Sampath has worked in the software industry for 18 years after completing his Master of Computer Application and Master of Business Administration. Currently, he is an elected representative for Seegehali county in Bengalru, India. He also founded the Anvaya Foundation, where he provides social service assistance across his community, and is acting as the elected president of the B.PAC Civic Leadership Incubator Program's (B.CLIP) alumni association, which is an association of civic leaders from different political parties. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Youth Special Parliament

Sampath's project selected student representatives from different communities in Bangalore, India, to create a 'Youth Special Parliament', a network of politically active youth who can work together to present civic issues to their local elected representatives. Sampath’s project reached 1,180 students during his 23 visits to twelve different schools. Sampath met with school leadership to introduce the concept of YSP and subsequently met with students to explain the concept and helped hold classroom level elections. Additionally, more than 360 students were reached during the interaction of all colleges gathering at the Bengaluru Book Festival, and another 270+ students were reached through the "We the people of India" booklet, which was released by the deputy election commissioner of Karnataka. The participants shared that the sessions were informative and effective to understand the strength of democracy, elections and parliamentary procedures. They also shared that they enjoyed the preparatory session, and debate sessions. Overall, the project achieved its goal of promoting youth involvement in civic leadership and political awareness at a young age.

Sampath also moderated the IVLP Impact Awards Alumni Discussion Series panel on “Youth and Civic Engagement” which you can read more about here.

"I hope to provide a platform for passionate students to understand political and public service and local governance." - Sampath Ramanujam

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Sampath was a participant in the IVLP Project Young Politicians: The Future of Indian Democracy organized by the U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas.

Sampath's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "We met with [the] Iowa Youth Congress...[and] I [would] like to implement such good practices through Youth Special Parliament..."

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX; San Antonio, TX

Country: India

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