CWG experience will help career-minded youngsters

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We’ve received a tremendous response from the youth in Delhi for the volunteer programme,” says Manjushree Row, DDG Volunteer Programme, Commonwealth Games 2010, who has already received more than 28,000 applications for the Volunteer Programme for CWG. Not just that, youngsters are in fact willing to work with the CWG body, without a stipend. Waiting for their applications to be approved, as they sit through a series of selection rounds to participate in the mega event, what is it that’s driving them to be a part of the games, when there’s no stipend involved?
Dinesh Sharma, a student from Manav Rachna University feels that volunteering for the Games will help him get professional experience in hand before he starts his career in anti-doping tests. “Since I’m pursuing my Masters in Physiotherapy, working as a volunteer in Commonwealth Games will help me in my career and the certificate will make me eligible to participate in the team of volunteers for dope-testing around the world. This is one of the best opportunities I can get at the formative years of my career,” he says.
Manjushree Row further informs that the volunteer program is essentially an opportunity to involve the youth in “selfless service”. “The sole purpose of volunteering is to make them shoulder huge responsibility. In fact, youngsters are willing to work with us without a stipend when they have other options available, where institutes are willing to pay them money to participate in the Games.”
Jitendra Arora, another student, who is a part of the volunteers’ team says, more than anything else, he’s excited to be a part of the mega event. “This is an opportunity that you can’t miss. CWG India would be watched by people from all over the world, so I see it as a great opportunity to be a part of. Also, the appreciation certificate will work for us everywhere we go,” he says.
Harshit Walia, a journalism student from Amity University, who has applied as a volunteer for CWG says, “The only idea of being a part of the CWG was to participate in the event, rather than get money out of it. I don’t mind working without money, but since I love photography, I want to take exclusive pictures of the event. So I thought, why not work as a volunteer.”
For some being a part of the volunteers’ team would mean an opportunity to serve the nation. “Since I’m pursuing my BCA, I won’t really get an opportunity to be there on the field and serve my country, so I thought the Commonwealth Games are the right platform to do what I can to serve my nation,” concludes Namit Vaid, a BCA student.