DISCOVERING MYSELF IN DANCE

Vishakha Iyer, 10 YearSix, KingsLangley PublicSchool

I have always told my mum, "I wish I could dance 24 hours of the day and do nothing else." This wish has been coming true over the past two years as I go to India during the summer break to train in Bharatanatyam with Abhinaya exponent Bragha Bessel. Learning from Bragha Aunty is very special. When we enact everyday situations in dance she presents the ideas in such a refreshing way that we start to discover the same common things from different angles. The best thing about training under Bragha Aunty is that even when she makes corrections and is critical, she does it with such humour thatI never forget what she has said. As she was teaching me on how motherYashodha was caressing Krishna's face, looking at the way I was holding my hands, she said, "You are holding baby Krishna's face, Vishakha, not a Halloween pumpkin!" Every time I practice, comments like these will not only help me never make those m stakes again but will also bring a smile to my face. I am very lucky to have teachers who train me with love and patience like Chidambaram R Suresh in Sydney and Bragha Bessel in India.

• which are immensely valuable, such as copper. So, the SMaRT centre has been researching solutions to this global challenge which has now culminated in the design of a micro-factory. We are designing a containerised factory to disassemble, sort and process in furnaces to convert our waste into high-value materials based on our patented micro-recycling technology. I have been working on the automated vision systems, drones and robotic arms to augment the material processing techniques being developed by the centre.

Reaching Out To Underprivileged Kids

Brinda Ohri 23 Doctor of Medicine, Griffith University

During my gap year I volunteered teaching English to disadvantaged children in Argentina. It was both an eyeopening and rewarding experience and I was able to immerse myself in their community, culture and way of life. I had always been interested in travelling to South America, and I whilst I was researching, I came across an NGO in Argentina,which was very passionate in helping their underprivileged population. I made contact with them and was lucky to join their incredible work.

Back In Thehome Country

Anindya Bhowmik

27

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from University of Technology, Sydney

I volunteered forYuva Australia and the Consulate General of India in Sydney last year and in January this year, representing Australian Indian youth at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It was a pleasure participating in a Panel Discussion on youth NRI issues at Youth PBD 2017 with the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, and meeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modiduring alunch event.Youth PBD 2017 was a hugesuccess, particularly the Q&Asessionwith an audience of 700 PBD attendees.The three-day main affair from 7-9 January, 2017 in Bengaluru, entailed an inaugural session on the "Role of Diaspora Youth in the Transformation of India", two plenary sessions and discussions about various aspects of NRI and student/youth issues.