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Motivational camp and Career Counselling for Children

At the age of 18, young adult aren’t fully equipped to handle their life by themselves. They need guidance and support to lead their life. This Aftercare programme connection the gap helps them to take the responsibility in young adult stage. Before 18 years preparation of children is the most important to lead a brighter career. This programme also empowers them to complete their education, stand on their feet and successfully living an independent life.

Education is very important for all the children youth. Education is a weapon to improve young adults life. It is also the most important tool to change one’s life.  Children who receive technical education, they meet their appropriate education milestones. The important of technical education is the overall development of children in relation to preparation of children to higher study and vocational training in their future. It empowers them to promotes their independence in both social and economic life.

It’s a big challenge for children living in Child Care Institution to get a good job particularly with their career aspiration and personal interest. So they require guidance from mentors or seniors in that stage to know about their own personal interests, abilities and what to be as per their career in future. They have lack of knowledge about the work-related needs and opportunities around them.

It is important to be mentor or guidance to their career path particular during their transition from institutional life to independent life or from job insecurity to continued education.

Above all, Education is extremely important for employment. It certainly is a great opportunity to make a decent living.

Basing on the above requirement, YCDA in collaboration with Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Unit conducted motivational camp and career counseling in Odisha for children from different Child Care Institution (CCI). In this programme children age group 16-18 from CCIs, Govt. personnel, representatives  from Odisha Livelihood Mission, ORMAS were participated in that programme.  The main objective of the programme was counseling and motivating children of the CCIs for their family reintegration and family reunification, Motivate children of the age group of 16+ living in the CCIs to choose their appropriate career after leaving the child care institution and also orient them towards their vocational and technical education for their self sustainability.

Through the some games and group discussion the career mapping was conducted and children did their goal setting. The technical person emphasizes the importance of vocational education in current days. He thoroughly explained the eligibility criteria and the trades are available in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), Govt. of India . He also said about the placement opportunity of vocational education and the placement opportunity and the stipend facility. The technical person also shared about the scope and path of placement opportunity in technical education for CCI children. So before leaving institutional care the children should take their own stand and make proper career plan.

The important is career developmental tasks for adolescents are to know their interests, capacities, values and acquire knowledge about work to decide upon realistic educational and career pathways. When making career-related decisions, children/adolescents also need to adopt positive career attitudes and behaviors and base their decisions on career-relevant knowledge and skills.The group exercise was exited to the children for career mapping and to make their self assessment and self reflection.

The children also got some exposure to the different technical institutes where the children got information regarding the vocational training which can meet their immediate livelihood. The children identified their difficulties and challenges to choose their career point. Children were excited while they involve in the total process of the programme.  YCDA as the promoting institute committed to support to the children till they get self independent. 

• Report (PDF)