While adults may quarrel over the formation of a representative world body, children may be moving towards one. "We can take this concept to other countries that have Parsi children... (even if they have) 20, 30 or 40 of them... and make them do activities online and then make them join the XYZ (Xtremely Young Zoroastrians) fold,” stated founder Hoshaang Gotla.
XYZ has conducted over 150 activities for their India based children members and families in the last four months (see "Kids on the line,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, June 21, 2020). The organizers "connected with representatives from various countries and two locations got back to us... Singapore and Karachi... We worked with their volunteers and their associations and spread the word. They also forwarded it to their friends and cousins in other countries,” noted Gotla.
Five innovatively named teams comprising 73 participants between the ages of four and 16, mainly from India, Pakistan and Singapore took part in XYZ’s online "Whacky Weekend,” on August 29 and 30, 2020. Singapore was represented by 22 youngsters. Three joined from Hong Kong, two from Canada and one each from Australia and Switzerland. "If we had opened the event to all, the kids from other countries would have been overshadowed hence we kept the (India) number to 18.” XYZ’s in-country members total 550, Gotla communicated.
Clockwise from above: connected youngsters of XYZ;
examples of participants’ displays of creativity
The first day started off with introductions and a humbandagi, "following which participants were sent to their individual (virtual) group rooms. There, they chose a group name, a team cheer and a captain... The highlight of the entire event was the ‘Food Housie’ which was conducted on the second day,” noted Gotla. "The Whacky Ds claimed the overall championship,” he stated.
Team Eggcelent Eedus led in the pictorial quiz event and Parsi Pictionary (a twist on the board game); Team Whacky Ds scored over them in Art Attack, a finger painting exercise, and in the scavenger hunt. The finger painting workshop was conducted by Zeshah Davar, one of the India-based mentors. Part of the organizing team and former XYZ participant Avan Navdar told Parsiana on September 6 that the Weekend was the result of "a lot of discussions, brainstorming, reworking of PPTs (Power Point presentations) and training sessions. We had to... conduct the various activities, check on the various groups and constantly be on our toes to make sure the event ran smoothly... The satisfaction we felt on the conclusion of yet another successful event was unmatched.” Added organizing team member Parzaan Badhniwala, "We had to motivate the participants to give their best... The event gave mentors the opportunity to bring out the child in us too.”
"We will start XYZ groups in (other) countries and organize whacky weekends there too in the next few months,” beamed Gotla.