Vocational Training
India is a country where a large proportion of population is of youth. Youthfulness is the backbone of country’s progress and prosperity. Unfortunately, our youth has not taken proper education and skill training. Government has launched many schemes for vocational training and strengthening the skills of youngsters. Koshambi Foundation shall provide short term and long term vocational training in the areas of health supports, sanitation, child education, self employment skills like, sewing-stitching, small scale home-made daily use products, cultivation and marketing of plant based products, medicinal plants conservation, social and educational activities in rural areas etc. The objective of Koshambi Foundation is to train youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (age 18‐28 years) and provide them with employable skills, coupled with access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. India will have the world’s youngest population by 2020, with an average age of 29 years and 13 million people entering the workforce each year. However, as the ASER survey has shown, learning outcomes of students completing primary or even secondary schooling are extremely low, closing pathways to senior secondary or higher education. While vocational skills could be a short-term solution, only 2 percent of the workforce in India is currently formally skilled, leaving the vast majority of youth without the skills, knowhow or networks to enter the workforce. This leads to large scale unemployment or under-employment, even as industries are unable to fill their job vacancies.
Koshambi Approach
Koshambi Foundation conducts short-term, often residential courses of 2 to 3 months in duration, focusing on young men and women from rural areas and urban slums. The model is based on strong industry linkages and youth counselling and focuses on hands-on skills training. Courses taught include health supports, sanitation, child education, self employment skills like, sewing-stitching, small scale home-made daily use products, cultivation and marketing of plant based products, medicinal plants conservation, social and educational activities in rural areas, construction (including electrical, plumbing, masonry and welding), hospitality (housekeeping, food and beverage service and food production), automotive mechanic, healthcare nursing and beauty and wellness services, Etc.
In addition to industry specific skills, students also learn basic English, computer literacy and life skills. Koshambi Foundation has a four-step approach to its vocational training programs:
- Mobilization
- Training
- Placement
- Post-Placement Support