B-SMART Online Job Readiness Program

In spite of the country’s focus on Skill Development and Vocational Training since 2009-10 the real impact on employability and employment of underprivileged youth has been marginal.

Low-income communities in the National Capital Region are full of young people who have completed 10th/12th class from government schools and are either:

1.     Unemployed because they are ambitious and don't want to work as manual labour, but have received sub-standard education hence have no skills for employment in the organised sector. Such youth are particularly vulnerable to being misled.

or

2.     Underemployed, working as daily wage labour and at jobs available as unskilled helpers in the local community because they need subsistence money. Such youth and their families are likely to remain in the vicious cycle of poverty-malnutrition-ill health.

The need to help such youth break out of the stranglehold of unemployment and underemployment is undeniable. Correspondingly, the need of the growing service sector in the National Capital Region (as in most of the country) for young, energetic school educated youth with some basic skills for entry-level jobs is huge, and remains unmet.

ETASHA's Training and Placement Programs are designed to connect the two for mutual advantage.

The B- SMART Online Job Readiness Program caters to the urgent need of under priviledged youth to work and earn in the Corona- driven scenario (lack of mobility and social distancing norms).

 The Program covers

Selling and Customer Service Skills,

Mobile-based working,

Art of Communication,

Reality of work, and

Technology readiness under COVID-19 conditions

The online program will be delivered by trainers engaging small groups of young people through smart phones from their respective homes. Approximately 200 hours deliverable in 2 months with flexibility of timings built into the delivery process

The programs are specifically designed for youth from underserved communities, and blends the advantages of on-line delivery with the critical need for face-to-face interaction, counselling and mentoring. The methodology is highly interactive, experiential and participatory, enabling development of skills, attitudes and values relevant to a wide range of jobs in the organised sector.

Quantitative measures of output include

·        Enrolment of 80 youth in the Vocational Training Programs

·        Successful completion of the program by at least 60 youth (75% of enrolled trainees).

·        Placement of at least 45 youth (around 75% of successful completions) in organised sector jobs.

Qualitative outputs include a positive change in behaviours and skills of trainees including:

·        Understanding of the etiquette and common practices in the world of work

·        Ability to manage anger and deal with conflict

·        Time Management

·        Improved hygiene and grooming

·        Increased social confidence

·        Increased ability to communicate in English

·        Competency in computer usage

·        Competency in using the internet