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Our Vision
"Create an enabling environment in society for the young people
that allow them to grow as responsible, healthy, productive and independent individuals"
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 Internship
CYDA believes that youth can act as a proactive agent for change and transformation in society. Internship in development leadership program helps the youth to identify and nurture competencies, skills and build perspective and understanding on development issues. The course is designed to inculcate in the trainees the courage to question the ‘given’ and challenge status quo. The program intends to meet the need for informed young leaders in the area of development and social change through its ten month long internship program. CYDA especially focuses on youth belonging to Scheduled Caste, Tribes and deprived sections of the society; recognizing their relative lack of access to such opportunities
There are about 9.58 lakh SC/ST students enrolled for undergraduate courses (BA/ B.Com/ B.Sc./ B.Ed./ MBBS/ Engineering) in India, in which, 51.25 percent are Social Sciences/ Humanities. Unfortunately, not many from this background can find any honorable space in the market economy. Even if the private sector starts hiring qualified Dalits, the vast majority of educated Dalit youth will be left out. Realizing the requirements of the new emerging market economy, where skilled workforce will be in high demand.
With the advent of Privatization, even the government educational institutions are charging hefty fees from the SC/ST students. The NGO sector has emerged as a new discipline all over the globe and has entered India in a big way. But SC/STs are more often out of it. However since there are very few trained with degree-level education, can they be developed into professionals in various fields?
Of the people living below the poverty line (BPL) and among the landless agricultural labor, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) form the majority. The SC/STs are the most vulnerable section susceptible to hunger, malnutrition and disease. They are subjected to continuous exploitation and violence. Most of the existing schemes have failed to reach them. And the schemes are thinly spread, rendering their impact negligible.
As per the report submitted by Dr. J.J Irani on affirmative action ‘‘It is imperative that the level of qualification be increased with the backward classes, as merit cannot be compromised in any way. The stress in education will ensure that more and more candidates belonging to the backward classes will meet the benchmark for employment,’’
“ My first, my best.” Yasmin’s Case study of 2005
It gives me immense pleasure to recollect my impression and experience of working with CYDA as an intern. As done so on many number of occasions informally in peers and else where, the last time I did so was in my placement interview with YES bank, they asked me “you have work experience and so many internships, which one did you like the best” and my answer was CYDA.
I have known CYDA since 2003 and was highly impressed with the way CYDA engages youth in various development activities. I finished my graduation in 2005 and had no specific plans in place for further studies; of course my interest lied in the development sector, as I had some exposure in the field. My commitment to NSS was beyond the 10 marks that it offered, plus my voluntary work had made me believe that I had a role to play in this sector.
Soon after graduation, I came to know about the internship with CYDA and it seemed to be very attractive as it had a theory component clubbed with practical exposure as well and the best deal about it was that I didn’t have to pay for it and would instead get paid a stipend for the internship. This was the best combination that I could have had as I was financially not in a position to afford another course of study.
The internship at one level formed the base of my theoretical understanding of issues; and the kind of inputs that we had, helped me deconstruct notions like caste, religion, gender, societal roles, globalization etc. I had not just got an idea about these issues, which were new to me, but in time also understood it’s implication on society as a whole and it’s implication on me.
The other component was the skill component which exposed me to skills like counseling, documentation, research methodology, fund raising, theatre, documentary film making etc. At another level the work that was assigned to me as an intern required professional commitment and know how. I was assigned the role of the coordinator for the city level youth festival on “Youth sexuality and HIV and AIDS” at the same time I was also elected as the Secretary of Youth4Change. It was the nurturing environment at CYDA and the space that the course offered to learn with trials and errors that brought out the best in me. Leadership, team work, coordination of major event, networking my favorite one, all these were part of the parcel which I gained without consciously being aware of.
More than anything else I realized that I was a different person after that almost one year I spent at CYDA. I grew up in the chawls of Mumbai and was brought up in a protective environment. Taking a step to move out of home was the biggest challenge. But the internship seemed to make sense to my family to give me that chance I needed. Independence and the kick of making decisions by myself both in the office and outside made me realize of my responsibilities as an adult. I discovered the best part of myself during my interface with CYDA. I finished the internship and had a one point agenda: to study at TISS but by the virtue of what the internship had done to me I already had job offers.
Yasmin Sayed
Case Study of 2007
Mahadev is Schedule belongs to a Caste Rural Area, from a village called Palshi, which is situated 30 km far from Latur City. He completed graduation in BA from Dr. Babasahed Ambedkar Marathwada Unviersity Aurangabad in 2003. After his father passed away due to a heart attack, the entire responsibility of managing the house was entrusted upon him. Though he wanted to study further, he was unable to because of his financial crisis. He began working with an NGO called Navchetana Sanstha Pohregaon and came to know about the CYDA internship program. “That is how I applied for the program. I was very happy that I was selected for the program in 2007” he says.
When I came to Pune I did not know English. Though my English is not so good, my understanding and conversation grew tremendously being associated with English speaking people. I hesitated to speak to girls before I came to Pune but the program has changed me and made me fearless. Today, I can interact with opposite sex comfortably.
Being with CYDA, I got a lot of opportunities to understand health, caste systems, Human Rights, Research methodology, training, issues of gender, counseling, RTI etc. I also got a lot of practical experience to work on events and training programs through which I learnt a lot. I got an opportunity to relate to a wide section of people. All these changed my outlook towards life. Today, I am confident, comfortable and capable of handling any situation.
“A Turning Point in my life” Asha Kamble, a Case Study of 2009
I am Asha Kamble from Satara, and I had completed BA, specializing in Hindi. Initially, I heard about CYDA from a friend of mine who also did the internship from the same organization and said that if I decided to undertake MSW, then joining CYDA would be the best option, to get hands on experience. Though I applied to Karve Institute of Social Science, I did not get admission there. Then I decided to join CYDA and it had its own way of selecting the intern, which was through the written form and an interview. Finally I was selected. I remembered my first day of CYDA where I sat very quiet and wouldn’t speak to anybody. That was the 18th of July 2008. I can’t forget this day because of the atmosphere was very different, since I came from a rural area and I couldn’t adapt myself there. A number of volunteers walked in and out, but I did not speak to anybody. However, the second day was very different because Mathew had arranged for a meeting with all the interns, which mellowed me down. My first days in CYDA were very fearful because of the inferiority feeling. But after one week, things were settling down. I worked, I learned, I gained knowledge. Today when I think of my involvement with CYDA, I am very happy.
Every session in CYDA was a learning experience for me. It enriched me to be a good human being more than a brilliant student. This was what I needed. I knew that I would get knowledge everywhere but the information I received from CYDA from the lectures of Prabha Agale, Meghana Marathe, Bidhu Madhavkhire, Pravin Kumar and many others will never be forgotten.
From 22 July ’08 to 27 March ’09, I attended various types of workshops and sessions. ‘CYDA’ also gave me an opportunity to attend the Symbiosis (CII ELTIS) classes through Thermax where I learnt Business etiquettes, Reading skills, Social etiquettes, Cultural etiquettes, Case work, Communication skills, Grammar, Role plays, Group discussions, personality development, personal interviews, video conferencing, Industrial visits, etc. Every Saturday we had English classes, “Wednesday’s counseling” and Computer skills on other days. CYDA gave me more opportunities and made me more knowledgeable. As I sit back and remember my days with CYDA, I realize that the organization has indeed made me a professional and that is why though a year ago I did not get an admission in Karve Institute, I was able to get one in TATA Institute of Social Science a year after. So, I consider this internship was a turning point in my life.
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Global-Giving
CYDA implements ‘Child friendly Schools – Sanitation and Counseling for 3,000 kids
in India’
South Asian Youth Camp
To promote youth to youth dialogue, Centre for Youth Development and Activities
is organizing a week long program Youth Camp on Peace, Diversity, Plurality and
Youth participation
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4th May 2010
Deadline for Youth Action Projects
Deadline for Youth Action Projects. Apply it now.
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