‘CareeReady’ Programme for S.Y.B.Com. students of Mahatma Night Degree College – A MNDC Placement Cell initiative (November 2018)
The Placement Cell of Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts and Commerce, Chembur spear headed by the Principal of the college Principal Dr. Padma Rangan have set the ball rolling for the ‘CareeReady Programme’ organized by Antarang Foundation 231-C, Tawripada, Dr. S. S. Rao Road, Lalbaug, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, for the S.Y.B.Com. students of Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts and Commerce. This programme will begin in November 2018. Antarang Foundation works to bridge the Employability gap that exists amongst disadvantaged youth.
Antarang’s CareeReady Program
The CareeReady program is a career readiness and employability skills training program for youth in the age group of 18 – 25 years. Through partner organisations who work on the ground, Team Antarang identify youth in vulnerable communities who are at risk and spread awareness about the program and its benefits amongst them.
Once a student signs up to the CareeReady program, he / she undergoes a well-defined regiment of development and training. The course equips students with self-awareness, career awareness, work ethics and etiquettes, effective communications skills and basic computer literacy. At the end of the program, successful graduates are linked to relevant opportunities in their chosen careers. Antarang continues to mentor its students until they integrate well into the organised sector workforce. All Antarang graduates are confident young adults, who uphold our values of Regularity, Punctuality, Initiative and Stability.
About the Antarang Foundation: Building self-reliance in youth
Close to 1 million youngsters turn 18 every month, of whom an overwhelming 50% do not complete high school. Over time, this has resulted in millions of young adults who can neither afford higher education nor secure decent employment.
What then happens to these young minds? Some indulge in delinquent behaviour, while others are forced to work in exploitative conditions. Underage girls are married off and become pregnant. And a staggering 55,000 youth give into substance addiction every day. All this, when roughly 1,17,000 new jobs are created every single quarter and an acute shortage of skills has been reported across all sectors to fulfil these jobs.
This is where we come in. Antarang Foundation envisions a world where every young person is passionately, productively and positively engaged in a career of their choice. Through two career focused programs, Career Aware and Caree Ready, the foundation works to bridge the Employability gap that exists amongst disadvantaged youth. The programs deliver career guidance, develop core employability skills and finally link students with career opportunities.
Sources: DISE 2013-2014, CII^Ministry of Labour 2014, UNPF, ILO report
The first orientation programme for Antarang Foundation’s ‘CarreReady’ was conducted on the 27th September, 2018 at 7.00 p.m. for the S.Y.B.Com. students in Room Number 404. Mr. Nikhil Paul, faculty, Student Engagement & Operation, Antarang Foundation conducted the orientation programme. Principal Dr. Padma Rangan graced the occasion. Placement Cell incharge Associate Professor Dr. Lata Krishnan coordinated the event.
The session was interactive with a slide show that kept the students engaged with graphics and statistics that opened their eyes to the realty of the Job environment in India. The details of the course CareeReady was explained and the students were assured hand holding till the age of 30 until they build their career. Mentoring by corporate guides, career counselling, training and job interviews all lined up to take the students forward.
The second round of orientation with the students of S.Y.B.Com. and their parents was announced and is scheduled to be conducted after the Diwali Vacation.
A cohort comprising of 30 students will be identified for the CareeReady Course that will be offered to the S.Y.B.Com. students in Semester IV. The follow through will be in Semester V and placement activity at the end of Semester VI. This plan of action was shared with all present at the orientation programme.
Mr. Nikhil Paul answered several questions and was successful in building the much needed excitement required to launch the CareeReady course. The programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by a student, Ms. Kirti of S.Y.B.Com. B Division.