Presentation
Apprenticeships for Craft Work & Vocational Education
A good vocational training can be an efficient way to equip young adolescents, poorly educated because they have left school or only had the “street school”. That’s why Volontariat created a carpentry section (Liege) and a binding unit of books and notebooks (Uyarvu). Computer and training courses like Vidou or Minnal are intended for those who have continued their studies, as they must have a certain level of higher education and have a minimum knowledge of English.
Liege Section: carpentry
This unit employs eight carpenters who learned their craft on the spot and are qualified for this job, under the direction of a manager and his assistant. The section is supported by the Committee of Belgium, Liège. Production is very diverse: the main customer is the Volontariat who has to equip and maintain all its centers, so the carpenters have made all doors, windows and their frames of the recent buildings constructed by Volontariat. They take also orders from outside for furniture (beds, tables, chairs and armchairs, etc); they restore antique furniture, bought in Pondicherry and sold locally.
Section Liege is complemented by a training centre for young boys, some of whom have stopped school or are coming from Souriya centre for street children. The course lasts one or two years and the varied activities enable trainees to achieve quality work that will serve them in a future job search. They will be helped by the social workers to find a carpentry shop or a local furniture manufacturer. Dozens of boys have benefited from this assistance since the programme began.
Kalai art: art section
Two artists apply to their work different methods of drawing and painting. They paint on wood, silk and paper. Greeting cards with various designs, sometimes embroidered by Atelier Shanti, are also made in the section. Again, the main customer is the Volontariat: the organisers use the cards for their activities. The products are available on site at Navin or bought through catalogues by the supporting committees in Europe.
Minerva unit of pearls
This unit employs a few women of low socio-economic background and/or physically handicapped. They produce costume jewelry, glass bead necklaces, bracelets, bags, etc.
Articles are displayed at Navin and can be ordered by the committees from a catalogue.
Section Olivier, computer classes
In 2002, Volontariat opened two computer classes, theoretical and practical. The lower level lasts 6 months, and is run out of the school hours, with about 15 students. It is dedicated to the initiation and practice of the most usual programs. Those who pass the final examination stage can continue with the 2nd stage during which, alongside elements of theory, they also learn the elements of "hardware". During the 2008-9 school year, nearly 60 young people followed the two courses assiduously.
Many girls and boys, qualifying for the Volontariat Diploma have found employment in the computer companies of Pondicherry. It’s a very encouraging result which motivates us to improve the quality of the training.
Uyarvu: training & production
This training unit is mainly dedicated to the boys of Souriya, who run away from poverty-stricken rural homes to the city of Pondicherry, to let them have a regular activity and learn a skill for their future. With a professional cutting machine and under the supervision of an In-charge, many apprentices are trained in the binding of books and notebooks. Volontariat is the lone customer of Uyarvu with a yearly order of 15 to 20,000 notebooks, books, etc., that the Parrainage section distributes to all the children who benefit from the programme.
Other professional guidelines:
Volontariat, encouraged by its supporting committees, is engaged with more determination in vocational training leading to jobs, internally and externally:
Internally: Several courses have been taught in various fields with good results for employment, but some could not be repeated in order not to saturate the market or for lack of availability of teachers or candidates. Examples include 1 - the theoretical and practical training for the repair of electrical appliances such as televisions, 2 – VIDOU, training in industrial design applied to the constructions, 3- training MINNAL for electricity . [See the section NEWS in this site]
Outside: After finishing the higher secondary school, many sponsored children wish to pursue a course in a college. These courses are often very expensive, especially those offered by private organizations. Tuition fees may be partially supported through the State Government schemes favouring children belonging to the lower castes. A bank loan is possible, which will be repaid when the young graduate takes up a job. Volontariat, after verifying the quality of the training and the motivation of the youngsters, is also committed to pay the hostel expenses if the young person has to be resident for 2 or 3 years, or to advance the tuition fees before the loan is effective.
