Excel in Hybrid Learning: Actor Sanjana Sanghi tells youth

New Delhi: “With the threat of future waves of COVID-19 outbreaks continuing to exist, hybrid learning is here to stay. Hence, students should learn to make the best use of both virtual and real time classrooms,” said actor and humanitarian Ms. Sanjana Sanghi.
 
Participating in a virtual interaction on the theme of education, youth skilling and employment, organized by SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOSCVI), here today, she also emphasized the importance of students getting exposure to real world workplaces. She urged them to be open to internship opportunities so that they get a chance to upskill and earn.
 
“Your focus must be on learning not only what is there in the book but also gaining real world experiences and practical skills. Internships can give you that,” Ms. Sanjana said and added, “When I was a student, I made sure that I did at least two internships every summer and two more during winters.” As families face financial challenges during the pandemic, students can earn through internships and support their families, she pointed out. 
 
Ms Sanjana, who is also the Youth champion of SOS Children’s Villages of India, said that though she was good at studies, dancing and theatre when she was a student, she needed to acquire many new skills for her job. “No matter what you study now and what you are going to do in future, upskilling is always going to be important.”
 
In his address, Mr. Sumanta Kar, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages of India, said his organization is committed to support young people with relevant social and employable skills to help them find good jobs and become self-reliant. “We support young people’s education and skills development in many ways. We enroll grade 8 and 10 students in Multiple Intelligence & Multiple Nature programs to identify their interests and existing skills. With extensive counselling sessions, we support them to choose the courses that are suitable to their situations, interests and talents,” he pointed out. SOSCVI also offers individualized support to each youth to enter the job market. The support includes training in CV writing, interview preparation, profile building on online job portals, and so on. 
 
Mr. Sumanta Kar informed that SOSCVI adopts Positive Youth Development Curriculum and Resilience Building, as they assist young people in developing their emotional, social, physical and cognitive skills. The focus of SOS India’s Youth Programme is on experiential learning and building aspirations among the young people while developing their employability and social skills. This approach enables the youth to become self-reliant and grow in their lives holistically.
 
He mentioned that SOSCVI’s various skill programmes benefit over 1700 youth across the country. The programmes are supported by more than 30 government affiliated educational institutions. Many business groups help the students in placements.
 
The virtual interaction also featured young people from SOSCVI sharing their experiences of learning primary, secondary, and higher education and acquiring employability skills through the NGO’s flagship ‘Family Like Care’ model of group foster care, and Family Strengthening Programme, an outreach programme that intervenes in the vulnerable communities for safeguarding quality care and development of their children, being implemented across the country.