SHILLONG, Oct 2: More than 3,800 students from 18 campuses across districts benefitted from soft skills training, career exploration interventions and talent identification programmes under Aspire Meghalaya in its final phase of campus interventions this month.
Since April this year, Aspire Meghalaya has impacted over 13,000 young lives in 62 campuses and over 350 talents have been identified across all districts.
Aspire Meghalaya is an initiative of the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs and supported by the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM-SSA) under the Education department.
The programme is implemented by AVENUES, Meghalaya-based personal excellence training social enterprise.
Speaking at the graduation function in Mawkyrwat, Additional Deputy Commissioner, South West Khasi Hills, Jacqueline Una Kharpuri, said, “Programmes like these are very encouraging even for us as officers to learn and be motivated by what more we can do for the people of the district and the state. The skills that have been imparted are for your personal growth, your communication skills, your interpersonal skills and also your mental wellbeing.”
She went on to express gratitude to the Aspire Meghalaya Team for giving their best in imparting critical soft skills training to the youth so that they have a better and brighter future.
Over the course of the year, the programme saw a number of stakeholders from across sectors coming together to deliver interventions that instil improved confidence, aspirations and well-being in rural, sub-urban and urban youths across districts.
Aspire Meghalaya’s curriculum is designed to equip young adults with critical soft skills such as communication skills, clarity of thought, critical thinking and emotional resilience.
The career exploration modules aim to build youth aspirations, job-seeking proficiencies and career readiness.
Speaking about his experience, Jakusanrik M Marak, a Class 12 student of Dalu Government Higher Secondary School, said, “Before this programme, I had low self-esteem, and it affected my confidence level. I would compare myself with others and think that I had no value to add. But these sessions have helped me know more about myself and my potential. I am now more confident than I used to be”.
A key highlight of the graduation functions across all districts was the presence of prominent home-grown personalities who have established their footing in spaces such as sports, education and research, and the alternate arts. Each one took to the stage and inspired the fresh graduates with an insight into their passion-fuelled professional journeys.
Speaking at the function in Mairang, Archery coach from the District Sports Office, West Khasi Hills, Alan B Rymbai, said, “There are 3 Ds that are the pillars of success – Discipline, Determination and Devotion. It takes sheer discipline and strong will power to commit to your passion. You may not know what your talent is right now or what you want to do in life, butprogrammes like Aspire Meghalaya help build the courage you need to overcome your fears and instil the discipline you need”.
He lauded the efforts of the training team for their dedication to nurture the skills needed in young adults and for providing a platform to explore their potential. “What needs to come from you is the determination to go after what you want and the devotion to your goal and the possibilities are endless,”he exhorted the young graduates.
Daphilabet Kharbani, First Semester, Nongstoin College, inspired the audience with her story and vocal talent. “I have always had this fear in me because of lack of confidence. My passion in life is singing and I want with all my heart to share my gift with the world. But our passions do not come without challenges,” she said, while talking about how the programme has helped her build the confidence and courage she needs to face her fears, get up on stage and not only speak but also sing in front of an audience.
The 18 campuses that graduated this month included Shillong Commerce College in East Khasi Hills; Tirot Sing Memorial College, Langtor Higher Secondary School, Kynshi Higher Secondary School and Pariong Presbytery Higher Secondary School in Eastern West Khasi Hills; St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Nativity Higher Secondary School and Hynriew Shnong Higher Secondary School in South West Khasi Hills; Nongstoin College and Lyngngam Presbyterian Higher Secondary School in West Khasi Hills; Don Bosco Higher Secondary School in Ri Bhoi; Rymbai Government Secondary School in East Jaintia Hills, Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School and Dalu Government Higher Secondary School in West Garo Hills; Loyola College in East Garo Hills; Adokgiri Secondary School in North Garo Hills, St. Francis De Sales Secondary School in South Garo Hills; and Ampati Degree College in South West Garo Hills.
