Why did you create this innovation?

Youth in India often drop out of the formal education system due to do the lack of resources or life circumstances, leaving them with no skills or educational qualification. The Programme addresses to bridge this gap and provide these disadvantaged youth with skills & education through internships in their areas of choice, to help them actualize their potential and have access to a better life.

How does your innovation work in practice?

The Second Chance School provides a secure and stimulating environment to the boys through a range of learning experiences designed and implemented by Pallavanjali Institute of Actualisation of Individual Potential, an inclusive school providing education and life/vocational training to young adults from diverse backgrounds and different abilities. The two-year programme runs on rolling admission basis, wherein 15-20 students enrol every year.

Year One of the programme at Pallvanjali Institute of Actualisation of Individual Potential - includes Orientation, Assessment, Individual Career Action plan, Soft-skills training, English language training and Computer Education. Year Two focuses on an Internship, Technical education and Work placement. At the end of the programme the students are skilled to negotiate key life decisions and gain meaningful employment. Students move on to Independent Living once employed and financially independent.

How has it been spreading?

Our alumni are key stakeholders connecting us with disadvantaged youth from their hometowns and villages. This has helped scale the program, students trust the program based on the success of our alumni.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we have been able to pivot, adapt and continue our curriculum through our virtual classroom. Our curriculum is now tailored for efficient implemented via our ‘virtual classroom’ initiative.

We have worked hard to continually to diversify employment opportunities for our students in new industries – Finance, Healthcare, Mobile Technology, Culinary Arts, IT.

Energized by our success over the past few years we are working to expand the program for a larger audience. We are also working towards opening up the program to include young women.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

We have learned that identifying and assessing individual potential and tailoring our program to the realities of the job market has clear advantages, however it remains our focus to equip our students with values, skills and most importantly an entrepreneurial mindset to serve them well in their careers and life.
To learn more contact – krishnadas.jsr@gmail.com/ karishmahanda@ritinjali.org