150 students take a LEAP of faith in WKH

JOWAI: Over 150 boys and girls from Jowai completed a career readiness and life skills programme under LEAP Meghalaya that was inaugurated in West Jaintia Hills earlier this month.
Participants were taken through intensive modules in confidence building, life and soft skills and basic career readiness in preparation for life and work by LEAP training partner, AVENUES, Shillong. The initiative is being implemented by the office of the deputy commissioner of West Jaintia Hills.
Students of Kiang Nangbah Government College and Thomas Jones Synod College were felicitated at the closing ceremony of the workshops at a ceremony held on 22nd December last in the presence of the district Deputy Commissioner.
While expressing his satisfaction over the transformation evident in the participants, Deputy Commissioner RR Rapthap expressed his gratitude to the principals of the two partner colleges for implementing the campus career readiness programme and encouraging students to participate in the one of a kind endeavour.
“I believe that each one of you will leave the programme with the skills acquired during the programme embedded into your hearts. I also urge you to share these very same skills with your peers so that the knowledge is not restricted only to you,” a statement to the press quoted him as saying.
The deputy commissioner also voiced his concerns about the alarming rise in HIV cases and drug abuse in the district while flagging other issues, like the dropout rate and education opportunities, hindering progress of the youth here.
The principal of Thomas Jones Synod College, RR Kharkongor, lauded the initiative for its commitment and dedication towards the development of the youth even as the programme was hosted on the college premises.
OU Lyngdoh, principal of Kiang Nangbah College, expressed his gratitude to the state government as well as the local administration for the programme, which “was unheard of in earlier years”.
Managing director of AVENUES Mark Stone Laitflang highlighted the various interventions being conducted across the state while congratulating students for successfully completing the 10-day curriculum and choosing to engage with trainers in acquiring career skills for life and work.