Kalanjiyam is launching of a new initiative, Thalir Academy – a Youth Skill Development Center. Thalir aims to address key factors affecting youth, such as lack of education, inadequate family income, and a limited skill set.

“Thalir,” a Tamil word, symbolizes steadfast growth and development, embodying the academy’s vision to empower rural youth with employable skills, including vocational training, digital and financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills, ultimately enhancing economic security.

The training programs aim to reach youth from two blocks of Chengalpattu district and will be implemented directly by local community members, ensuring ownership and sustainability of the outcomes.

Muthu is a physically challenged widower with two children and struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. Even with his physical limitations he was selling vegetables by walking to nearby villages as he was unable to do any wage labour. Kalanjiyam has provided him with a custom -made motorized cart designed to sell vegetables.

Muthu is extremely confident that he can earn well now and is happy that he can ensure his children go to school, and not have to support him.

Project ‘Vanavil’ to support mental health issues faced by youth was initiated for young men and women going to higher secondary school in Chengalpattu district. A series of sessions focused on the unaddressed fears and anxiety, the link to depression and coping mechanisms. These interactions open up the youth and was a positive beginning, for taking this program forward:

Rural students are few opportunities to develop and display their talents. In the spirit of encouraging them, Kalanjiyam conducted a drawing competition children in 3rd to 8th classes. There was an overwhelming response and more than 600 students participated in the competition. Three children each from classes 3-5 and from 6-8 were awarded the three best prizes and all children were provided a certificate of participation.

‘What distinguishes one child from another is not ability, but access to education and opportunity’. Investing in children’s right to education ensures everyone wins!

Based on need, of those who walk 4+kms to school every day, we identified 105 rural boys and girls from 6th to 10th classes and provided them with bicycles. These students can use the cycle till they complete 12th class and transportation issue will no more be a barrier to ensure successful completion of higher secondary.

Skill building and Livelihoods

Our programs aim to improve functional and soft skills among young men and women in order to improve the quality of personal and professional life.  We support training to enhance skills for gainful employment, offer structured course on tailoring, support setting up of small enterprises and linkages for job placement.

Engaging communities in local development

We implement participatory community development where local community members are engaged in the design, planning, implementation and assessing the changes, ensuring ownership and sustainability. We recruit young men and women from the communities and provide training so they would be able to take forward the programs in the field.

A role model created – Ms. Malliga joined us 17 years back as an organiser working in a few rural schools. Malliga presently manages 40+staff to bring education, health and skill building interventions in Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts and she is recognized as a local leader who is able to influence her community. Her phenomenal growth is a result of her commitment and the mentoring she has been provided over the years.

Education

Our interventions address the individual, school and community level factors for strengthening education at primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. They focus on creating enabling environment, remedial education, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, health, hygiene and nutrition, scholarships, transportation and advocacy for community engagement.

Health

We focus on preventive and promotive interventions to ensure the health and well-being of the communities . We aim to deliver services at the door step to rural communities, including primary care, awareness and health education, outreach and counselling, hygiene and sanitation and school health programs.