KISS boy to attend UN Youth Assembly
Laxman Hembram, a 17-year-old tribal student of Odisha, has been invited to participate in the Malala Day United Nations Youth Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 12. The Malala Day United Nations Youth Assembly coincides with the 16th birthday of Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani education activist and an advocate of girls’ rights.
Son of a poor Santhal family from Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, he is one among 20,000 tribal children whom KISS has provided a hope of bright future. A student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar since 2006, Laxman has recently passed his +2 (Grade 12) exams and aims to become an engineer. During his studentship he has undergone English Access Program and Youth Leadership Program of US Department of State. In the past, he had the opportunity to travel to Seoul, South Korea, to present a paper on Climate Change under the United Nations Environment Program.
It is a matter of great pride for KISS, tribal community and Odisha to have a tribal student from the state to represent the country at this prestigious international meet, said Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS.
“I will highlight educational backwardness among tribals and efforts that KISS is making to help tribal children join the mainstream societyâ€, said Laxman, who received the invitation to attend the Youth Assembly from the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly last week. He will leave for New York on July 10, 2013 to attend the meet.
Malala became a public figure when she was shot by the Taliban while travelling to school on October 9 last year in the restive SWAT valley in Pakistan. She was targeted because of her committed campaigning for the right of all girls to an education. She was seriously injured but recovered after a prolonged treatment in the UK.
The global community will come together to celebrate Malala Day to highlight the leading role that youth can play in enabling all children to get education.
The outcome of the Youth Assembly will be a resolution urging governments, individuals and organizations to take decisive action to include every child within the fold of education.
