According to the Employment Report 2024, prepared jointly by the Institute of Human Development and the International Labour Organization, though the proportion of youth getting an education increased from 18% in 2000 to 35% in 2022, the percentage of youth involved in economic activities decreased from 52% to 37% during the same period. Moreover, there is a significant gender gap in the labour market with low rates of female labour force participation. In 2022, the labour force participation rate of young men at 61.2% was almost three times higher than that of women which was at 21.7%. One of the reasons for the poor employability of youth is due to the poor quality of education.
Head Held High Foundation (HHHF) is an organization that works for the eradication of poverty. Since their formation in November 2011, they have worked with 2,00,000 women from rural communities, in the age group of 18-25 years, with little or no schooling, who hail from poorest of families and the most marginalized communities. They have operated community-based centres across 19 states and 100+ districts. They work towards empowering the underprivileged groups by creating access to sustainable livelihood opportunities and creating a safe space for them to work, grow and become financially independent.
Make India Capable (MIC), is a core initiative of HHH that transforms the lives of poor and illiterate villagers and makes them capable for work, entrepreneurship, and further education. In 6-8 months rural women with little or no access to schooling are equipped with skills which gives them confidence and opens-up village level economic opportunities. The idea is to take employment to them (instead of the other way around).
Samatvam Trust provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 6 lakhs to empower 26 women from Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh through skilling and livelihood opportunities. The aim of the project was to connect these women with gainful economic opportunities through a transformative training program. The selection of women was done after a detailed survey of identifying individuals deprived of primary and secondary education due to the family’s economic and socio-economic conditions. A 6-month intensive training was imparted to the participants which covered the following modules:-
– Academic modules: Core subjects like English, Maths, Logic, and General Knowledge were the core subjects covered
– Industry-Relevant Training: Specialized training to equip participants for success in their chosen fields
– Life Skills Development: Communication, time management, and interpersonal skills were emphasized
– Digital Literacy: Comprehensive training in digital tools to prepare participants for the digital age
– Job Readiness: Resume writing, interview skills and workplace etiquette
– Soft Skills Mastery: Leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills
– Building Confidence: Focus on boosting self-esteem and confidence
Of the 26 women, 9 women have secured positions in well established companies, 12 women are getting into entrepreneurial endeavours and 5 women are preparing for higher education opportunities. They have strived to pave pathways and provide the necessary tools to shape brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
The collaboration of our Trust with the Head Held High Foundation underscores our commitment for creating impactful change. Together, we champion the transformative power of education, striving to provide equal access to quality learning opportunities for all.
To know more about Head Held High log on to https://head-held-high.org/
