The Giving Wings to Dreams for Youth Empowerment Programme, a collaborative project between Standard Chartered and UCEP Bangladesh recently crossed the milestone of securing employment for over 1,000 youths.
Kicking off in June, 2023, the initiative is providing skills training, mid-level management, and entrepreneurship development opportunities to participants through various training programmes. Over a duration of two years, the projects will serve a total of 2,000 beneficiaries. As of September, 2024, the project has secured self or wage employment for 1,146 beneficiaries. This represents 73% of target, exceeding the scheduled target for the period, ahead of project completion in 2025. The project was launched under Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank’s flagship global community initiative.
Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, “This milestone is a testament to the incredible potential of Bangladesh’s youth. As we continue working towards building sustainable prosperity, the need for equal economic opportunities remains pressing. The skill-development programmes, cocreated in consultation with the public and private sectors, will not only prepare the youth for gainful employment, they will also increase the supply of skilled workforce for the industries of Gazipur, a key industrial hub. We are proud to work with UCEP Bangladesh in providing thousands of youth with the skills they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”
The project is providing classroom and workplace-based training in electrical installation and maintenance; welding; sewing machine operation; apparel screen printing; tailoring and dress making; and beauty care. The initiative also offers a Workplace Wellbeing Management course to sensitize participants on physical and mental wellbeing and ensure sexual & reproductive health and rights are supported. After completing trade-specific trainings, high-potential trainees also receive Entrepreneurship Development Training. The project prioritises inclusivity with a target of 50% female representation and 2% representation of persons with disabilities among the beneficiaries. Graduates provided employment support, with around 1,100 securing self or wage employment till date.
– Press release
