IAYP West Zone has set up a model Open Award Centre in our zone, for college students and individuals. Since it’s inception in 1962, the Award was available in Schools alone and offered to the 14 – 18 age groups. The first Open Award Centre (OAC) gives a new direction, and for the first time the Programme is now available to the 18-25 age groups in addition.

The Open Award Centre functions from the IAYP West Zone office and runs training and development programmes at the campus of Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Culture (SACAC). Located in South Delhi, with easy access to the students in the colleges of the South campus and the Indian Institute of Technology. The centre helps develope socially conscious youth groups. This centre not only trains Award Leaders, it also houses a chapter of the Award Holders’ Association and supports the NAA office.

This OAC is a model award unit and offers skills training initiatives and helps volunteer join community service initiatives. The centre aims to enrol 10,000 participants in the ages 18 -25 from independent colleges in our zone, in the near future. The Development Plan for India, aims to build the participation from about 20,000 thousand new entrants per year to a total of 5, 00,000 entrants. Keeping in mind the true spirit of the Award philosophy, the Programme will be available to all without any form of discrimination. Young people in the 14-25 age groups who wish to take up the challenge, and do not have access to an Award Centre / registered School or College, may enrol with the Open Award Centre. An individual who has not been able to complete Award journey at school, may now do so by registering with the OAC.