SHILLONG, Jan 13: Two-hundred forty students from Hynriew Shnong and Jakrem, Mawkyrwat, on Saturday graduated from Aspire Meghalaya at a graduation ceremony organised at Jakrem Presbyterian HS School.
Launched in 2019, Aspire Meghalaya is a unique intervention sponsored by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs through the Department of Arts & Culture to empower tribal youths by imparting in them confidence, soft skills, among others. The project is implemented by AVENUES, North East’s pioneering life coaching social enterprise.
This year’s edition of Aspire Meghalaya saw a number of stakeholders from both rural and urban areas actively getting involved to facilitate a deeper intervention for youth in remote areas such as Hynriew Shnong.
The local common service centres (CSCs), such as the Mawrangdang CSC in Mawkyrwat, took the initiative to mobilise participants from within their respective communities in collaboration with school authorities and with the support of the District Administration.
Speaking at graduation programme in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, C Kharkongor, said, “The impact of Aspire Meghalaya on these children is evident from the improvement in their confidence and soft skills over these few weeks. I believe programmes like this are crucial to empower youths to become self-reliant as they enter adulthood and leverage opportunities for productive livelihoods.”
She also accentuated the need for infrastructural development in the region to help facilitate programmes such as this in the remotest areas across the district.
A huge part of the initiative this year is to provide a platform for youths to showcase their talents across music, singing, performance arts, literary arts, cultural and indigenous practices along with unique opportunities to explore alternative careers.