Here you will find answers to the frequently asked questions.

Books

B.1 Who recommends books?
Anyone (parent, Convener or associate) can suggest a book. The pertinent Zonal Convener sends all recommendations to the Foundation.

B.2 Who reviews the recommendations?
Literary Group provides final recommendations to the Foundation.

B.3 Who approves the books?
The Foundation approves the books to be used for each year.

B.4 Who pays for the books?
A portion of the registration fee provided to the Foundation is used to partially pay for the cost, shipping and handling of the books.

 

Center

C.1 What is a Center?
At least 30 youth need to be registered for the Symposium to form a Center.

Funding

F.1 Who provides funds for materials/supplies to conduct competition at Center level?
Center uses 1/3rd of the registration fee towards its expenses. Center Convener arranges for the remaining funds.

F.2 Who provides funds for materials/supplies to conduct competition at Zonal level?
Zone uses 1/3rd of the registration fee towards its expenses. Zonal Convener arranges for the remaining funds.

F.3 What financial assistance is provided by the Foundation for the International Symposium?
• Prizes for participants.
• Gifts/ Siropas for guest speaker, international judges and Zonal Conveners.
• Hotel stay for the guest speaker.

F.4 Does Foundation pay for the travel expenses of the participants, parents, conveners, judges etc. for the International Symposium?
No. It is addressed locally by the Center/Zonal Convener.

F.5 Does Foundation pay for the banquet or any other expense related to the International Symposium?
No. The host Zonal Convener arranges funds.

 

Guest Speaker

G.1 Who recommends a Guest Speaker?
Normally, the host Zonal Convener proposes a few names suitable for Guest Speaker to the Foundation.

G.2 Who approves the Guest Speaker?
The Foundation approves the Guest Speaker. Frequently Asked Questions

 

International Symposium

I.1 How is the venue for the International Symposium selected?
At the annual Conveners conference normally held on the first day of the International Symposium, venues of the following years are jointly agreed upon.

I.2 Who provides funds for the International Symposium?
Refer to the section “Funding”.

Judges

J.1 What are the criteria to be a judge?
• Should be qualified to be a judge.
• Should be perceived by the parents and participants to be fair and impartial.
• Should not be related to any participant.
• Must read all the required books and sign the prescribed affidavit.

J.2 How are the judges in a Center selected?
Center Convener selects judges in consultation with the Zonal Convener.

J.3 How are the judges in a Zone selected?
Zonal Convener selects judges in consultation with the Center Conveners.

J.4 How are the judges for the international Symposium selected?
The international judge must have the experience of judging the participants at the Zonal level. Zonal Conveners recommend judges. The Foundation selects judges.

Questions

Q.1 Who prepares the questions for each age group?
Zonal Conveners volunteer to prepare question for each book. They generally consult a literary person in the Zone and also ask alumni of the Foundation/ senior Participant to review.

Q.2 Who finalizes the questions?
Literary Group of the Foundation finalizes questions in consultation with the Zonal Convener who had drafted them.

Q.3 To whom the concerns of a Participant or Parent should be addressed?
It should be sent to the Foundation so that clarification(s) can be sent to all.

Zone

Z.1 What is a Zone?
• A group of a minimum of three Centers is called a Zone.
• At least 100 youth need to be registered for the Symposium in a Zone.