Pakistani youth to donate blood at Indian camp

Strained relations between neighbours India and Pakistan notwithstanding, a group of young men from Pakistan will donate blood at a camp to be organised here to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

The group of 20-25 youth delegates will be part of over 250 international youth volunteers who will arrive here by September-end to take part in the 10th Global Youth Peace Fest (GYPF-2015) to be organised here from September 29 to October 2.

"Pakistan has confirmed its participation and so have other SAARC countries and nearly 25 other countries. The Pakistani youths said they will donate blood at the camp here," Pramod Sharma, coordinator for NGO Yuvsatta which has been organising the festival here for the past one decade, told IANS.

The 'One World-One Blood' blood donation camp will be held on October 1 evening at the plaza of Chandigarh's shopping and commercial hub, Sector 17. The donated blood will be collected by local health authorities.

Sharma said representatives from Venezuela (in South America) and other parts of the world, including almost from all south-Asian countries, from ASEAN region, some African countries, Russia, Kazakhstan and the US are participating.

"We have created a network of hundreds of motivated youth across the globe. From issues of environment to violence, these young people have been advocating for equal human rights and sustainability in various manners," he said.

Sharma said youth energies will be channelised in a constructive manner by the launch of a Global Youth Peace Forum during GYPF-2015.

A unique feature for the GYPF this time will be the inaugural event with nearly 10,000 youth volunteers expected to participate in the Meditation and Yoga for World Peace session, which will be held at the Sector 16 cricket stadium here on September 29.

The festival will also feature the Global Peace Parade for Sustainable cities and habitats (October 2), the second SAARC Youth Leadership Summit, Asia level regional meeting on theme of Rights and Dignity of Girls and Women, fusion of music and dance of various countries, global youth icon awards.

"The GYPF-2015 will provide young people to be directly involved with passionate people from all across the globe. It is a platform for increased cross-fertilization of ideas so that young people become true global citizens in thinking and action and volunteer to co-create a future equal to their vast potential," he said.