SHILLONG, Nov 3: Joining the others in the Aspire Meghalaya District Talent Events 2022 which commenced on October 6, campuses of Aspire Meghalaya programme in East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts on Thursday witnessed the display of 22 talents from six campuses in Khliehriat, EJH, 21 more from five campuses in Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi, and 22 talents from 5 campuses in Mawkyrwat, SWKH.
The District Talent Events will conclude with the West Garo Hills chapter’s event in Tura on November 8.
In East Jaintia Hills, Aishwadaka Dkhar (Singing) of Class 9, Rymbai Government Secondary School; Torimame Dkhar (Singing) of Class 9, Sutnga Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, and Shreya Pal (Art & Craft), of Class 12, Jaintia Eastern College, were recognised as the Aspire Meghalaya District Stars.
From Ri-Bhoi, Anyzza Lyngdoh (Singing), a BA 3rd semester student from Ri-Bhoi College; Banisha Kharsyntiew (Singing), Class 11, and Ribanshanbok Mawlong (Singing), Class 12 from Ferrando Higher Secondary School, Nongpoh, were recognised as the Aspire Meghalaya District Stars from Ri-Bhoi.
Richard Marwein (Art & Craft), Class 11 from Nativity Higher Secondary School, Excellency Turnia (Musical Instruments), BA 1st Semester from Sngap Syiem College, and Phibalari Thongni (Dancing), Class 9, St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Rangblang, were recognised as the Aspire Meghalaya District Stars from South West Khasi Hills.
A key highlight of the events was the felicitation of campuses which participated in the Meghalaya Youth Survey 2022 and Soft Skills Training interventions under Aspire Meghalaya. As many as 18 campuses from East Jaintia Hills, 25 from Ri-Bhoi and 14 from South West Khasi Hills were felicitated at the respective event locations.
The significance of the Aspire Meghalaya initiative is the identification of amateur talents from across the state. Talent discovery platforms were integrated into the campus training interventions that have seen the emergence of 350 promising talents from across districts in talent spaces varying from singing, dancing, spoken word, sport performance and visual arts.
Top 3 talents are selected by a panel of District Talent Committee members at each district event. A total of 36 District Stars will converge at a state-level summit where ‘Top State Stars’ will be recognised. The District Talent Committee comprises officials from the Education and Sports and Youth Affairs departments, as well as renowned personalities in various art spaces.
In his speech at the event in Mawkyrwat, PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar appreciated the vision to engage youths with a programme like Aspire Meghalaya.
He went on to talk about how despite having the ideas and thoughts, the youths cannot express themselves with clarity because they believe are not gifted when it comes to spoken English. He said, “English is a foreign language, but I want to encourage you to speak whatever English you know, with courage. Don’t feel shy and don’t fear that your grammar may be wrong here and there.”
He continued by saying that the youth are the future of the State and empowering them today will help them achieve much as future leaders of the state. “You have been given this opportunity to build your confidence at this young age, and I know that because of this you will do better and succeed,” he said.
In Khliehriat, EJH, Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla, in his address, advised the students not to resort to comparison as each of their talents are unique, and urged them to work at improving their own skill set. “When you have a gift, be it your talent, your heart or your experience, share it with everyone. We all want to see and touch the stars, but today I have been blessed to see with my own eyes, stars emerging from amongst us. We need to open our eyes, recognise them, provide them the guidance they need so that one day they will guide us and the State to greater heights,” he added.
Speaking at the event in Nongpoh, Commissioner and Secretary, Arts and Culture department, Frederick R Kharkongor, said, “Aspire Meghalaya addresses critical issues amongst young people — to drive your passion and purpose forward, to give wings to your dreams while also reminding you about your roots”.
He expressed his joy at seeing students being mentored, skilled and having been provided with bigger platforms to display their talents. “It is my hope that programmes like these continue to be driven forward so that they move from local to global, while retaining the local spirit. All of you could be musicians, craftsmen and women, artists, but we should be rooted to nature and connected to culture because that is what Meghalaya is all about. We are a community that is intrinsically rooted to nature and connected to culture,” he continued.
He further added that it is about time that young talents are converted and monetised into livelihoods.
Chisemchi N Sangma, a Class 10 student from Ferrando Higher Secondary School, Umroi, delivered an inspiring speech where she encouraged her peers to conquer their fears with determination and persistence. She said, “If you are good at singing, sing as though the whole world is watching you. If you are good at drawing, draw as though this is the last chance you will hold a pencil. Fear not. Instead challenge your fear with a smile.”
On the other hand, Wymhasa Gympad, a Class 9 student from Sutnga Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, spoke of her Aspire experience saying, “The lessons from Aspire Meghalaya that have left the biggest impact on me are those on fear and public speaking. I have always been afraid of public speaking because I think that if I make one little mistake people will laugh at me and I will lose my confidence. But now I have learned that the more mistakes we make, the more we learn and grow. Since Aspire, I have been trying my best to grab every opportunity to speak in public using the stances and techniques I learnt from the programme”.
Baremdor Nongsiej, a Class 12 student from Nativity Higher Secondary School, Mawkyrwat, shared how the Aspire Meghalaya programme has helped him build the confidence to host school programmes, to speak at science exhibitions with clarity and to deliver speeches in front on large audiences. “We, the youth of Meghalaya, have the potential to reach the top and Aspire has helped us build the confidence and self-belief to be successful in whichever path we choose,” he added.
