YASH DOSHI'S LIFE-CHANGING SUMMER IN RUSSIA (Youth Global Entrepreneurial Program- YGEP)

"To cross the line, takes a tiny step."
The decision to go on a GCDP was my tiny step. But that tiny step took humongous amount of courage. And it was the best step I have taken in my life. I was matched to the project "International Kindergarten" in Tomsk (Siberia), Russia. I had no idea about where I was going and what I was going to do or with whom I was going to live. I was a little apprehensive about the fact whether or not I will be able to adjust to such an unfamiliar atmosphere. 

I knew it would be tough and challenging, but that was exactly the reason I wanted to go. I was determined to take the “Life Changing Experience” AIESEC had offered. I reached Tomsk on 23rd May, and since that day I never looked back. I was working with interns from Singapore, China, Italy and Colombia. I was assigned to work in a school with kids of about 4-8 years old and it was such a different and enriching experience. You don’t know how much you can learn by simply interacting with kids, something I never thought I was capable of.

I met people from more than 15 countries, interacted with them, worked with them, and learnt about their countries and their culture. I was simply amazed. It made me realize the value of my own country and culture, which I also shared with them. One thing I noticed was, we were all so different yet so similar. Our habits, cultures, thinking, choices etc all crossed paths at some point in time. I was so similar to these people who were once complete strangers.

It was the first time I was living alone and I would prefer it no other way than on an AIESEC exchange. The city became home to me and the friends I made became family. It shows you what the world has to offer. It was truly a life changing experience for me and I feel every student deserves one. The world is yours if you want it. And AIESEC gives the world to you.

Yash Doshi, 18

AIESEC Mumbai

Summer intern (GCDP) in Russia