SHILLONG, June 28: As many as 3,182 young adults from 15 campuses spread across different districts of Meghalaya graduated from Aspire Meghalaya during multiple functions organised in their respective school premises this month.
Since commencing its first phase in March this year, the Aspire Meghalaya programme, in its aim to provide a safe space for young voices to be heard, approached and engaged young adults between the age group 14-20 across districts through the Meghalaya Youth Survey, which had till date reached over 50,000 adolescent youths, constituting 30% 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.
Sameki Syngkon (Class 12) of Ummulong Presbyterian Higher Secondary School motivated his peers saying, “We all have our own talents, but we are sometimes too shy and afraid to show them. I believe we have all gained a lot from this programme, so let us remove all doubt and fear to display our talents. And when teachers call upon us in class and in school, we must not hesitate, but we must come forward with confidence.”
Addressing students at another one of the graduation events, ADC of East Garo Hills, Dimseritha A Sangma, said, “Not everybody can get the opportunity to witness, experience and process this kind of training. So cherish this precious stage in your lives.”
She went on to emphasise how soft skills complement the micro and macro skills taught in classrooms and how together these help prepare young minds to take on challenges in the competitive world today. She urged the teachers to incorporate the lessons taught during the programme in their teachings in class. “Make your classes interesting, appreciate the students’ talents and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones,” she added.
Another aspect of the Aspire Meghalaya initiative is the identification of emerging talents in remote areas of the state through a ‘Talent Identification’ platform which is the third stage of the intervention.
Talent exhibition platforms are being integrated into the initiative that places the participating campuses at the heart of the programme.
Schools play a key role in identifying the top talents to represent their respective campuses at the district level.
A district talent committee is formed to identify the top talents from each district who will then converge at a State Youth Summit, where the State’s top talents would have been selected via public votes as the ‘Aspire Meghalaya Stars’.
The graduating campuses included Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Williamnagar Government Higher Secondary School and Green Yard Higher Secondary School in East Garo Hills, Baghmara Government Higher Secondary School in South Garo Hills, Seinjat Tuber Higher Secondary School, Khliehriat Higher Secondary School and Ambrose Memorial Secondary School in East Jaintia Hills, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ummulong Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Sawlyngdoh Higher Secondary School and St. Dominic Higher Secondary School in West Jaintia Hills, Nirupama Memorial Secondary School, Rangsakona Higher Secondary School, Ampati Government Higher Secondary School and St. Claret Higher Secondary School in South West Garo Hills.
