Global Citizen KVP
Mr. Mark Parkinson
Mark Parkinson is an educator who has set up new schools and also lead very successful established school groups. He is an active blogger on education, parenting, social issues, leadership and values development for young people. He believes that the primary purpose of education is to enable every child to have the scope to fulfil their potential in every aspect as a citizen. He has always strived to create a school which is like a microcosm of a healthy society – one in which the citizens are empowered and take responsibility. He also aims to ensure that such values form the core backbone of all communication with teachers, staff and parents. Currently he is pursuing personal research interests in the areas of training for principals thereby raising the skill levels of those with leadership responsibilities in education, using missions and values to drive learning based on ‘Values Curriculum’ and application of coaching management techniques to enhance employee motivation. In November 2010, Mark Parkinson was awarded the Aspire Skillsworld Development Award for ‘Distinguished Services to India’.
Global Indian Lifetime Achievement KVP
Dr. Suri Sehgal
Dr. Suri Sehgal, an agricultural scientist, dedicated his professional life to the international spread of seed science and his retirement to philanthropy for the well-being of people in rural India. Business success and their sense of social responsibility led Dr. Sehgal and his wife, Edda Sehgal, to found a public trust, S M Sehgal Foundation, in India in 1999. Through its work with rural communities, S M Sehgal Foundation demonstrates the values of integrity, professionalism, excellence and optimism and guiding principles that are pro-poor, pro-children, pro-women, non-political and non-religious. Under Dr. Sehgal's leadership, the foundation pursues its mission to strengthen community-led development initiatives to achieve positive social, economic and environmental change across rural India. S M Sehgal Foundation has reached people in 464 villages of Mewat District, Haryana and Alwar District, Rajasthan. In collaboration with corporate, government and social sector partners, the foundation has reached 250,000 and has covered one million rural people by increasing agricultural productivity, managing water resources, strengthening grassroots democracy and facilitating citizen participation through good village governance and community media, with a strong emphasis on women’s empowerment. Seeking to replicate and scale community-driven solutions to rural poverty, the foundation is developing an expertise in rural research and impact assessment as a rigorous strategy and a practical tool for informed action, results and learning.
Lifelong Fight for Social Justice KVP
Mr.Ravi Kalra
Ravi Kalra is a well known Karma Yogi, social activist and environmentalist. He is also a proud Rotarian and is presently serving as the President of Rotary Club of Delhi Ridge. As someone who has pledged to dedicate his life to social service, he founded an NGO by the name of “The Earth Saviours Foundation” to look after the poor, the differently -abled, HIV patients and abandoned senior citizens. He offers them free shelter, food, medicine and daily amenities. Under his umbrella organisation, he also runs an old age home, rehabilitation school for poor children, a Nari Niketan to look after deprived females and a Rescue centre to look after the mentally disabled. He also has a Gaushala to look after stray cows. Ravi is battling to save forests in India, also having filed a PIL in the Supreme Court for the same. He is also known as the “No Honking Man of India.” and is the first ever to trigger the “Do Not Honk” battle against unnecessary honking. Not only this, he feeds almost 250 poor people every day and has so far cremated more than 2500 unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies. In the year 2012, Ravi Kalra was awarded the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Award’ for Excellence in selfless humanitarian service.
