I would like to welcome those who do not know NIIT Foundation cover to cover to read this article as much as those who do, because we have talked of NGO Accreditation Program in meetings, in success stories and in telephony, but it still remains a mystery that most of us have not quite been able to disentangle or clip on in the memory.
I will risk being a little philosophical and talk like a subject matter expert (though I am not one… but I am well connected with them… and this is my article so I will write as I please!). So, coming back on the subject, anyone who knows anything about development issues - talks about all the social welfare agencies working hand in hand. The big idea is that if all organized efforts to bring up a nation were coordinated, it is going to do away with duplication, fill the skill/resource gap and will help with connecting so many dots that the whole thing will become a maze of synergetic development (Something like an opposite of ‘Vicious circle of poverty’). Yeah it’s utopian but it’s worth staking our egos on because lately we have been discovering that our bright distant promise is achievable. Really? You might wonder! Well, we did get rejected (sometimes violently) by 129 NGOs so far but we did get accepted by other 45 who have signed papers, started the program, handled frustrations and time-lags in corrections offered as much as us and have still carried on. That is success, so our utopia is 34% achievable.
So what is NGO Accreditation Program of NIIT Foundation?
It is something that is enabling us to test waters in the idea called ‘NGO partnerships’. We offer structured IT course and certification as of now. We intend to offer much more, our experimentation has already started with ‘Web Designing’, ‘Hardware and Networking’ and ‘Advanced English’. Our vision compels us to achieve gainful employment of at least 2 million underserved youth by a set date, so I can safely say that we intend to offer employability training as well.
Why am I so excited about NGO Accreditation?
Because it separated us from the well heard and well repeated and well accepted – that though NGOs should partner with each other, they generally don’t. The initial rejection weighed heavy, every rejection does, but then every acceptance soars high in our spirits. Those students who receive an NIIT Certificate and value it, more than make for a month of frustrated efforts.
These NGOs are challenged in terms of resources, sometimes there are only 3 systems for a class of 16, it’s an effort on everyone’s part. But what comes easy? Certainly not development! And we are not retreating because like I said, it IS worth staking our egos on!
Last but not the least, my congratulations to our flag bearer Jocelyn Jose and plan man Vikram Kumar for achieving these feats and carrying on forward harder than ever.
Rinky Sharma
NIIT Foundation
Yey Joe... Nice work!!! well written Rinky!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a ride with lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, highs and lows. Getting rejected by 129 NGOs before getting accepted by 45 was a rough ride but the acceptance received from these 45 is what has kept me going. The adrenaline rush that I get from smiling faces, thank you didi's and making these children feel they are assets is what has helped me in this 1 year jounery of NAP.
ReplyDeleteHoping for a long and unending ride...
actvery well said and presented, Rinky!! NAP has a huge potential for us in terms of relising our (NF) vision and no doubt our flag bearers are putting up their best towards it. The important message is that we should be proud to have been accepted by 45 NGOs. Those 129who have rejected us is for time being and has opened another 129 doors for us. we just need to keep the momentum going..
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