The problem: Students at the rural area in India – Baramati, lack access to soft skills such as public speaking, leadership, entrepreneurship, self-care and self-empowerment, which make an impact on seeking a job later. The main intention of this project is to have an organic way of developing a workshop portfolio and collect impact and feedback as we do this. This will serve as a pilot for local refugee pillar of UPLIFT. Promoting equity and quality soft skill training to rural and underprivileged students. International exposure to professional concepts – something that college students in Baramati do not receive. - Developing strong workshop portfolio for team WLF.

Target group: College students (age – 18 years to 24 years) and teachers.

Proposed solution: Hybrid mode workshops, with online presentations and on site group dynamic activities. Hub activities: Monthly workshops; Zoom streaming set up – Baramati hub; Co-ordination between on-site and virtual activities – Baramati hub.

Dates: Start-12th March 2023 End-November 2023

Goal: Short-term goals: Identify the needs of the students in the Baramati region.

Long-term goals: In a span of 8 months, provide a set of 8 workshops to rural college students in a hybrid mode. To introduce students to international standards of soft skill training. Build confidence inside-out through empowerment exercises. Major milestones – we reached out to 250+ students through two workshops already. Direct immediate outputs of the project: - Empowerment and education of rural youth – quantitative impact. - Equity between developing and developed nation – exchange through collaboration. Workshop portfolio and blueprint pilot. - Lasting impact on an individual level. - Opportunity screen through Buddy program. Primary contact(s) / experts: Baramati Hub-primary collaborators (Cross-Hub project) Pawar Nursing college – primary beneficiary college Experts – Women Leading Forward team members