Event

UNESCO WHV 2023 – Let’s Heritage at Rani-Ki-Vav, Patan

UNESCO WHV 2023 – Let’s Heritage at Rani-Ki-Vav, Patan


 

The WHV Initiative was launched in 2008 to encourage young people to undertake concrete actions and play an active role in the protection, preservation and promotion of World Heritage. It consists of action camp projects organized by organizations or institutions, involving national and international volunteers in awareness-raising and hands on activities. These projects are implemented in cooperation with multiple stakeholders and partners, including the local communities, who work together towards the preservation of our common cultural and natural heritage. This year 76 action camp projects will be implemented from April to December 2023 at 69 World Heritage properties and sites on the Tentative Lists, by 58 organizations in 33 countries around the globe. 

 

The World Heritage Volunteers Initiative is led by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in collaboration with Better World.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the WHV 2023 projects will involve young people, communities and site managers in building new, inclusive societies together where World Heritage is a source of resilience, humanity and innovation. National and international volunteers will work together with the local communities to preserve our common cultural and natural heritage, through concrete hands-on and awareness-raising activities, which will provide empowering and enriching opportunities to young people and enable them to go beyond the constraints of geography to some of the most outstanding places in the world.

 

Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. They evolved over time from what was basically a pit in sandy soil towards elaborate multi-storey works of art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmen’ ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and proportions. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works

 

 

The project is part of a nationwide campaign extending the outreach of the first ‘Let’s Heritage’ program, implemented in 2017 by the Elixir Foundation at Rani-ki-Vav. It aims at promoting heritage preservation among youth and local communities, documenting and spreading examples of active participation, stimulating a sense of responsibility and connecting international and local people with the management and conservation authorities.

 

The participants will organize and take part in different awareness raising actions, from heritage walks, heritage workshops, study visits, cultural evenings, networking, conservation dialogues, socializing, and exploring local cuisine, paintings and performing arts with local youth, school students and community representatives. They will also prepare a documentary about the camp’s activities to promote the site and youth involvement in heritage protection across different social media platforms. Scheduled visits to various heritage sites across the city, handicrafts and museums. Heritage Talk show will feature experts delivering insights about Indian Heritage.

 

Benefits

·      To be a part of the esteemed WHV Project of UNESCO

·      Develop your Heritage Quotient

·      Meet Heritage Experts

·      International Certification

·      Work together with Global Participants

·      Build a network with the community

·      Explore Indian Culture, Heritage and Architecture

Eligibilities

·      Participants must be 16 – 35 years old.

·      Participant has to be involved in the entire time frame of the program.

·   Participants must be enthusiastic to explore heritage conservation and promotion at the World Heritage Site

 

Eligible Regions: Open for All

Program Dates: 06 May – 15 May 2023

Participation Fees: (The Participation fees include – Accommodation, Meals and Local Travel during the entire program which is non-refundable)

  • INR 15000 for Indian Nationals
  • USD 300 for Foreign Nationals

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/unescowhv2023 

Deadline for Application: 25 April 2023

Reference Link to UNESCO Website:  https://whc.unesco.org/en/volunteers2023


Author

ElixirFoundation