Employability Programme for youth in slums

Employability Programme for Youth in Slums

Unemployment is one of the major problems faced by youth in India. Saath noticed that there are many youngsters in Gujarat who have dropped out of schools to earn livelihood. But they don’t have enough skills, so to get the solution for this issue Saath started employability programs, not only in Gujarat but also in Rajasthan. 

Objectives of the Programme:

1. To train disadvantaged youth, aged 18-30 years, between 180 - 300 hours and ensure they are placed and try to support of them in relevant jobs with assurance of minimum wages and opportunity for career advancement
2. To introduce minimum three innovations that would directly impact retention, skill enhancement, and program sustainability

 Report Duration: January 2015 – March 2015

Work done 

• Total Trained: 392

 Introduction about Programs:

 The sector has been divided into formal and non-formal trainings:

1. Formal training program:
2. Informal training program:

• Udaan

• Nirman

 Udaan:

 Udaan program provides livelihood training to youth from vulnerable backgrounds and give them an equal opportunity to employability. The courses selected for the programs are also a result of market research and need assessment program from the community itself. The courses that are currently offered in this program are as follows:

• Bed Side Patient Assistant (BSPA)
• Beauty Parlour
• Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES)
• Computer Hardware
• Retail Management
• Tally
• Career and Workplace Skills

The entire above mentioned program is for entry level jobs. Placement assistance is also provided to the trainees.

Nirman:

Nirman program addresses the training needs of people in the informal sector. Practical and theoretical training is provided which moulds their skills and capabilities to get better incomes. The courses that are currently offered in this program are as follows:

• Plumbing
• Electrician
• Carpentry
• Masonry
• Mobile Repairing

We are also running women batches for electrician and masonry course. For informal trainings, SAATH has collaborated with Bosch India Foundation, American India Foundation and Shivia Micro finance as they both are well known for their qualitative and effective work. They use their expertise in providing opportunity to impart training about safety standards.

Success Story: Jayana Patel (Name Changed)

 Jayana is 33 year old married and lives with her husband and 2 children in      Baroda. Jayana got married 14 years ago. Before marriage she used to live with her parents, 2 sisters and a brother. Her father was working as an accountant and in 1998 suffered an accident in which he lost one of his legs. After which the family came under financial crunch as her father being only earning member in the family. It became very difficult to bear hospital expenses and household expenses. Due to this the children couldn’t continue their education. After 2 years her father started working again as an accountant in a nearby hospital but wasn’t able to earn enough. Jayana was 10th drop out. Remembering that time Jayana says, “It was really a difficult time for our family. Money was a continuously pressing issue. My parents worked very hard and got all 3 daughters married”.

Jayana’s husband initially used to work in the diamond industry in Baroda, earning Rs. 2,000-3,000 per month. At that time her father in law used to support them to run their home. After this they shifted to Surat in 2004 where her husband started earning Rs. 4,000 per month. In 2008 due to economic crisis in the diamond industry her husband lost his job and they moved back to Baroda. He got a job in Construction Company in Baroda.

Jayana says, “I learnt sewing in Surat and that helped my husband by earning some extra income. After moving back to Baroda I was not getting enough work in sewing so I started doing small odd jobs. However from bottom of my heart, I always wanted to study further.

In 2014 Jayana got to know about Saath’s Skills to Succeed programme. She adds, “In May Anil Kaka (Saath’s Road Show team member) came to my house. He explained me about the retail management course and also gave me job guarantee after completion of the course and I would also get a certificate, that would satisfy my need of further education. After this I visited the centre and met Kalpeshbhai (Centre Coordinator). Kalpeshbhai gave me detailed information about course, what would my module cover and I was very impressed that life skills, communication, English speaking was also included in the course. And thus I joined the course in May, 2014.

Her faculty says Jayana enjoyed her training and was quite an eager learner. Regarding her experience Jayana shares, “I’ll never forget the support that I got from the staff at the centre and I would specially like to thank Ashesh Sir, Kalpesh Sir and Parulben through their help I have overcome my stage fear and I have built up my confidence. They have always motivated me. 10 days before the completion of my training and Kalpeshbhai my trainer arranged for a job interview and I got a job as a Help Desk Office at Omnisoft Technology Pvt. Ltd. This was the first time I gave an interview”. Smiling quite broadly she says, “I was so happy, that I got a job in my first interview only, it was quite an achievement for me.” She is now earning Rs. 5,500 per month and her employer is also quite happy with her work. One of her elder sister after seeing Jayana’s success has recently joined the retail course at the same centre. Jayana says, “Now me and my husband jointly earn Rs. 15,000 per month and we don’t have to ask for support from our parents. I want to work hard now and get an even better job. With a broad smile she says “My dream is to move and settle abroad”.  

 Training and Placement:

Profiling of the students was undertaken by the placement cell at each centre. Students were provided counselling during the batch for guidance and placement support to the students. Below mentioned table shows the status for3 months.

          YEP DATA- FOR GLOBAL GIVING - Gujarat

January' 15 to March' 15 status
Month                     Enrolled                        Trained
                        Male Female Total       Male Female Total
January' 15         31      96       127        14       91     105
February' 15       14      34         48         22    189      211
March' 15           16     16          32        11      65       76
Total                   45   146        191        47     345      392

Youth Employability Program Status (January' 15 to March' 15)
Month                   Enrolled                           Trained
                     Male Female Total           Male Female Total
General           45     146      191             47     344     391
Disabled                                                           1        1
Total               45     146       191            47      345     392

Undergoing in the month of March' 15
              Male      Female            Total
Udaan       44           90                134
Total         44            90                134

Batches completed (no. of batches carried out)
              Jan.15 Feb.15 Mar.15 Total
Udaan        5        10       6         21
Total          5         10       6         21
    

Innovations of the program:

•  Index for trainees has developed to measure the real life impact of the trainings on trainees as an individual and a group. It shows the success of the program. The Index serves as a complete monitoring tool.

•  Career counselling is provided to the participants of the programs.

•  Financial literacy and safety training is provided to the participants.

•  “Saath Service Point” Mobile application has been developed to serve as a database for the clients who are in need of services like: Masonry, Plumbing, Electrician, and Carpentry.

•  Special Women batches have been started in non-traditional trade like electrician, masonry.

• Project Report (PDF)
  

Employability Programme for Youth in Slums

Unemployment is one of the major problems faced by youth in India. Saath noticed that there are many youngsters in Gujarat who have dropped out of schools to earn livelihood. But they don’t have enough skills, so to get the solution for this issue Saath started employability programs, not only in Gujarat but also in Rajasthan. 

Objectives of the Programme:

1. To train disadvantaged youth, aged 18-30 years, between 180 - 300 hours and ensure they are placed and try to support of them in relevant jobs with assurance of minimum wages and opportunity for career advancement
2. To introduce minimum three innovations that would directly impact retention, skill enhancement, and program sustainability

 Report Duration: October 2014 – December 2014

Work done 

• Total Trained: 364

 Introduction about Programs:

 The sector has been divided into formal and non-formal trainings:

1. Formal training program: Udaan
2. Informal training program: Nirman

Udaan:

Udaan program provides livelihood training to youth from vulnerable backgrounds and give them an equal opportunity to employability. The courses selected for the programs are also a result of market research and need assessment program from the community itself. The courses that are currently offered in this program are as follows:

• Bed Side Patient Assistant (BSPA)
• Beauty Parlour
• Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES)
• Computer Hardware
• Retail Management
• Tally
• Career and Workplace Skills

All the above mentioned programs are for entry level jobs. Placement assistance is also provided to the trainees.

Nirman:

Nirman program addresses the training needs of people in the informal sector. Practical and theoretical training is provided which moulds their skills and capabilities to get better incomes. The courses that are currently offered in this program are as follows:

• Plumbing
• Electrician
• Carpentry
• Masonry
• Mobile Repairing

We are also running women batches for electrician and masonry course. For informal trainings, SAATH has collaborated with Bosch India Foundation, American India Foundation and Shivia Micro finance as they both are well known for their qualitative and effective work. They use their expertise in providing opportunity to impart training about safety standards.

Success Story:Vinu Amritbhai Parmar

19 year old Vinu comes from the Santra village of Patan, where he had completed his second year of Bachelors in Commerce. When asked about how he came to Ahmedabad, getting a bit emotional he shares, “I used to live with my parents and younger brother in the village. And our source of income was farming through which we used to earn Rs. 70,000-80,000 annually. The college fee for my one semester was Rs. 1,750. It was becoming difficult for my parents to pay for me and my brother’s education. That time I decided to come to Ahmedabad to work and earn my tuition fees. My decision was opposed by my family, but I still decided to come here against their wishes”.

Vinu’s older brother is been living in Ahmedabad for the past 8 years, he is currently working with Torrent Power on a contract basis as an electrical fitter. He earns Rs 7,000-8,000 a month. Vinu’s brother was also not in favour of him moving to Ahmedabad. Talking about his early days in Ahmedabad Vinu says, “I was little scared and lost in the city, as drinking (alcohol) was very common here in the area where I lived, I was surprised to see so many youth are addicted to drinking.” He started working with his brother, but was not earning enough. 3 months later one day, Mr. Pravin the facilitator at Odhav center of Skills to Succeed program met Vinu and explained to him about training course and what the opportunities are thereafter for him. Vinu said: “I joined the course as I was assured job after completion of the training. Initially I found the training difficult and for the first few days I felt very lonely. My English was weak, my communication skills were poor and I was not confident enough. I was also scared to ask questions in the class as I would fear that other candidates will laugh at me. My trainers realised that I am shy and they gave special attention to me. They encouraged me to participate in class. This boosted my confidence. My English has also improved and now I can converse little but in English.”

After completing the training, placement cell connected him to MyRecharge. He started working as an independent retailer with them, where he provides mobile recharge services. Vinu says. “This work needs lot of networking. Now I am confident to talk to people and market myself and grow my work. My supervisor is quite happy with my monthly sales. I earn Rs. 4,000-5,000 per month but I need to earn and save more before I go back to my studies. I dream to become a lawyer one day.

To pursue my dream, I needed some additional income and thought of taking up another job. I went for campus interview organized by Saath, there I gave an interview to Reliance Insurance Company. This was totally a new experience for me. During my interview I was asked to sell a pen, which I did successfully. Interviewers were happy with my selling skills and offered me a job of Customer Service Executive with a salary of 6,000/month. Now I earn around Rs.11,000-12,000/month and pretty soon I will go back to college.

Training and Placement

Profiling of the students was undertaken by the placement cell at each centre. Students were provided counselling during the batch for guidance and placement support to the students. Below mentioned table shows the status for3 months.

October'14 to December' 14 status

Month                      Enrolled                     Trained 

                       Male  Female  Total      Male   Female  Total

July' 14              17     25        42          7         151     158

August' 14          30     99       129         37        94      131

September' 14   21     207      228        19        56       75

Total                  68     331      399        63       301      364

Youth Employability Program Status (October'14 to December' 14)

Month                     Enrolled                         Trained

                     Male     Female     Total      Male    Female  Total

General          68        311           399       63        301       364

Disabled          0          0             0           0          0           0

Total              68         311           399       63       301        364

Undergoing in the month of December'14

                   Male    Female  Total

Udaan        75         255       330

Total           75        255       330

Batches completed (no. of batches carried out)

                    Oct.14      Nov.14      Dec.14      Total

Udaan           7              4               4             15

Total              7             4               4              15

Innovations of the program:

• Career counselling is provided to the participants of the programs.

•  Financial literacy and safety training is provided to the participants.

•  “Saath Service Point” Mobile application has been developed to serve as a database for the clients who are in need of services like: Masonry, Plumbing, Electrician, and Carpentry.

•  Special Women batches have been started in non-traditional trade like electrician, masonry.

•  Index for trainees has developed to measure the real life impact of the trainings on trainees as an individual and a group. It shows the success of the program. The Index serves as a complete monitoring tool.

Links:

• Saath's Blog
• facebook page
• website

• YEP Progress Report Oct - Dec, 2014 (PDF)