Smile Foundation extended its hand of partnerships to SAMPARC- (Social Action for Manpower Creation), Pune in Maharashtra and thus added yet another able partner organization to its list. The collaborative endeavour titled “Relocation & Expansion of Existing VTC (Vocational Training Centre)” will cover adolescent school drop-outs from 300 families. The residential training programme, which is free of cost, will improve the livelihood of the beneficiaries as well as their families.

The Project

The model project will cover school dropouts (having studied up to VIII standard, in the age-group 14-16) from weaker economic sections from village Bhaje in Talegaon. A new residential Vocational Training Centre (VTC) will be set up at Malavli, which is 98 km from Mumbai and 55 km from Pune.

SAMPARC is already running a VTC providing training in trades like Welding, Wireman, Tailoring, Carpentry, and Computer. The existing VTC is to be relocated to the bigger new site at Malavli in order to area in order to expand the activities and also for accommodating more students.

As per the project design, there will be 40 students in each batch and each student will have to compulsorily take up three trades/skills during the course duration of one year. The training will cover trades like Tailoring, Welding, Wireman, Carpentry and Computer. About 12-15 girls will be inducted in a batch of 40 students.

The course will be residential in nature and each student will be get boarding/ lodging for the training period, training course material and books, all free of cost.

The initiative is expected to enable these adolescents (youths), including the girl child, to develop their own capacity. Livelihood conditions of about 300 families are expected to improve in 5-7 years through this project.

A placement cell will be responsible for facilitating placement of the outgoing students. It will also ensure follow-up with the employed students at least for a period of two years and try to ensure their continuation in service, counseling etc. Trained and experienced faculty will be hired to teach and train the students.

About SAMPARC

SAMPARC (Social Action for Manpower Creation), is a registered non-governmental society, established in year 1980. Mr. Amit Banerjee and Mrs. Lata Pande spearheaded it as the founders, with its registered office in Pune, Maharashtra.

The organization has been working in Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal in the fields of education and rehabilitation focusing on poor, destitute and needy children of the sex workers, prisoners, orphans, earthquake victims etc. Women have been under special focus for SAMPARC. SAMPARC has been conducting various industrial training (vocational training) programmes for needy youth for 12 years now. Other initiatives such as vocational training, women empowerment, child health care, agriculture & community development programmes are part of the rural development programmes of the organisation.

SAMPARC has also been appreciated with various awards such as Presidential Award (1998) for acceptance of SAMPARC Children’s Village Concept; award from FICCI for Women’s Empowerment; Guru Mahatma Award from Shri Sansthan Datta Mandir Trust, Pune etc.

Special Focus

Girl child and children of single parents will get special preference for the programme. Gender sensitization programme and English language teaching programme will be part of the project.

After due evaluation and success of the project, similar initiatives will also be encouraged in other needy areas, thereby empowering the youth, specially the girl child.