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 so that they could work and earn money. But they don’t have proper training for this. So to solve this 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: April 2014 – June 2014

Work done 

• Total Trained: 207
• Total Undergoing: 309 (in the month of June, 2014)

Introduction about Programs:

The courses selected for the programs are also a result of market research and need assessment program from the community itself. The courses under which the students are currently undergoing training at various centers are as follows:

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

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

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

1. Under informal trainings:

• Bosch and Shivia on informal sector job trainings – Nirman programme

2. Formal training programmes:

• Umeed
• Udaan
• Yuva Mast

For informal trainings, SAATH has collaborated with Bosch 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. For formal trainings we have collaborated with Government of Gujarat and Rajasthan Mission of Livelihood.

For Informal trainings, we have recently started women batch for electrician. This was the initiative by Saath. We have trained 11 women in our Electrician Batch.

• Total Trained – 133
• Male Trainees : 122
• Female Trainees: 11

Success Story: Paras Parmer (Name Changed)

Paras Parmer residing in Behrampura area of Ahmedabad comes from a family of seven. He used to work as a guard, in the night shift for a security agency. He received a pay of Rs.6000 per month, however he was not able to meet his expenses with his income. He always had a keen interest to become an electrician however he could not afford the formal training programme. Paras came to know about the Nirman programme through a friend who had visited the Nirman center in their area.

He says “There was a ray of hope for me, when I heard about the programme. I enrolled my name for the Electrical Training Batch at the Behrampura center. Initially I had my doubts about the facilities that would be provided at the center since the center charged a very meager fee, but I decided to join the programme since the timing of the session was appropriate for me since I did not have to miss out on my job. When I attended my first session all my doubts about the working of the programme were cleared. The trainers gave me formal training in plate earthing, wiring, importance of personal safety and the importance of savings. The theory sessions were accompanied with its practical applications”.

On the completion of the course Paras received a certificate and a tool kit from the center. Due to the certificate Paras was able to get a job at the torrent plant. He now earns Rs. 10000 a month and his standard of living has improved. He remarks “SAATH’s training programme helped me a lot. This has been only possible because of the skills that I have received through this course. I am thankful to Saath for the same”.

Training and Placement

Profiling of the students was undertaken by the placement cell at each centre. Students were provided counseling during the batch for guidance and placement support to the students. Below mentioned table shows the status for 3 months.

April'14 to June' 14 status

Month                           Enrolled                         Trained

                     Male    Female    Total       Male   Female    Total

April'14        22          96          118            -               -           -    

May'14         50          45          195            -            20         20

June'14        32        169          201          35        152        187

Total           104        410          514          35        172       207

Youth Employability Program Status (April'14 to June' 14)

Month                           Enrolled                          Trained

                       Male       Female   Total    Male    Female    Total

General         104         409           513        34     172         206

Disabled        -               1               1          1          -            1

Total               104        410           514        35      172        207

Undergoing in the month of June'14

                   Male      Female     Total

Umeed        60         249           309

Total            60         249          309

Batches completed (no. of batches carried out)

              Apr.14     May.14     Jun.14      Total

Umeed        -                1              7          8

Total           -                  1             7         8

Innovations of the program:

• A road show team has been trained and oriented that mobilizes students for all centers to impart skills, trainings and employment to vulnerable youth. The road show team works closely with faculty to mobilize students for each centre. Mobilization is also done by converting walk-ins into enrolments at the centers. They use different techniques for providing information like door to door, umbrella, canopy and mike show and tent program.

•  Staff Trainings and meetings were held with the core team and faculty to discuss issues of quality and target.

•  Under the Youth Employability program SAATH have taken up different type of trainings in which women and differently abled person were also included. Different types of trainings are:

• Classroom training
• Practical training
• Safety training
• Finance training
• Life skill trainings
•  

• We have also started counselling for our youth employability programme. We have recently hired the counsellors to guide about different skill development courses and also start their left over studies to have a better future.

• Youth Employability Report April - June 2014 (PDF)