The Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya, a 5-year project, was initiated in the year 2014 with the objective to enhance the employability of Meghalaya’s youth (aged 18 to 35 years) by improving the quality and delivery of its Secondary Higher Secondary (SHS) education and technical and vocational skills development programmes.
As one of the key implementing partners in the project, Aide et Action has been in the forefront of conducting advocacy and social mobilization campaigns to enhance participation and understanding about the importance of education, especially, secondary and higher education and vocational training, and the various opportunities within and outside Meghalaya.
On the education front, the project interacted closely with the School Management Committees of 117 Higher Secondary Schools selected in the project and empowered them on their roles and responsibilities with respect to the Right to Education Act 2009. The students were provided with career counseling advice and informed about the various opportunities for vocational and technical training being offered under the project and by the Government of Meghalaya & India after schooling.
In line with the project’s objective of ensuring community participation and ownership, Aide et Action built the capacities of School Management Committees on monitoring the construction of the new school buildings as per the prescribed plans and the specifications laid out by RtE. They were oriented on architectural plans, record keeping and the need to regularly monitor the construction of the school to ensure quality.
On the skill development front, Aide et Action has oriented the youths in rural and urban Meghalaya as well as the community members about the importance of vocational and skills training, and the various programs being offered under the Project and by GOM/GOI. The youths have been provided with career counseling advice depending on their individual profiles.
Reach out
In the last 5 years, Aide et Action has successfully reached out to 39,473 youths, 24,204 students and other groups. The youths mobilized by Aide et Action are undergoing skill training in batches at various skill development institutions selected by the Government of Meghalaya. The project has built capacities of 6,724 SMC members enabling better governance in schools. The total reachout of the project is 1,34,271.