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Yuva Café: Brewing youth empowerment

Home / Blogs / Yuva Café: Brewing youth empowerment

Anita* was looking for a place where she could learn some basic computer applications to help her get a job. Her friend Ravi* told her about a place which was offering a course that taught basic computer skills – free of cost! Jumping at the idea, Anita rode her scooter and parked by a building which had a board that said Yuva Café. “A rather odd name for a place where people learn about computers”, she thought. She went in, had a chat with the teachers there and began her lessons. Observing what was happening around her – deeper conversations between the students and teacher, lessons on how to speak English with greater effect, a small library covering a variety of subjects – she realised that Yuva Café wasn’t just a place to get some basic computer knowledge, there was a whole lot more!

 

Now, the term Café evokes myriad settings. A place to get a quick coffee. A place to catch up with friends. A place to begin your startup. A place to read. A place to contemplate quietly. In the same manner, Yuva Café as a concept was set up to serve multiple needs of youth, all under one roof.

 

Through Makkala Jagriti’s flagship program for youth, Yuva Jagriti, we set up two Yuva Cafés in Bengaluru – in Malleshwaram and Halasuru – safe spaces for youth to explore their dreams, enhance their skills, and find themselves!

Youth Empowerment - Makkala Jagriti

Teenage is often described as a crucial time, a time that bridges childhood aspirations and life as an adult. It is at this time that academic and career decisions are taken. What helps further is an understanding of options that lie ahead, without the constraint of expectations and peer pressure. Yuva Café becomes the ideal place for all of this to happen, with such guidance mixed with fun and games.

Key contributors to youth empowerment are academic support and scholarships. When there exist certain difficulties in grasping a subject, they can turn into causes of lack of motivation to move on ahead. This is where academic support plays a major role in ensuring the youth stay enthusiastic and motivated with their studies. Scholarships for academically strong students, meanwhile, ensure they do not discontinue their studies for want of funds. All this, combined with mentoring, helps the youth choose a path which is right for them. Take the story of Arjun*, for instance. Arjun has been strong with his studies. However, the financial situation at home was quite difficult, leading to a situation where he would have to discontinue studies after high school and take up a job to support his family, as there were no funds to help him with his higher studies. Because of his academic performance, Arjun gained a scholarship through Yuva Jagriti, and is now well on his way to studying for the National Defence Academy entrance… a few steps away from a career in the Indian Armed Forces.

 

Speaking to community leaders, one common gap often expressed is that of skill development for job readiness. In under-resourced communities, where opportunities are few but dreams are many, it takes but one avenue to bridge that gap… and many a youth has found that avenue in Yuva Café.

A detailed look at what happens at Yuva Café shows a wide range of courses that contribute to youth development. Programs in computer training, spoken English proficiency and life skills are among the popular draws for youth, and these programs are available without any prerequisites. Students who have discontinued school studies owing to a variety of circumstances have the opportunity to seek support at Yuva Café, do what’s needed to catch up on their studies, gain guidance on available pathways that match their interests, and successfully obtain their high school leaving certificates.

But then is it all about finding what you want to do in life and figure out a way to achieve it? No, there’s a whole lot more. Just a little earlier, we spoke about how crucial one’s teenage is. Circumstances do have an impact on youth – traumatic events are hard to shake off well into adulthood, and the difficulties that arise out of the aftermath do get in the way of a youth’s progress. Yuva Café is one safe haven that provides a judgment-free space with access to professional counselling and guidance.

 

What one can gain at Yuva Café is not limited to the physical space that houses the Café. Before the pandemic, the youth got to participate in a number of activities outside the Café too. One activity that springs in the memory of every youth is the outbound excursions to sights in and around Bengaluru. The takeaways from such excursions included the importance of teamwork, punctuality, empathy for the needs of one another and increased self-confidence.

The youth have also had opportunities to visit offices of multinational companies. With many of our youth aspiring to work at such companies, it was a great experience for them to feel the work environment for themselves and make more informed decisions going ahead. Through these companies, the youth learned about working in dynamic teams, time management, and a wider range of career opportunities beyond their imagination!

 

Parents are thrilled with the sea change they’ve seen in their children after spending time at Yuva Café. We’ve heard from parents who said their kids are a lot more helpful at home, do their chores without being told and contribute to household decision-making too.

youth education- makkala jagriti

Yuva Café has also opened doors to youth, especially young women, who’ve had a gap between jobs or right after completion of studies as they began to grow their families. It can be quite challenging to get back into the workforce after such gaps. That’s where a stint at Yuva Café helps. With youth empowerment programs at hand to provide skill development, which further ensures youth catch up with what employers look for at the time, the youth gain a great deal of confidence that they can compete in the cutthroat world of job-searching. What’s more, Yuva Jagriti has attracted employers from across the spectrum to participate in job fairs organised by us, and that has thrown doors wide open for our youth.

 

The aspirations of our youth are not restricted to employment alone. Some have inclinations towards starting their own businesses, while some are determined to be in positions of service to the nation and the community. Among the youth currently connected with Yuva Café, we have aspirants for the Armed Forces, Administrative Services and Police Service too.

 

The pandemic certainly threw a spanner in the works as far as engagement was concerned. However, Yuva Jagriti’s team of determined facilitators ensured everyone was connected online and available for sessions over the web – distance may have gotten between us all, but the hunger for knowledge and fellowship brings us back together. In spite of being away from the physical space of Yuva Café, the essence of Yuva Café prevailed in the youth and the excitement to carry on with their pursuits went unhindered. What’s more, the urge to help the communities they live in took over the youth, and they donned their volunteer hats and actively participated in fundraising and grocery distribution drives to ensure no one in their surroundings were left behind.

 

At the end of the day, these words from the youths themselves say it all:

 

“This is the best place to change your life.” – Apoorva*, working towards a career in electronics.

 

“If you want freedom of expression and the freedom to learn what you want, join Yuva Café. This is a safe space to build yourself in spite of past difficulties.” – Rajeev*, who ensured no home in his neighbourhood was without basic groceries during the pandemic.

 

“Yuva Jagriti is very important, as it is a space to improve lives. My life has changed, it has become more beautiful, and it has exposed me to my own aspirations.” – Shreeja*, a mother-of-two working towards a return to the workforce.

 

“You will be taught well and with empathy. This is a good place to be.” – Saraswati*, who aims to become a senior police officer one day.

 

“Find your skills and capabilities by joining Yuva Jagriti; it’ll open a whole new world for you.” – Ruchi*, on her way to becoming a mechanical engineer.

 

*Names changed to protect identities

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anganwadi school near me

How the education of one girl can impact generations ahead

Both of Mercy’s parents worked in the unorganised sector, who could not afford her school fees. She joined Makkala Jagriti Learning Centre at the age of 11, and always found the facilitators to be warm, welcoming and encouraging. Makkala Jagriti also supported her to pursue her education.

“We had a lot of freedom to explore our interests and talents. They taught us life skills and values. It was a new world for me.”

– Mercy

Through the Yuva Jagriti career guidance programme, Mercy received the right kind of insight and encouragement that led her to pursue a degree in Commerce, that too through a merit seat. Being the first girl in her family to study that far, she set an example in her community and made choices that allowed her to move beyond the circumstances that she was born into. Mercy now works in a reputed bank and is among our celebrated many who not only made a difference in their own lives but continue to do so in that of others.

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Turning a Misguided Youth into a Community Leader

Prabhu was a teenager when the old, dilapidated building in which his family lived collapsed, leaving them without a home. While they were still grappling with the situation, Prabhu lost his father, the sole earning member of the family. Unable to process his difficult circumstances, he found strength in hanging around with his friends, who often indulged in gang wars and all forms of abusive behaviour.

Prabhu was a shy yet playful boy when he joined the Yuva Jagriti centre at the age of 15. He expressed, “I feel I am at crossroads, not sure which road to take”. Following our support and guidance, he decided to pursue an internship at Makkala Jagriti. He was entrusted to work with children from Shelter Homes. Today, Prabhu is a sought-after Creative Facilitator and Coordinator at Makkala Jagriti, managing three Community Centres. A silent yet sound performer, he brings in diverse and highly creative ways to engage children and help them learn and grow.

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From a 10th Std. dropout to a World Taekwondo Champion

Murali lived in Bengaluru with his brother, while his parents lived in a village in Tamil Nadu. After his 10th grade, he lost the interest and inclination to study further. When he joined Yuva Jagriti, he started learning Taekwondo at our centre, which helped him become calmer and more focused. He also showed immense capacity to work with children, especially in the areas of sports and creativity, and this landed him an opportunity to work with Makkala Jagriti. Alongside his work, he pursued Taekwondo and competed at the District, State and National levels. He won a number of Gold Medals.

Today, Murali is an accomplished Taekwondo instructor, teaching at many schools in Bengaluru. He brought great accolades to the Nation when he won two bronze medals at the World Taekwondo Championship in Korea in September 2017.

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Breaking the language barrier for migrant children

Barnalli, a seventh grade student at Government Primary School, Somasundrapalya, is a child of migrant parents from Assam. Unable to speak the local language, Kannada, she found it difficult to adjust to school and struggled to mingle with other children.

“When you are new to a place and don’t know anyone, it is hard to fit in. She didn’t have any friends in school.”

– Barnalli’s mother

Makkala Jagriti’s language development program came to her rescue.

“Although I was in a higher grade, the HDLC facilitator taught me Kannada right from the basics. The different activities and sessions helped me grasp the language easily and quickly. Over time, Kannada moved from being just a new language to my favorite subject. Learning Kannada helped me enjoy school a lot more. I became a class leader and also started representing the school in inter-school competitions!”

– Barnalli

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Equipping parents to become positive influencers

Manoj, a 12-year-old boy, hails from a family of garment workers who had migrated from Andhra Pradesh. On moving to Bengaluru in 2018, he joined the Government Primary School in Ulsoor. The drastic change in his environment and culture left him feeling withdrawn and fearful. He refused to speak or participate in any school activity. Over time, he confided in our HDLC facilitator about feeling neglected by his parents in such difficult circumstances.

Manoj’s mother was invited to participate in Makkala Jagriti’s parents’ workshop. The two-day residential workshop allowed her to reflect on her own mindset, biases and relationship with her son. At the end of it, she made a conscious decision to work on rebuilding and restoring her relationship with Manoj. At school, our facilitator noticed that this had a direct impact on his performance. He became more participative and improved in his academics. Manoj later shared with the facilitator that his relationship had become more harmonious and positive with his mother.

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Nammoora Anganwadi

We have seen great transformation take place when parents and community members are involved in shaping learning spaces for children and understand the importance of preschool education. The Anganwadi at Katamnallur, Bengaluru, transformed from a dull space to a vibrant and colourful learning centre, where children love to visit every day and parents and community members gather to participate in various activities.

“When we started our intervention, we saw that the environment at the Anganwadi was not safe or conducive for children. Although the community could contribute to the Anganwadi’s development, there was a major gap between the community, local leaders and Anganwadi teachers.”

– Gouri, Coordinator

Through community celebrations and fun events, we involved community members in the Anganwadi activities. As their participation grew, their understanding about the significance of early learning and development also increased and they readily contributed to the centre’s development.

“Community involvement in Anganwadi is so important. Inspired by Makkala Jagriti’s work, we saw the community, parents and Bala Vikas Samithi members come together and show greater ownership towards the Anganwadi.”

– Subramanya Swamy, Doddabanahalli Gram Panchayat Member

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A Library with Toys!

In an effort to ensure that every household in the Anganwadi community had access to child-friendly learning materials, we started a novel initiative called ‘Toy Library’, which allowed parents to borrow toys and learning resources for their children.

“The Toy Library has been very useful for children. Whatever we teach at Anganwadi, they can continue learning at home independently. Parents also feel more equipped to engage their children at home. No wonder, within just two months of its launch, over 100 toys were borrowed from our Anganwadi.”

– Bhavya, Anganwadi teacher

The Toy Library concept was welcomed by the community and the time spent on learning at home increased!

“My child always preplans what he’d like to take home from the Toy Library. He has also become very responsible in maintaining the toys because he knows he must return them! In the past 3 months, we have borrowed 20 times already.”

– Shwetha, Parent, Vijayanagara Anganwadi, Doddaballapur

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Empowered Teachers Create Better Learners

To ensure children get quality pre-school learning opportunities in the Anganwadi, we empower the teachers and helpers through enhancing their knowledge, skills and attitude towards early learning and development.

“Through Anganwadi trainings, I have changed in a positive way and gained confidence about myself – especially in terms of catering to all domains of early learning. I have even started making learning materials by myself to teach children”.

– Nirmala, Anganwadi teacher, Rojipura

We train teachers and helpers on experiential learning methods that can be practiced at their centres. We also organise Mothers’ Meetings and regular mentoring visits to provide on-the-job support and guidance to teachers. Anganwadi helpers are empowered to become co-teachers and have an important role in the children’s learning process, thereby not confining them to just cooking and cleaning.

“I was used to just cooking and cleaning in the Anganwadi and did not do much else. However, after I attended the ECCE trainings, I realized I had a lot of potential and could engage and teach the children just like a teacher. Now, when the teacher is absent, I engage children in preschool learning activities.”

– Rukmini, Helper, Jyothinagar Anganwadi

From giving little time to learning, to prioritizing pre-school learning and spending more quality time with children, Anganwadi teachers and helpers have come a long way.