Young Indian Futures, J. G. Update, October 2011
Many thanks to all of you, who have contributed so generously to make these projects possible, and to give a new future to talented young people from poor families in many different areas of India. Here is an update on the signs of success so far, and ongoing and new projects.
Jobs for Aryaloka Trainees
Of the 10 young people trained in Animation and computer skills at Aryaloka Computer Education institute 2009-10, nine have now found jobs in those fields. Two have found jobs as Animators with high salaries; but perhaps the most satisfying result is that 4 from the 6 women who lived and studied together for a year in the Maitrikula women's community adjacent to Aryaloka, have found work in photo studios, enjoying self-reliance and growing career opportunities. One woman is now teaching Animation at Aryaloka itself. One woman is working in her father's internet cafe. One of our star Animators has found employment with a Radio Company as an animator, in Nagpur, her home city. All these are now helping to support their families as well as themselves. All four of the students fully supported by Young Indian Futures to learn Hardware and Networking, have found employment.
Opportunities in Orissa
Business planning workshops, development programmes, and visits to remote villages and places of historical interest, were the objectives of the trip which Helen Sullivan, Priyadaka, and I took in January '11, to this beautiful state with its hidden strata of awful poverty. The young people who organised the trip, most efficiently, are seeking to improve the lives of marginalised people of their own background, mostly followers of the great leader of erstwhile 'Untouchables', Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. To give them a means of self-support for this work, we are currently looking at the development of tourism/pilgrimage in Orissa (Odisha), which will combine their knowledge of their own traditions with a flexible means of earning.
New Developments in Chhattisgarh
The success of the Aryaloka computer centre as a thriving business training young people from poor backgrounds, has helped us to incubate a scheme to duplicate that model elsewhere, in parts of India where our ex-trainees can use such a centre as a base for their community development work. The most forceful participant behind this initiative is Phoolmani, one of our young trainees now earning her living (and learning the trade) in a photo studio. The intention is to set up a computer centre in Raipur, main city of the state of Chhattisgarh in central India, where village life is being rapidly replaced by heavy and brutal industrialisation. This Right Livelihood initiative should offer an alternative career to a large number of young people with whom we already have contact.
Further Plans and Projects
In Odisha, a tailoring training group for women in a remote village in a poor area, is all set to go ahead, with 30 young women eager to learn this useful and potentially liberating skill. So far, they have only one sewing machine, (they need 4 more) but a detailed business plan (thanks to Helen and Trinath) and a lot of enthusiasm.
In Aryaloka, Nagpur, the fully supported Animation trainees (see main picture) are entering a new phase of their training, that of seeking employment.Their course finished in August, but we are committed to seeing them through to employment, this is our major pilot project. Two graduates are pursuing higher education, supporting themselves by teaching animation part-time. Small cells of Animators are beginning to be established in Kerala and Delhi.
We also hope to run another Hardware and Networking Course, especially for women, as it has been so successful in employment outcomes. Maybe we will be able to set up computer centres in other areas of India...there is no end to the possibilities, with your help!
The number of young people looking for us for training and living support this year (2011-12) could be as many as 30, including 5 young women from Bihar. Their families cannot help them, so we look to you.....thank you.
Again thank you, for making all this possible, and changing so many lives for the better.
Shakyajata
October 2011
