 2011. It has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Year of Youth. The Year was initiated to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, from enhancing peace to boosting economic development. The theme for the Year is “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding” and is aimed to strap up the talents and energy of the world’s young people to promote better understanding and dialogue between different generations, cultures and religions, and to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity. More significantly, the theme also seeks to encourage young people to dedicate themselves to fostering progress, including the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Dignitaries have also released booklet on the International Year of Youth published by United Nations New York.

The cultural program started with Deep Yoga performed by the Sports Department students, a form of Yoga in which lit diya is kept on the forehead of the performer and the performer displays various startling poses. It is a very difficult form of yoga requiring tremendous concentration and flexibility at the same time. A Lavni Dance was performed by Kiran Tiwari, a second year student of S.N.D.T. Women’s University’s Law School. Also, there was a short skit highlighting the problems faced by the youth by the students of Human Development Department (HDD) which was coordinated by one of the faculty of HDD Dr. Reeta Sonawat

The fusion dance performed by young girls was greatly enjoyed by the audience. The song ‘WE shall overcome’ also saw the audience getting elated and joining the singers in singing the song and clapping. A parade of Law students dressed in saffron, white and green sarees draped in different ways depicting various cultures of India formed a human flag and ended the cultural program with the national anthem.

The audience along with the guests came out of the auditorium and released the balloons to mark the launch of the International Year of Youth. The launch was indeed full of energy and enthusiasm as is witnessed in any and every youth activity. The launch was a grand success and was well covered by Media with the effort of Director Jankidevi Bajaj institute of Management Studies - Dr. Gulnar Sharma