76 Leprosy Affected Youth Enrolled in Vocational Training

Udayan has been taking great strides to strengthen and expand the Employability Program, to ensure that every child at Udayan is settled in a strong and dignified job.

This program has received a huge boost with a commitment by the Steve Waugh Foundation to support 210 youth in undergoing training – 50 last financial year, with additional students selected each subsequent year for the following 4 years.  Additionally, SBI Life Insurance is supporting a further 28 youth to pursue vocational and professional training.

This year, 41 youth from leprosy affected backgrounds are pursuing General Nursing Midwifery Training (GNM) from reputed Nursing institute of Chhattisgarh, 21 youth are pursuing Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in Hotel Management; and 14 youth in Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technician (DMLT). Total 76 children from various leprosy colonies are pursuing vocational training under the guidance and umbrella of Udayan. 

Udayan team have just returned from the field to select the second round of candidates for the Steve Waugh Vocational Training Scholarship, with 66 youth turning out to fill just 12 spots - highlighting the desperate need for vocational training in the leprosy colonies today.

Final Year Hospitality Students Earn Rs20,000 per month on Internship
Four youth, who took admission to undertake a three years Bachelor Degree (Business Administration in Hotel Management) in FY 2019, are now in their 3^rd year of their course and all of them have been placed in a paid internship in the well-known brands - hotel chain ‘Royal Orchids Golden Suites’, Pune, Maharashtra, and Haldiram Foods International Pvt. Ltd. After completion of final semester in December 2022, they will be absorbed by the companies.     

         

 
Vivek Singh (name changed) from Simonpur, Purulia, is one of the students working as intern with Royal Orchids Golden Suites, Pune, Maharashtra. Drawing a stipend of Rs20,000 per month, the internship has changed his life and helped him become financially stable.  Vivek revealed “I have had a rebirth at Udayan - Thank you for making my life!”  

 

Career Counselling Introduced
To support Udayan’s Employability Program and provide guidance to our students, twice in a year Udayan has organized a Career Counselling program harnessing the expertise of an external resource person for the children of Class VIII and above. The Career counselling sessions supported the children to understand their own interest area and competencies, based on which they can choose their career path. Interactive group discussions and counselling sessions were held on communication skills, mock interviews, resume writing, self-confidence and grooming.