Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: Skill Development Programs for Young Women - ActionAid India
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Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Skill Development Programs for Young Women

Author: Vandana Burder
Posted on: Monday, 23rd September 2024

“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow” – is an axiom attributed to Nelson Mandela but echoed by many. As society’s backbone, the youth drive progress and innovation but face numerous challenges. A large majority of India’s youth, especially those from deprived backgrounds, lack professional skills and are forced into the insecure informal economy. The form of urbanization witnessed in India, with the bulk of the population relegated to slums and re-settlement colonies with inadequate civic services, offers little employment and livelihood to today’s youth. Skilling and livelihood schemes exist but are insufficient, difficult to access, and often remain unpublicized and underutilized due to a lack of awareness.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines NEET youth as those aged 15-24 who are Not participating in Employment, Education, or Training, and this metric is often used to assess the challenges faced by young people in the labour market, especially in terms of access to decent work and skill development opportunities. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2021-2022, the overall NEET rates in India are approximately 24% of youth between the ages 15-29, with rates in rural areas as around 27.3% in urban areas at about 20.8%. With female NEET rates in rural areas at 45% and in Urban areas at 42%, it is clear that women face broader challenges, including limited access to education, employment opportunities, and socio-cultural barriers.

It is in recognition of this extreme gender disparity, even amongst deprived youth, that ActionAid Association has chosen to work with a dynamic and diverse group of young women in urban areas, looking at three focus areas – bodily integrity, gender-responsive public services (GRPS) and economic security.

Bodily integrity refers to the right of women to have control over their bodies without external interference, coercion, or violence. It encompasses the freedom to make autonomous decisions about one’s body, including issues related to health, sexuality, reproductive rights, and freedom from physical harm. Bodily integrity is fundamental to human rights and crucial for protecting women’s dignity and independence. Gender-responsive public services are vital for advancing gender equality and enabling women and girls to participate fully in social, economic, and political life. They help create more inclusive societies with equal access to opportunities and resources. Economic security is fundamental to women’s empowerment and equality, affecting their ability to make choices, participate in society, and escape poverty. Achieving economic security for women benefits individuals and contributes to broader economic growth and development.

After sustained engagements over the last decade, ActionAid Association has built agency amongst young women across 13 cities covering 145 urban slums and with more than 5,000 individuals. AAA has prioritized the skill enhancement and economic security of young women. We have provided skill-building training independently and in collaboration with technical training institutes operated by the Government, like the National Institute of Industrial Training, and civil society organizations like Magic Bus and other local groups. We have organized skill-based training on a variety of topics, including artificial jewellery making, bakery & confectionary, computers and digital literacy, driving – both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, fashion designing, hand embroidery, home care nursing, making sanitary napkins, mushroom cultivation and making jute bags. More than 1,000 young women have been provided with skill-based training.

Not just in urban areas, ActionAid Association works to increase livelihood opportunities for women through individual and collective enterprise development in rural areas. We strive to create decent work opportunities through skilling and supporting farm-based and workers’ enterprises, strengthening collectives of women informal workers for collective economic activities and social justice and linking women with central and state livelihood schemes. AAA promoted sustainable farming, artisan groups, and registered cooperatives, benefiting diverse women, including those from SC/ST and NTDNT communities.

Over the years of engagement, young women have developed an understanding of their physical and mental health, built awareness about their economic vulnerability, and gained knowledge about labour codes and other relevant policies. Young women are now making informed choices and changing social and gender norms. They are now taking active roles in voicing their rights for decent working conditions, bodily integrity, and gender-responsive public services, including community toilets, water and sanitation, transportation, crisis centres, streetlights, wages, working hours, leave, prevention of sexual harassment at workplace, safety at the workplace.

Empowering tomorrow’s leaders starts with investing in youth, especially women’s leadership development. By equipping young individuals, especially women, with essential skills and a mindset for leadership, we pave the way for a brighter future and build leaders for tomorrow.

Disclaimer: The article was originally published on Dailyhunt. The views expressed in the article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of ActionAid Association.