ASED
Computer training for slum youth
Location
Dehradun, India (at the foot of the Himalayas)
Context
When Dehradun was declared the capital of the new state of Uttarakhand in India, many families migrated to the city in the hope of finding work. Without the means to settle down, these people in precarious situations contributed to the rapid increase in the number of people living on the streets and in shantytowns, now estimated at 222,000.
The children of these populations, whether they live with their families, are runaways, abandoned or orphans, are the first to suffer from these conditions of extreme poverty. On the margins of society, they are exposed to human trafficking. Their struggle for access to basic amenities such as drinking water, food and healthcare takes a heavy toll on their mental and physical health. The lack of education and training denies them any hope of a better future. They are caught in a vicious circle of poverty.
Project
It has become urgent for street kids to acquire the skills they need to secure their livelihoods and finally look to the future with optimism.
In order to identify relevant training sectors, the partner ASED chose to work with carried out an in-depth market analysis of both traditional and modern business sectors with significant growth potential. This study identified 16 promising business sectors. In the first phase, ten qualifying training courses are being set up, including one in IT.
The training is based on :
- the interest and raw talent of each apprentice – established through aptitude tests, profiling and orientation interviews.
- a curriculum of practical and theoretical courses closely linked to local employers, following an entrepreneurial model.
The teaching aims to ensure that students acquire the relevant skills in the following areas:
– Literacy and basic computer skills,
– Basic accounting, bookkeeping,
– Employability and entrepreneurship,
– Interpersonal skills: presentation, verbal communication, hygiene,
– Work ethic, self-confidence, sense of responsibility and reliability.
Course certification is provided by the National Institute of Open Schooling and the Sector Skills Councils, two Indian government bodies.
The training is complemented by actions adapted to these young people living in precarious conditions:
– Support in finding employment in regional markets.
– For those who wish, support in becoming an entrepreneur and accessing capital (microfinance, etc.).
– Creation of a network of certified, centralized services as the project develops.
– Identification of companies with high development potential and creation of self help groups (SHGs).
A limited number of accommodation units are available for students who would not otherwise be able to attend courses.
Impact
The skills center is fully operational. 60 young people a year receive vocational training in IT. They are properly trained and have developed the necessary skills (technical and interpersonal) to find a job. 6 months after the end of their training, 75% of them have found a job.
Eventually, the skills center will train 1,500 young people a year in all types of training.
Partnership
Aasraa Trust is a reputable organization with a long-term vision, operating in the slums of Dehradun. It is supported by numerous donors, including the state, private companies, individuals and foreign organizations. Founded in 2009, it enjoys a solid reputation for the quality of its actions, its results, its holistic approach and its financial stability. Every year, Aasraa raises the funds needed for its many operations in the city.