Closing the gap
It is well documented that India is changing fast. In the cities the growing middle class is much in evidence. Towering skyscrapers and massive malls are springing up, while young people in expensive jeans hop out of brand new cars, mobiles pressed to their ears.
At the same time, some 35% of the population still has to survive on under US$1 a day, and more than two thirds of Indian homes do not have a toilet. (BBC News)
Oasis India is giving an education and passing on vocational skills to young people in India’s cities who have had few such opportunities. Traditionally we have taught sewing and embroidery since 1994. If we want to equip young people for the changing job market, we need to combine this with more contemporary skills.
An education
Bandra, a suburb in Mumbai, exemplifies Mumbai’s mind-bending inequality. A commercial hub and home to a glut of shops, bars and restaurants, it is one of the city’s most expensive suburbs. It is also home to large slums, where extended families lived crammed into tiny homes.
One of Oasis India’s newest projects, which we are running in conjunction with Bluedart, a South Asian courier company, is based in one of these slums. Young people from the slum are learning English, life skills and computing from Oasis staff. Three times a term, staff from Blue Dart come and teach customers services.
A step up
Anthony is 21. He dropped out of school in his 10th Standard because his father had no job and couldn’t afford to pay the school fees. His dad is still unemployed, and his mother has left because his dad used to fight with her.
‘I want to improve my English’, says Anthony. ‘I don’t have any chance to practice outside of the classroom. And computing is important to get a good job.’ This is the first time he’s had the chance to use a computer. He comes to the class every morning and from 5pm until late at night he does courier work.
When 20-year-old Sadik finishes the course, he wants to work in the telecommunications industry. Right now he does odd jobs to earn money. As the eldest of five, he has lots of responsibilities. He says, ‘I am enjoying it (the course) because I am learning English and about the better life. English is very important.’ Andy Cheng is one of the teachers on the course, and says that Sadik’s English has really improved. ‘With your help, sir,’ he replies with a big smile.
Students are also learning about writing a CV and interview skills. Once they graduate, we can help them find a job. We’re also encouraging those students who dropped out of school before getting any qualifications to study through the national Open School distance learning programme.
Andy says, ‘I hope the students will get a good foundation in English and computer skills and will continue to build on it. Some students have finished their basic education, that is 10th and 12th Standards. I hope these students will get jobs in the customer-service or retailing sectors, and continue their education at a night college or by correspondence course.
‘However, we still have some students who due to family financial constraints, have finished only Standard 8 or 9. For these students, I hope they will be able to finish their basic education.’
Students from the morning batch celebrate winning a cricket match
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