3. Opening doors to a brighter future
By
Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram, Chennai.

4. Our Guiding Motto
“ Give a man a fish, you have fed him for today. Teach
a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”
- Chinese Proverb

5. The slums behind our school was always a matter of
concern for us. As a part of “Adopt a Neighbourhood”
project, we have been helping them in small ways:
 Organizing medical camp with free check up and
medicine.
 Teaching women to make paper bags from newspaper to
supplement their income, etc.
While deciding on a project for DFC, we decided to do
something which would make a lasting positive change in
their lives!

6.  We earmarked 3 slum areas and approached the local
leaders there who could assist and guide us.
 We realised there were lots of young school dropouts
idling around. We decided to do something to keep
them productively occupied.
 The first step would be to conduct a sample survey to
find out the numbers, age group, educational level, etc
of the target group.

7. Survey
We involved our entire class of over 100 students in the survey –
divided ourselves into groups of 4 and conducted the survey.

9. Survey Results
 Large number of school dropouts/ unemployed/
unskilled youth between the ages of 18-25.
 Several middle aged unskilled people looking for
jobs.
 Willingness to work but total ignorance of courses,
vocational training facilities, who to approach for
guidance, etc.

10. We decided to hold an Education/Employment Fair where
people could meet NGOs/agencies and learn about the
different courses available and enroll for courses/jobs.
 We compiled a list of NGOs that specialise in giving free,
short term vocational training and briefed them of our
project.
 About 8 NGOs confirmed their participation.
 We also located security agencies and retail outlets that
would require unskilled workforce.
Since it was unsafe to visit slums on our own we sought
the assistance of ‘Bhumi’, an NGO that works with the
slum dwellers.

11. Pamphlets and Banners
Once the day and date of the fair were decided, banners and pamphlets were
printed in Tamil giving details of the fair, courses offered, time, venue, etc.

12. For wider publicity we hired
auto rickshaws with
loudspeakers and went
around the slums announcing
about the fair and
distributing pamphlets.
Banners were put up in
crowded areas in the slums.
The entire expense of
Rs.6000/- was met partly by
the school and partly shared
by the students.

13. Employment/Education Fair
The courses offered ranged from tailoring, nursing, baking, auto
mechanics, driving, basic computers and data entry, beauticians, etc.
One university even offered to take students and put them through 3
years training in computer software and give them back office jobs!
Some of the NGOs/agencies that participated in the fair were:
•Winners Bakery
•The Construction Industry Development Council
•Rotary Club Of Madras
•Dr. Reddy’s Foundation
•ZOHO Corp
•Suyam Trust
•Spencer's Daily Outlet
And many more

14. Employment Fair
We had planned to have stalls around the school grounds but due to
sudden rains, we had to shift the venue to an unused multi purpose
hall.
Our entire class stayed back in school till late in the evening sweeping,
scrubbing and cleaning floors, arranging tables, etc.

15. At the fair
Next morning the stalls were set up and groups of volunteers took on
duties like registration guiding participants, helping with form, etc.
There was a steady flow of enthusiastic people of all ages.
The NGOs came prepared with pamphlets, brochures, powerpoint
presentations, etc to brief people.

16. Our Success
•When the fair wound up and we analysed our response
– we realised that our efforts were not in vain.
•We had managed to make a change in the lives of quite
a few people directly and indirectly…..
•About 8 to 10 unemployed people had been recruited by
retail outlets/security agencies.
•Around 15 to 20 school dropouts had enrolled in various
skill training programmes.
•Many more went home with lists/brochures/addresses
of various courses available for future use.

17. Our Aim
 To do our bit to help un/underemployed people find gainful
employment.
 Expose school dropouts to vocational courses and avenues available
to them.
 Connect select NGOs and slum dwellers, so that they can assist and
guide youngsters who need help.
THE FACT THAT WE MANAGED TO ACHIEVE ALL THIS IS INDEED REWARDING.

18. Our Learning
 While we have several career counselling facilities,
children of our age group in the slums idle away
their time due to lack of such guidance.
 If we the privileged can guide them it can change
their entire lives.

19. Nikhil Raja
Sharanya Ramesh
Priyanka Ravi
Pratibha R K
Keerrthaana H
Teacher co-ordinator: Mrs. Radha Venugopal
Technical assistance: Mrs. K. Lavanya Thulasi