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JA India Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 4 |
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| Is the Indian professional overwhelmed?
Are we geared up for the facts? |
Sep-Oct 2009 |
Greetings!
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
This issue has reached you late for we now move to a quarterly publishing schedule. I welcome you to register @ www.jaindia.net for a more frequent update on JA India activity and programs. Invite your friends from the portal. We would love to engage them.
Thanks to support from well wishers, volunteers, educators and students, in the first six months of this financial, JA India programs have reached an increment of 8,000 school and college students. The rest of the newsletter has more updates.
I am particularly happy to share with you that JA India has been awarded the MOST OUTSTANDING NEW MEMBER AWARD in 2009. An international award instituted by JA Worldwide, this is a recognition across several equally qualifying countries, awarded by an institution with more than 90 years of legacy. While we did the easy job of receiving the honors, this was made possible by the hard work of each volunteer. We remain thankful to the JA volunteer who selflessly helps young children succeed. A welcome milestone indeed yet the following experience only reminds us of the enormous unfinished task ahead. Read on and let us know of your feedback (mail: jaindiaserv@gmail.com).
In 2003, Goldman Sachs said, 'India to be 3rd biggest economy by 2050'. 'The implication is that the economic and financial power is going to shift away from us,' says a senior Goldman economist and one of the authors of the report. The report sees US as No. 2 by the year 2050, sandwiched between China and India. There would hardly be an Indian citizen who would not swell with pride on hearing this. I shared this view with several students and educators recently. The opportunities such a state would unravel brought gleam to most eyes. Rightly so!
Let us assume the milestone holds, which means it is 40 years away. It also means by 2030, a whole sea of professionals should be chipping in very hard to make the milestone possible by 2050? Whoever are these professionals (in mid and senior positions in 2030), right now they are in their high schools and colleges busy studying. They are being taught by our current academic workforce. In short, I was talking to people who are going to make the milestone happen and another set of people who are preparing those people who would be tasked to make the milestone happen. Phew! Suddenly that gleam in the eye assumed a massive conditionality - the 2050 dream would not come on a platter. Someone else is not going to make it happen, they have to execute the dream!
Staying relevant to the immediate context (commerce students), I decided to delve into the detail of the implication. The reference: a commercial bank. The first question: How would the banks of 2050 look like? What should the commence student learn now to be able to deal with the demands of Banking 2030 and ensure Banking 2030 evolves robustly into Banking 2050? With no response, I offered if the present day US, European or Japanese Banking system can offer a point of reference. The logic being they are at a size today that India would be in 2050. The problem statement then simplified to comparing Banking-India-2009 with Banks-US-Europe-Japan-2009 (the surrogate for Banking-India-2050).
How do they compare?
Compare the asset base of UBS, Barclays or BNP Paribas (each @ US 2000 bn) with the entire Indian banking Industry's asset size of USD 270 bn - it becomes evident that just the CEO of one of these banks handles a complexity that is 10 times that the collective of our PMO, Finance Minister, RBI, SEBI and more handle. The dream of 2050 implies, just for the banking system, preparing our professionals to handle responsibilities that scale up 120 times at a branch level, 600 times at a bank level and 40 times at a national level! Tectonic implications indeed for dimensions such as products, technology, processes, organization, policy, regulation and more! It means our educators today should be preparing our graduating students to brace for an impending change at such scale and still deliver the goods.
Are they doing it? Let's visit the banking syllabus in one our graduate colleges. Over a 60+ hour course, the syllabus talks about a commercial bank, relationship between a bank and customer, negotiable instruments, paying bank, collecting bank, principles of lending and regulatory authority. As a hands-on activity, one activity involves visiting a branch to collect a deposit slip.
Do you see a disconnect? It does not even acknowledge the way banking is done let alone preparing students on the dimensions of change. Educators are quick to defend stating even the bankers don't have a clue therefore reaching the industry may be futile. Regarding the students, while we heap praises on them being the technology generation, they are atbest facebooking with their classmates they would meet the next day morning in class. They are yet to connect to the larger world out there. They showed little curiosity in understanding the impending change or drawing implications of the future onto their present day learning process.
Sure enough there exists a motivation gap and also a preparation gap. Somewhere between the classroom and workplace, this gap has to closed. While 'Rome' is burning thick and fast for the industry, little of the industry's anxiety is appreciated or understood by the future workforce, or their preparers. As for the individual professional who has an occasional brush with the stakeholders, s/he gets too overwhelmed with the first level of detail itself.
Who then would ensure that 'Rome' is burning similarly for all? And this is just about the banking industry. Dream 2050 has several more cities on fire! Do we even understand the magnitude of the problem we are headed for? Preparation comes only next.
Like all important things, we could let the government deal with this and get busy with our daily lives. Else we can leave it to the industry to deal with the problem. But if industry has also to prepare its talent, when will it deploy the talent and then also deliver? What about the cost of such delivery? Our competition is with other global systems where they are already doing things right or getting there fast. 
Maybe we also have a choice. We can spend some time with our future workforce and interpret some of the impending change for them. If a poor farmer in remote Vidarbha (living amidst suicides and abject poverty) realizes the Globalized world now forces him to grow cash crops, a little direction should definitely help a student privileged enough to be in a classroom perceive and prepare well?! .
With best regards,
Venkat Matoory | Chief Executive | JA India
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JA India awarded Most Outstanding New Member Award 2009
JA India was awarded this honor from amongst three finalists.
Three finalists for 2009 Outstanding New Member Award:
This award began under the auspices of Junior Achievement International and is designed to recognize JA Members with outstanding performance and less than five years in existence. Basic criteria for the award are:
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Member in Good Standing with JA Worldwide
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Member in existence for less than five years of year award is presented
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Average annual student growth rate of at least 20% in preceding five years (or number of years in existence)
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Annual audit reflects a positive net asset position and the organization is in good financial position
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Participation in international events and support of other Members must be demonstrated
There are 34 Countries who are JA Members and less than 5 years old; 19 of them were established on or before 2006 (the year JA India got initiated). |
JA Volunteering @ Citi  September 2009 saw a focussed attempt to commence JA Volunteering at Citi. Across Citi's locations in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi/Gurgaon more than 100 employees (with 8+ years of work experience) offered volunteering support.
Through four separate debrief sessions (2 in Delhi, 1 each in Chennai and Mumbai), Citi volunteers were briefed about JA India and JA India programs. Thereafter, debriefed volunteers in Mumbai and Delhi/Gurgaon underwent a 3 hour orientation program prior to commencing live classroom sessions. While some of the Citi Gurgaon volunteers visited Literacy India's centre at Bajghera village in Harayana to interact with students in a live classroom session, four Citi Mumbai volunteers commenced anchoring live classroom sessions for students at Podar School, Mumbai.
With strong support from Ashish Bajaj, Managing Director, Citi and JA India Founders Board Member, the team of Aloka and Shahin invested much hard work to pre-qualify volunteers and then organize the volunteer debrief and training sessions. We are just into the early days of JA volunteering @ Citi and are sure to come back to you with several more success stories. |
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Employability Workshops @ KPMG
KPMG and JA India teamed up to conduct first in a series of employability workshops for children from KPMG employees' families. The focus of these workshops was to introduce students to the world of work in a manner that helps them analyse and arrive at their professional choices better - a manner that also helps them arrive at choices that resonate with their selves.
Sessions in Mumbai and Delhi were held on 18 July 09 and in Bangalore on 25 July 09.  Workshop participants included students at scholastic levels of Class IX and above. Some of the sessions saw participation from parents. The feedback from the workshop has been positive. A few have been included below:
From students:
For me personally, the session was helpful to quite an extent. I now know how to go about trying to achieve the goals I want to.
I am sorry, I don't have three lines but just three words I LOVE IT !! Didn't know two very opposite fields could become one.
It was excellent amazing and a very great utilisation of 5 hours which would just have been wasted by me at home. It has taught me how to look at life in a broader perspective.
From a parent:
'The children were really motivated. I think this interaction will make then more precise in forming their decisions further. I myself had gone back to yester years as nowdays its just left with house making.'
Employability workshop at KPMG Gurgaon |
JA Programs | Volunteering
What happened, What to look for
BANGALORE
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1500+ students participated in JA Classroom programs and workshops over June-Sep 2009.
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Employability Workshop conducted for KPMG employees' children.
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JA Day @ Cognizant conducted on 22 Sep 2009.
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First session of Teacher Certification Program conducted for 35+ teachers passing out of Al Ameen College. JA India, with the support of industry volunteers, will train and equip participating teachers to conduct JA India programs for respective institutions' students. Read more on JA TCP. -
JA Company program for new batch of B.Com. students commenced at Mount Carmel College. Students have setup 3 companies: Myriad - Youth Magazine, Scribbles - Chalk Manufacturing Unit and Extent - Book Binding Company. Myriad will be releasing their 4th issue by the end of the month. Chalk manufacturing has been at full swing and Book binding company started operations this month. Visit the JA India portal to engage with Myriad.
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Planned events: The following institutions have signed up for JA programs to be conducted between October 2009 - January 2010. Please refer JA Portal for event details and registration.
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HAL Public School, Old Airport Rd [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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Al Ameen School, Lalbagh [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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Christ PU College, Koramangala [JACareers]
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St Joseph's Girls High School, FrazerTown [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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St Rocks High School [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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St Francis Xavier Girl's School, Frazer town [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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Gulabi High School, Frazer Town [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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St Anne's High School and PU College, Ulsoor [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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St Aloysius High School,Frazer Town [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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Lake Montfort School, Old Madras Rd [JACareers, JA Success Skills]
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Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, Banashankari [BridgeIT Employability Program]
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East Point College of Engineering, Old Madras Rd [BridgeIT Employability Program]
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Mount Carmel College, Vasanth Nagar [JA Inside Industry]
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St Joseph's College of Commerece, Brigade Rd [JA Banks in Action]
CHENNAI
- Since 2007, JA Chennai has reached 5,000+ students in various schools. JA Chennai has been able to conduct JA programs across 33 schools during this 2.5 years.
- Cognizant volunteers reach more than 2,000 students in two years. Plan to reach 5,000 students in current academic year.
- Cognizant introduces customized version of JA Careers with a Purpose program for its associates in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kolkata.
- Chennai's first BridgeIT Employability program to be conducted by Cognizant team at Stella Maris College, in November 09, for their MCA Department.
- Mphasis Chennai reaches JA programs to 800 underserved students. These students would not have had a chance to meet professionals but for the effort of volunteers.
- Beneficiary schools include: Government Hr. Sec. School (Thuraippakkam), St.Mary's Hr. Sec. School. (Gummidipoondi), St.Mary's Hr. Sec. School. (Arambakkam) and Government Hr. Sec. School (Kannagi Nagar)
- JA India would specially like to thank Rajesh Narayanasamy [Manager, Design Process Deployment and Support Business Excellence Unit at MphasiS Chennai]. A strong support to JA programs in Chennai, right from beginning Rajesh has shown tremendous interest in educating youth. O one of the key persons in implementing JA programs in St. Peter's Higher Secondary School, he not only helps conduct classroom sessions, he generously offers his personal vehicle for logistical purposes. Apart from his personal interest in JA programs, he has been instrumental in mobilizing other volunteers and is a source of contant encouragment to fellow volunteers.
JA Chennai, with the help of volunteers, conducts industry-educator interaction workshops in 3 academic institutions.
Steria volunteers commence JA volunteering. Steria has adopted 11 schools around the company premises. Commencing October, JA programs would be conducted across all these schools.
Citi Chennai initiates JA volunteering with first volunteer debrief session, for pre-qualified volunteers, on 7 September 2009. Volunteers would now undergo a detailed orientation session prior to commencing classroom programs at various schools.
MUMBAI
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KPMG volunteers conduct JA Careers with a Purpose program for students pursuing Diploma in Administration at SNDT College. A nostalgic and positive experience for the volunteers, this initiative saw KPMG volunteers conduct 3-hour session each Saturday for over 4 weeks.
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10+ HSBC volunteers take JA More than Money program to 500 schools students in Mumbai.
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This 14 November, HSBC volunteers would conduct JA More than Money for children from HSBC families.
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About 10+ Barclays volunteers conduct JA Careers with a Purpose program for 100+ Class IX and X students at Podar School. About 25 of these students are now setting up their student company program with the help 5 Barclays volunteers.
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JA Mumbai and Barclays volunteers to conduct B-INSPIRED workshops at YUVANA on 6/7 November 2009. YUVANA, an inter-school event for Mumbai schools, would be held at Podar School, Santa Cruz.
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After separate debrief and training sessions, Citi volunteers commence JA Careers with a Purpose classroom programs for high school students.
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Strating 9 October 2009, senior mangers from KPMG Mumbai office would attend JA debrief sessions over 5 consecutive Fridays.
NEW DELHI
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JA Delhi volunteers reach JA programs to more than 1400 students in July-September 2009.
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The recent months saw JA volunteering process initiatied at Barclays, Citi, Hewitt and Mercer. Multiple employee debrief and orientation sessions conducted for respective volunteer teams. The coming months would focus on benefiting students through our new corporate volunteers.
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Genpact volunteers conduct JA Success Skills program for Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya students.
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JA Careers interactions conducted with students at Literacy India's open school at Brijwasan. Conducted over a three day period, the final session saw participants interacting with volunteers from Barclays and Citi.
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This quarter saw first moves towards establishing a JA Student Company for rural youth, studying at Literacy India's RTI Vidyapeeth centre in Bajghera village, Harayana. 35+ students have participated in two workshops to get sensitized with the concept and for arriving at their initial choice of business ideas.
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KPMG volunteers to take JA Inside Industry program to Commerce and Economics students at SRCC, Delhi. Commencing 23 October 2009, program sessions would be held on 4 consecutive fridays. In preparation to initiate this program, KPMG and JA India team engaged with about 120+ students, on 19 August 2009, over an hour long introductory context setting session.
HYDERABAD:
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JA Volunteering | Nathaniel Hedman
Volunteering with passion and purpose, motivating many more
Nathaniel Hedman manages the Lubricants business at ExxonMobil India. Nathaniel and his family were on a holiday for two days, in August, near Jaipur in the village of Samode. Says Nathaniel, 'With confidence built by working with Junior Achievement in the Greater Delhi area, I took a morning, went to a local school, met with the Principal and then shared with the Standard XII class thoughts on studies and careers. My wife and sister also presented.'
 Sharing about his JA experience, Nathaniel says: 'Several years ago I observed a colleague in another country, outside of India, participate and talk about how motivating Junior Achievement was.
Shortly after moving to India we were presented with the opportunity to get involved in Junior Achievement and I whole heartedly supported from having witnessed this other volunteer many years before. Today, many of our colleagues in ExxonMobil India are getting involved. Interestingly, one "Receives" much from doing this. The feeling that runs through me as I interact with teens that have their whole life ahead of them is full of emotion. I know that it takes a "spark"... a "thought".... a "vision"....and the sky is the limit.
It was that way for me in a Government School in Argentina as I was growing up. Somebody made a  difference in my life within the school setting and tought me to love learning. That passion to learn has provided opportunities for me with ExxonMobil in many countries of the world. That is why I give back. Encouraging teenagers to get passionate about sciences and mathematics is also at our core at ExxonMobil and participating in Junior Achievement allows us to make this encouragement along with the broader life and expectations encouragement we provide. I and my family are better people having gotten involved in Junior Achievement.'
Nathaniel Hedman and family with the school children
@ Samode Jaipur
Nathaniel goes on to add, 'If one thought in one child's mind takes them to the university and beyond the effort is worthwile.' |
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Program Partnerships
More than 10 Barclays Mumbai volunteers conducted JA Careers with a Purpose program for about 100+ class IX and X students. About 25 of these students are now working with 5 Barclays volunteers establishing their student companies, as a part of the B-SMART programme. Organized into two student companies, one company is focused on the business of manufacturing cookies. The other student company has since then evaluated 15+ business ideas before narrowing down to the final business idea to be implemented. Both student company programs are hosted at Podar School, Santa Cruz.
Barclays volunteers would be conducting B-INSPIRED programme as a part of YUVANA inter school student festival, at Podar School, on 6/7 November 2009. Efforts are underway to conduct a second B-INSPIRED programme, in Junagadh, post the Diwali break.
About the programmes
Through the B - INSPIRED programme, standard seven, eight and nine students are given a "real life" business challenge. These students are then allowed to brainstorm and innovatively create a feasible solution to the problem. This programme is focused on making students think as a team and to provide a more interactive learning experience
B - SMART is the single most utilized programme in the JA Worldwide portfolio. In this programme, secondary school students learn important entrepreneurial skills through creating their own student company and operating through an entire business cycle. They make and market real products, use "real" share capital and make "real" profits (or losses) with the support and mentoring of a wide range of professionals, in this case Barclays volunteers.
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Program Partnerships
HSBC Global Signature Program reached an additional 700 students across Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai during the months of July-September 2009. JA India now plans to run this program in one more Hyderabad school in the coming months.
On 14 November 2009, HSBC Mumbai volunteers would be conducting JA More than Money program for children from HSBC employees' families. 
About JA More than Money program
This program attempts to develop in a child a balanced perspective on Spending, Saving and Earning. Targeted at children in Grades V through VII, it also engages them to think about ways in which skills could be deployed to become productive. |
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Program Partnerships
BridgeIT Employability program continues to roll forward with planned programs at Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, Banashankari, Bangalore and East Point College of Engineering, Old Madras Rd, Bangalore.
With support from Cognizant in Chennai, this quarter will see launch of the BridgeIT Employability program in a second city in India. The first program in Chennai is scheduled for PG and UG students at Stella Maris College, Chennai. The program would be conducted by Cognizant volunteers.
 The BridgeIT Employability program plans to reach atleast an additional 1,000 students this academic year. If you work for a technology firm and are keen to help graduating students know more about your industry, organization, role and what it takes for a student to become employable in such setting, this program would quick-launch you into the classroom setting. |
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Program Partnerships | JA @ Cognizant
Cognizant volunteering expands to Bangalore. JA Day celebrated at Cognizant Bangalore.
Cognizant Bangalore hosted more than 80 students on JA Day at Cognizant. The day saw Cognizant leadership team conduct JA Careers with a Purpose program for 48 entry level Cognizant trainees, sensitizing them on the importance of industry awareness, employability and work readiness. Students from middle grades participated in a Success Skills workshop whereas senior secondary and above students participated in a 2-hour employability session.
Thanks to support from Nirmala Krishnamoorthy (Cognizant Bangalore), Mathi and Bala from the Cognizant Chennai team that provided momentum to volunteering at Bangalore.
JA Careers with a Purpose program embedded into new hire training at Cognizant
Cognizant is now using a customized version of the Careers with a Purpose program to sensitize its associates across India on essential career perspectives. This program has been conducted for 500 associates in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kolkata, during September 2009 as part of their initial Academy training by JA volunteers, Balakrishnan and Mathivanan. These sessions were well received and appreciated by associates and HR observers.
Ilustrative feedback from our associates:
"The SEEK, VISTA and TRPA concepts were very good". - G. Saravanakumar
"It was a wonderful and enlightening session. The information you shared with us will help us reach places in Cognizant". - S. Vamsi Deepak
"I enjoyed your talk. It was amazing and inspiring. Your really ignited my thinking process." - Hariharan. G. K.
The Cognizant team plans to scale up the initiative to cover every one of the hundreds of trainees who join Cognizant every month.
Cognizant volunteers help initiate JA Volunteering at Steria
Cognizant volunteer, Mr. Mathivanan Elangovan, helped us initiate JA volunteering at Steria Chennai. A demonstration classroom session was conducted at Steria premises for about 80 students of Padma Adarsh School. All participating students were given certificates jointly by JA, Cognizant and Steria.
Student particiants receiving certificates from Cognizant volunteer, Mr. Mathi and Steria volunteers >>>
Since initiation, Cognizant volunteers have reached JA programs to more than 2,000 students in two years. Cognizant team plans to reach 5,000 students by the end of the current academic year. While substantial volunteering focus to date has been on JA Careers with a Purpose program, the team is now keen to benefit students through other JA programs. Specifically, JA More than Money program, JA Success Skills program and The BridgeIT Employability program. The first BridgeIT Employability program would be conducted by Cognizant team, at Stella Maris College, in November 09 for students from MCA Department. |
Perspectives | The art of recruiting
SV Nathan, Director | U.S. India Talent at Deloitte engages us on the power a recruiter has to unleash talent to its potential.
Recruitment in my view is a tough job. Recruiting is an art, something you get better at with time and experience. A recruiter's job is never easy. They have to sift through stacks of resumes, before zeroing on the right ones. As an HR professional we are almost like 'prisoners of accepted practice'. Choosing the right talent is a process, dictated by rules and procedures. This makes the art of recruiting, a challenge, albeit an interesting one. It is akin to finding diamonds in heaps of coal.
The fine art of recruiting is about selecting the right kind of people for the right job. A recruiter needs to  follow one simple mantra "Talent deserves a chance." We might witness talented people in the oddest of places, under difficult circumstances and in different capacities. As an able recruiter, it is our job to spot that potential and help groom and showcase it.
In a career of over 25 years as an HR professional, there have been various incidents wherein I have been able to spot a bright spark, under unusual circumstances. Many times this needed looking beyond the obvious to find the best fit for a particular role. Ultimately the choice was mine, to see the unseen and identify them for what they are, or, focus on what I see outwardly, and keep looking. Three key incidents come to my mind where I looked beyond academic criteria, social norms and first impressions, and hired people who I believed were right for their respective jobs.
The first case is of an Engineering student, let me call him, Subodh Shakya. He had applied in the organization I was recruiting for, with a percentage of 54, while the cut-off to apply for the job was 60%. He was extremely persuasive and asked for one chance and said something I never forgot. He asked me "If you don't give me a chance, who will?" The words made me think and I decided to give Subodh's talent a chance. He wrote the entrance test and was among the top 5 candidates, though academically he had failed in a couple of subjects. Subodh asked me for ten months to prove himself, and again, I was in a dilemma because we did not hire those who had failed in their university exams. But, his confidence and passion towards his work won me over. I decided to break the rules and hired Subodh to work for our organization. Subodh not only excelled at his work, in fact, he was selected as "software engineer of the quarter," a very prestigious title, two quarters in a row! A year later, he gave me the news that he had graduated. I was extremely happy with the choice I had made. I had looked beyond his academic qualifications, and focused on his capability and skills.
The second incident that put my judgment to test occurred three years later. I was interviewing at an MBA college, and came across the resume ofa candidate, and I will call him T.Chandramohan. He seemed like a good candidate, with an impressive resume. He had performed well in the entrance test, but was diffident about the interviews that he had with my colleagues. He came back and asked for face-time. Curious about what he had to say, I met him andrealized he had a stammering problem; perhaps a sign of nervousness. I found him qualified, intelligent and a perfect fit for the job. Again, I decided to take a leap of faith, had long discussions with my colleagues who had decided to 'reject' his candidature, and hired him. For a year, I worked with him and tried to shield him, buthe didn't need it, as he was doing a great job . Soon I left the organization and moved on. Seven years later I received a call from Chandramohan's office, to meet him while I was in Chennai. Chandramohan was now the MD of a mid sized company. At his office, in front of 50 of his colleagues he acknowledged the opportunity he had received to help take him where he was today. He wanted me to talk to his people about valuing Talent. As I watched him talk; I was amazed to see that he didn't stammer even once. I felt victorious about my selection. Going beyond the accepted norms of what is acceptable, I was able to value him for what he was.
The third case in point is the time when I was recruiting for the position of a marketing manager. The interview was on a Saturday afternoon. At the office reception, I saw a man waiting, disheveled, unkempt and unshaven. He seemed knowledgeable and something about him made me reach out to check if this was the candidate to be interviewed. Once he confirmed, I led him towards my cabin, and in my head I thought that this interview was pointless and was a waste of my afternoon. I steeled myself and asked for my inner courage to interview him for what he actually was and not for what I believed he was not. As the interview progressed I saw immense talent and learned that the reason for his appearance was a personal bereavement and the fact that he had come in straight from the cemetery. He was hired and grew to be the MD of a very large organization. He still tells me, that based on his experience, he always gives talent a chance, going beyond the first impression. Again, a decision where I forced myself to look beyond the first impression I made of this person, and gave myself a chance to look beyond.
Now that I look back at these incidents, what strikes me is, I broke the rules in all three, but in different aspects. I went beyond the academic necessity, the social impression and the brand image, but found people who excelled in skills, knowledge and their jobs. All three times, despite breaking the rules, I was successful. This doesn't mean you always have to break the rules to find the right people. But instead, you have to be willing to make exceptions as and when you believe there is potential.
As I mentioned earlier, recruiters have a tough task in hand, selecting the right people, while following the standards of recruitment. Selecting the perfect candidate issometimes about listening to your inner voice. The inner voice can go against the norms of society, the corporate rulesand standards. But, this a tough call you, the recruiter needs to take, to look beyond the obvious. If you, as a recruiter see a hint of something more, and spot the able-talent, it is up to you to help them achieve what they deserve. So, the choice is yours, what rules will you break or what decisions will you take, to get the right talent onboard.
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From JA India Blogs | On close encounters...again
Megha Vishwanath wonders if training and education at schools are really preparing children for the real world.
I had very little fun at school. If you can imagine a rather rotund, spectacle-clad, double plaited, long skirt - high sock, proper and sincere second bencher, you've come pretty close to guessing what I looked like. While my memories of 7th grade and below are too distant, I can barely remember a few misplaced jokes, a scolding or two or the alienation from the gang of bimbos ( more willingly by me ) from high school. I can count exactly four friends, of whom one I am still in touch with.
I look back and try to understand for what good was all that seclusion from the commoners.
Read more on what Megha has to say, come share your point of view on JA India Blogs. |
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Turf Talk
'She pilots an Airbus. She also runs education institutions that impart education to children of the underprivileged.' Capt. Indraani Singh, the first woman commander of an A 300 wide-bodied jet in the world, is the founder-secretary of Literacy India. Indraani started flying gliders during her stint in the NCC in 1983 while studying at Delhi's Kamla Nehru College. Thereafter she switched to engine driven aircraft and received a 60-hour flying scholarship. She joined Indian Airlines 17 years ago as a Second Officer. Then she progressed up the ladder - First Officer, Captain, Commander. Indraani shares an insight into her journey at Literacy India and on volunteering.
Writing doesn't come easy as flying! I sometimes wonder as how Venkat does it so easily - perhaps that's we call the north and south divide where South Indians were preserving and promoting our culture when the North Indians were struggling to stave off invasion after invasion.That is why there is a central divide in terms pace and progress in south to North.
Flying has been my profession for the last twenty-three years and I still have many years to go. It is something that easily comes to me as compared to solving challenges at Literacy India.
I ,actually , discovered India when I got involved with the social sector - in fact calling it "social sector" sounded strange to my ears during the infant years. I got involved because I wanted to bring some change in the lives of those people who were needy and helpless - That's how it started - 13 years ago leading to all kinds of evolving process and its still is on.
As a kid I would shrink at the thought of being privileged when I saw a child begging on the street or saw them doing menial labour and I still feel the same way. Now I strongly feel that we, the educated and privileged class of this nation, need to do something about it - by lending hand to right to education and one step further "attitude to work and being self employed - dignity of labour.
When I started out, I wanted to bring change to the local community where I used work. For some time now, I have started feeling that I must do something for the nation at large. I have come across people like me, who feel that they must contribute to that process, but somehow don't feel deeply enough about it. I am not sure why this happens. Perhaps they are too consumed by their work and family pressures to think about doing something for those who are much less privileged.
Volunteerism
I find most of us, whether in India or overseas sometimes get so sucked into work that the desire to bring change is 'delegated' to someone else to take care of. Yet when someone talks to them about volunteering, it sets them thinking.
When I started out, most, including near and dear ones, misunderstood my motives. For many, this was a way to get into politics. Some thought this is a publicity stunt! It took a decade to produce success stories of the beneficiaries of Literacy India. It is only then did people realize that this was really a serious venture, with no ulterior motives.
Now, many are surprised by my choice of profession and ridiculous zeal for trying to teach poor children or mentor the underserved communities. I sincerely urge all workaholics, being one myself, to come and check out the addiction to share themselves with the less opportune souls. Believe me, you are wanted more here than your companies would want you. So when you do get your inner calling, do check it out!
Education
I had no clue what CBSE, NCERT or, above all, National Open School was all about! I really had to work hard to find out what will work with these children who were far from motivated to even come to school! Given their utter poverty, earning money fast was imperative for sheer survival.
My God! I never thought I could turn my flying Uniform into a Cop's Outfit and thunder over them. I have no idea if it was the mighty powerful look of the uniform that did the trick. Things worked out and since then there had been no dull moment despite complete apathy at times. There had been squabbles with the beneficiaries to make them realize WHY YOU and YOUR CHILD NEED TO READ AND WRITE.
I learnt why many government schools have failed today. Why still, millions of children are dropouts. I am looking to develop a program to finish primary level of education among the fast growing adults before they take up some vocational program.
EMPLOYMENT
I realized even when I started out, with a handful of kids, that when they grow up educated, I would need to have a job ready for them. Most beneficiaries believed in becoming government servant or Army Man or Police Man. Beyond this there was no vision. It was a hard task to convince them about the E to E i.e. Education to Employment model. Even after that, inculcating the attitude of becoming self-employed was still a far off goal. We are still at it and I still have many dilemmas about the kind of work opportunities for the growing up children.
LIFE STILL ROCKED!
Along with these challenges, there have been many pleasant and unpleasant moments - run in with cops for petty crimes, court cases, running to hospitals - all the makings of a Masala action-packed serial.
However, life always came back to the vision and what more to do and how to do, how many more days might it take to achieve the short-term and long-term goals. My impatient mind is forever looking at flying to the point beyond the speed of sound !!
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On a closing note, despite operating challenges like the Swine Flu which led to extended school breaks, with volunteering and educator support, JA India could reach programs to several more classrooms and students. That said, the unfinished task that lies ahead is extremely immense and requires tremendous support from each of you. In this globalized world, if we do not act while someone else does, we lose very rapidly.
I draw your attention to a JA Worldwide report on BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. The reports says, 60.8 million Americans or 26.2 percent of the adult population gave 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service in 2007 worth $158bn. I compare this with experiences in India and wonder why the massive variation. Any thoughts? Stay connected with us @ THE FIRST ACQUAINTANCE. We have made changes to the site to redress access constraints from corporate networks. A great place to share with students insights on your work, organization and industry. Write, blog or upload a 3-4 minute video and let students reach you with their questions.
Do us a favor! Circulate this newsletter to help us expand. Use the FORWARD EMAIL feature in the signature box below. You may also like to visit: JA INDIA NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVES
Sincerely | The JA India Team |
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Engage with JA India
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How can you get engaged with JA India?
Whether in your individual capacity or through your organization/insitution, you could get involved in several JA India initiatives. This could include:
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In-classroom volunteering: Interested individuals could undergo the requisite orientation sessions and volunteer either for a middle grade, high school or college program.
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School/College enrollment: You could help your local JA Program management team enlist academic institutions for JA programs.
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Training: You could train/support other volunteers for JA volunteering.
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Online Mentoring: You could register with THE FIRST ACQUAINTANCE and be the connect for your mentees to the larger professional world. |
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THE FIRST ACQUAINTANCE |
THE FIRST ACQUAINTANCE: The platform to bring students, educators, industry professionals and volunteers together towards meaningful engagement.
You are high school student or in your graduation? Wanted to know what happens within Microsoft or Caterpillar? Why not logon and ask one of them who works there?
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