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Celebrating 10 Years |
Annual Report 07-08: Kria - Income Generation Program & Outbound - Camp Facilitation and Vocational Training
< Home Placement Organization Initiatives >
Kria - Income Generation Program
Kria is a program that complements the organization’s field-level projects. It began recognizing that in working with youth, a primary area of concern was economic independence. Kria provides a daily stipend for hands on work, allowing the individual to earn while considering where he or she wants to go in life and exploring career options. Through this Income Generation Program, dignity is restored by removing absolute dependence on charity and assistance is lent in designing options, career counseling, and time for personal reflection. Because marketable products are created, namely paper bags and glass mosaic home décor items, the potential to identify with a business model was recognized. Through the presentation of professional concepts, a full fledged vocational training program emerged with emphasis on workplace etiquette and business management (bookkeeping, inventory control, costing, etc) introduced to participants. The positive environment, constructive use of time, and vocational aspect has proven to be a very effective component in the holistic approach taken in conjunction with the referring project (ie, Youth Initiative and Girls Projects).
For the last few years, the Kria team has been working towards the possibility of separating the paper bag making unit into an Income Generation and Vocational Training Unit to continue the work complementing the Youth Initiative Project while also creating a unit which is more business-oriented. This split would allow a more intensive atmosphere for the longer term participants to be less in a rehabilitative setting and more in a professional situation with all the demands – and all the rewards – that it entails. The challenge has been how to hold such a split still within the Saathi fold and design a model that allows Saathi’s commitment towards individual development while closely watching a market-driven balance sheet. Over the course of this year, an internal team was formed to brainstorm on this, along with participation by the youth of Kria. 2008-09 will see the group rolling out this “new” unit, documenting its challenges and progress into what will hopefully be a replicable model. At the same time, because the Kria Mosaic unit has such a strong therapeutic component, its management has been transferred more fully into the Girls Project to allow the various rehabilitative activities to dovetail more closely.
Milestones
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Opening of 2nd workshop to allow greater orders and begin separating the Business vs. IGP Kria groups |
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Greater involvement of Youth Initiative Project case workers with new trainees referred to Kria IGP |
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Art Gallery Premiere of mosaic fine art pieces at Cymroza Art Gallery |
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Expansion of mosaic line to include mosaic inlay in furniture pieces |
Concerns & Challenges
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Building a larger client base to utilize the full production capacity of the program |
Future Plans
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Separate Kria into a business-oriented unit and an Income Generation and Vocational Training unit |
Outbound - Camp Facilitation and Vocational Training
Outbound Vocational Training is a Saathi-held program training youth to become technical facilitators for outbound activities, adventure sports and camps. The training encompasses basic equipment use to advanced topics such as Wilderness First Aid and ecological impact of activities. Several OVT participants have gone on to receive certification through the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and are making careers as Outbound Professionals.
Started in 2003, the Outbound Vocational Training program teaching youth to become adventure camp facilitators, has been a point of interest to many and has excelled in its objective. In 2007-08, the initial group of Trainees began working in earnest as Outdoor Professionals. It has been extremely gratifying to all involved to see how the group has grown, individuals have blossomed, and unique talents have emerged. The “alumni” have taken on many of the responsibilities of training newcomers to the vocational training aspect while also facilitating camps for a wide variety of clients – from corporates to children’s groups.
Milestones
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Outbound team working on freelance assignments as well as organizing camps for clients as a technical team |
Concerns & Challenges
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Increasing the client base of the group, allowing them to move into full time camp facilitation |
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Overcoming stereotypes against women in the Outdoor profession amongst organizations that could refer their female participants for the vocational training |
Future Plans
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Develop a formal business model, including marketing materials and strategies for client base building |
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Raise funds to allow Outbound and Wilderness Therapy Camps to be held for other development organizations working with troubled and at-risk youth and children |
< Home Placement Organization Initiatives >
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Laldev came to Saathi six years ago, a shy and troubled youth, estranged from his family and floundering after a brush with the law. He worked diligently with his case worker, trying to get a fix on his future and how he wanted to move forward. When he started training for the first Mumbai Marathon in 2003, everyone remarked on how well he took to it. As he moved through various programs, especially excelling in the Outbound Vocational Training, he always kept time for his running. After the 2nd marathon, he’d started training with a professional coach. By the 3rd year of running, he was competing in marathons and road races around the country. Laldev’s determination and natural talent for the sport of running have propelled him forward dramatically. He is now training to be a professional Runner, with 2008-09 to mark his entrance into professional categories of various races. If you would like to support his endeavors, please contact us for types of sponsorship and how you can be part of Laldev’s dream.
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