The 32nd youth-centric one month event, Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY) organized their Valedictory Function on 27th May, 2018, at the JB Vachha High School, Dadar. The event commenced with Er. Rohinton Pavri invoking the blessings of Ahura Mazda, followed by HPY mentor and this year’s coordinator, Diana Marfatia, fondly called ‘Dee’, welcoming the gathering. The dignitaries who graced the occasion included, Chief Guest and India’s first canine behaviorist and trainer, Shirin Merchant; Guest of Honor and one of India’s leading fitness influencer and trainer, Ayesha Billimoria, Chairperson of the function, BPP Chairman Yazdi Desai; BPP Trustees Armaity Tirandaz, Viraf Mehta and BPP CEO, Cawas Panthaki. Dee concluded by thanking her team of organizers, Trustees of JB Vachha School and all those who contributed in making HPY 2018 a great success.

Soon the organizers and participants reiterated the ‘HPY Song’, followed by the much anticipated prize distribution ceremony. Awarding and recognizing exceptional talents that were brought to light through various competitions like fashion shows, dramas, floodlit sports, and talks organized over the month, BPP declared a special award of Rs. 1 lakh for 13 year old cancer survivor Kayan Anklesaria, who won a Gold in table tennis, Silver in chess, Bronze in rifle shooting and football, for India at World Children’s Winners Games held in Moscow in 2017. Miss HPY 2018, Jasmine China stated that she would reminiscence the month, not in days but in the friends she’s managed to make.
Addressing the gathering, Yazdi Desai elucidated on the importance of hard work and prayer, and urged the youngsters to have a role model, who they can look up to. He then introduced Ayesha Billimoria as an illustrious athlete, trainer, fitness influencer and also a TedX speaker. Ayesha spoke about how HPY was one of the best things that happened to her and thanked Dee and Azmin Mistry Vania for making sure HPY maintained its standards through the years.

All the organizers who ensure the smooth running of HPY were felicitated amongst much applause. Chief Guest Shireen Merchant who has a whole host of international accomplishments as a canine behaviorist and trainer to her credit, commenced her address with some hilarious anecdotes about the calls she got from her page three clients and the whims that their dogs have. She then spoke about how she had the courage to be the first canine woman behaviorist in India, only because she had the ‘Parsi blood’ and the love we share for our pooches. The entertainment quotient for the evening was filled with singers- Tehmpton Dumasia, Kayomee Jesai, Sheroy and Viraf who rendered some soulful music, followed by a dance presentation by the ‘Performers group’.
Thu,s HPY pulled its curtains down in its 32nd year, with over 6000 people now part of the HPY family ever since its inception.

The old adage that all good things come to an end doesn’t hold truer than at farewells. On Sunday over 170 beaming sixteen year olds said a bittersweet goodbye to this year’s edition of HPY. The valedictorian function was held at the JB Vachha hall where this year’s edition took place. Ask the participants what the month entailed and they wondered what to talk about, from grand fashion shows, dramas, floodlit sports, to small daily competitions and talks. The month had it all. Not to forget the healthy completion between the four groups that kept everyone on their toes to win the coveted “Best Group” trophy.

The Valedictorian function began with on all those gathered there. He was She spoke about how HPY was in its 32nd year and that over 6000 people are part of the HPY family. She then went on to introduce and felicitate the dignitaries on the dias: The chief guest of the evening -Shireen Merchant, , -, ex HPYite and. The and Chairman of the BPP- Yezdi Desai, She went on to thank. She finally signed off some great words of wisdom, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”