A total of 3182 students from 15 campuses across districts graduated from Aspire Meghalaya at functions held in their respective school premises this month.
The Aspire Meghalaya programme places youth engagement, talent identification and career aspirations at the heart of its interventions. A key objective of the programme is to assess training gaps and talent potential in seen and previously unseen skill and talent domains amongst adolescents and young adults across the State.
The programme commenced its first phase in March earlier this year in its aim to provide a safe space for young voices to be heard, by approaching and engaging young adults between the ages of 14-20 across districts through the Meghalaya Youth Survey which had, till date, reached over 50,000 adolescent youths, constituting 30 per cent of the target youth demographic of the State.
The second phase of the programme was launched earlier this month to address the significant gap in life skills and career preparedness in the current education framework by imparting universally employable soft skills through on-campus Soft Skills and Life Preparedness interventions. Modules specially designed to build Confidence, Clarity of Thought, Communication Skills and Emotional Resilience were delivered through 20-hour, high-impact workshops over a period of 10 days in campuses across districts.
Speaking at one of the graduation functions, Salanbor Kamar, SSA office, Education Department, lauded the combined efforts of the participating campuses and the implementation agency in successfully facilitating the 10-day programme in each campus.
Addressing the students, he said, “This particular program is especially designed for you, the youth of the State, to help you find yourself, identify your hearts’ desires and choose the right career for your future.” He further added that through the initiative, the District Sports Office under the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs would be able to provide guidance, particularly in sports related career options, with the hopes of seeing increased representation of Meghalaya in all National and International platforms.
The graduating campuses included Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Shillong in East Khasi Hills; Williamnagar Government Higher Secondary School and Green Yard Higher Secondary School in East Garo Hills; Baghmara Government Higher Secondary Schoolin South Garo Hills; Seinjat Tuber Higher Secondary School, Khliehriat Higher Secondary School and Ambrose Memorial Secondary Schoolin East Jaintia Hills; Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ummulong Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Sawlyngdoh Higher Secondary School and St. Dominic Higher Secondary Schoolin West Jaintia Hills; Nirupama Memorial Secondary School, Rangsakona Higher Secondary School, AmpatiGovernment Higher Secondary School and St. Claret Higher Secondary Schoolin South West Garo Hills.
