Success stories from slums

Chennai :

For professional courses in Tamil Nadu, the number of applications increases every year, leading to greater competition for jobs and a raised benchmark for an employable graduate. Considering the scramble for jobs among those who had pursued professional courses, graduates from other streams need to go the extra mile to equip themselves.

Twenty-two-year-old Selvi, a graduate in Botany from Pulianthope, narrated her success story which landed her a job at Data Mark, a BPO.

“After my graduation, I couldn’t get a job. With three months of training in Tally and spoken English, I was made employable. As the eldest of my siblings, I can support my family now,” she said at a graduation function held in Kolathur by Aide et Action, a non-governmental organisation.

Along with Selvi, 473 graduates aged between 18 and 35 received their certificates on Sunday.

They had successfully completed their MAST – iLEAD course conducted by Aide et Action for students and dropouts from slums in the city.

Since 2005, the NGO has been training students in batches, in automobile engineering, ITES, data entry, tailoring etc..

“We have our faculty reaching out to slums and other places with below poverty line (BPL) people through ‘Community Mobilisation Hive’. They visit homes with success stories of the previous batches and find students for the new batch. After that, an employability assessment test to gauge the student’s abilities will be conducted and appropriate training will follow in the trade they are good at,” said S Martin, programme officer, and Manikandan P, a trainer.

They also said that the organisation provided holistic training, equipping students with technical and soft skills needed to excel at their work place. The students would be given comprehensive training with industrial visits that facilitate a clear understanding of the industry’s needs.

With these skills imparted, the organisation produces employable graduates who are poised to deliver and exceed the expectations of the industry and society.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 22nd, 2014