Victas Youth Development Program

Youth constitute 20% of Indian population with 222 million of them in the age group of 15 to 24. On the other side we have one third of India’s 1.2 billion people living below poverty line with their limited capacity of spending less than Rs. 50 (one US dollar) a day.

We see the uneducated, semi skilled, unskilled, underemployed and unemployed youth as potential tool to address the issue of poverty and work towards rural development. Victas Foundation believes that the untapped potential of the youth is a powerful source to help their families and communities overcome the cycle of poverty.

SKILLED AND INVOLVED YOUTH

A baseline survey conducted in 2010 had shown that 13.7% boys and 26.3% girls between the age group of 6-14 years in the community have never gone to school. About 9.8% boys and 18.6% girls enrolled remained absent from school at all times.

To help such children, Victas Foundation initiated its Non Formal Education (NFE) to ensure that they get basic education and are mainstreamed to formal education. Through 13 NFE centres operational at different remote villages, 336 (201 male & 135 female) drop out children have achieved functional literacy and 96 of them have been mainstreamed to the formal education system. Regular training programs are organized to enhance the capacity of NFE instructors.

Victas Foundation has motivated youth in 4 villages to take up the challenge of creating ‘model villages’. All the youth have pledged to work in unity in the coming years and work towards the holistic development of their villages.

Youth as Community Leaders

Changing attitudes and impacting situations:- A case Study

Before joining Victas Foundation Youth groups I was looking after my agriculture works. I have tractor and I used to collect the sand from our local river without permission of the government officials and transport it for construction of houses. I used to earn 1000/- rupees through the sand business every day.

Meanwhile Victas Foundation opened a water plant in the village in our village. As safe drinking water was an urging need in my house, I took membership in the Water Plant project. I was inspired by Victas Foundation’s way of organizing people. One day our area coordinators asked me to join Youth group and I joined without any hesitation. Initially I looked for personal benefit and I also skipped meetings. I began to feel interested in the group gradually and started taking active part in the village activities. Seeing my enthusiasm our youth members elected me as village youth leader cum development committee member in the gram Sabah. After attending village development committee training in Victas Foundation, my thinking and attitude changed completely and I decided to work for my village development.

My friends, well wishers, neighbours in our village saw my behavioural change and how I am able to serve the village. This was a great milestone in my life. Now I am able to speak in front of any body. I spoke in a 1500 members gathering at youth convention. I can never forget that experience in my life. Now I have stopped all illegal work of taking out the sand form river bed. I want to be a model for others to emulate. I am involving myself in village development activities voluntarily. This is giving me much satisfaction

I could make a difference

“Our local government school children were used to sitting on the floor. After seeing their plight of sitting on the floor while listening and taking notes in the class, we felt that writing tables and sitting benches were immediate need for children. With the help of Victas Foundation we could provide sufficient furniture to the class rooms. Awareness programs were conducted in the school for children. We have formed 4 village committees in the village and conducted health camps and shramadhanam by committee members. I did my best to get these services through Victas Foundation for our village. I am happy to express special gratitude to Victas Foundation.”

Recently Rajamouli launched a no-plastic campaign in his village and sent notices to all the shops in the village not to use plastic bags made with less 40 microns. He comes forward to question any officer or politician who does not fulfil their responsibilities towards the village. Today Raja Mouli is an acknowledged leader in the neighbourhood villages.

Victas Foundation India recognizes youth as having the potential for bringing positive change in their communities and accordingly youth constitute one fourth of the population covered. Some of the key program strategies developed by Victas Foundation India are:

Life-skill Training Module : This module is designed to provide youth with the skills to cope with everyday issues especially those connected with their personal development. 30% of the youth in program coverage areas have been covered through the life-skill training programs this year. This program has also helped in creating a network of change agents in the communities.

Youth Employment Model : The model that has been piloted this year in some program areas includes

(a) Conducting market survey to identify skills in demand locally
(b) Development of marketable skills and
(c) Post-placement mentoring.

Outcome

It has been observed that the children who did not have the habit of sitting in anganwadi Centre are attending the anganwadis. The parents, through interactions are also sending the children to anganwadi centres.
Contribution of village Youth committees to Vidya Victas Program in 2013-2014

• 26 schools were provided water though water projects

• 71 Skill training classes (tailoring, hardware computers) were organized for school drop-outs

• 210 class room benches were provided in rural government schools

• 20 motivational dramas were staged to educate 7,420 students on health and other issues

• 15,000 students and elders from 19 schools walked on 22nd March, 2011 International Water Day

Conclusion

In the path of development Victas Foundation has taken youth development as one of its focused activities in the year 2013-14. The youth program has predominantly worked on the following twin objectives;

1) To support the youth with education and skill development, in order to help them with jobs, self employment and small business opportunities.

2) Train them as leaders who can take up the cause of developing their villages and communities.

Youth Development Program 2013-14 – Number
1 Number of Youth Coordination Centres 10
2 Number of youth development activity villages 54
3 Number of youth groups 350
4 Number of members in youth groups 3656
5 Number of youth field coordinators 62
6 Number of youth village leaders 61
7 Number of youth group leaders 350
Capacity Building Sessions – Number
1 Number of group leaders and Village leaders participated in 10 trainings 377
2 5th Youth convention attendance 1578 1578
3 Number of community based and village development committees formed 54
4 Number of youth participated in exposure tour to model village Gangadevipalli 351
5 Attendance at seminar on new generation and use of technology 201
6 Attendance at seminar on Janlokpal 215
Development Activities – Number
1 Number of schools that improved their quality through Vida Victas programs 4
2 Number of health and awareness activities conducted in schools 20
3 Total attendance for school dramas 5456
4 Number of trees planted in 53 villages 26494
5 Number of patients treated in health camps 1698
6 Number of family toilets constructed 151
7 Number of youth who underwent skill training in tailoring & driving 114
8 Number of class rooms provided with furniture in 8 rural Schools 20
9 Number of people participated in the walk for water on ‘World Water Day’ 5604
10 Number of people participated in Gramasabhas in 27 villages 3297