Mumbai : LIFE Trust, a registered public charitable trust, will organise the second edition of its Career Mela ‘EK CHOTI SI ASHA’ for all the secondary class students of the municipal schools across Mumbai. The broad objective is to motivate students to complete their basic education and familiarise them with a variety of career options available, which will not only fetch them a good income but also be an opportunity to use their skills in a specified field of their interest and choice. Approximately 2500 students from all the 49 BMC schools in Mumbai are expected to attend the Career Mela to be held on 11th December, from 10 am to 4pm at The Globe Mill Passage Municipal School Ground, Worli, Mumbai.

The Career Mela will focus on employment opportunities for the youth in new and non traditional careers spread across a wide spectrum of service and industrial organizations. LIFE Trust also hopes to address the issue faced by educationists of a large majority of school children dropping out before the commencement of their Secondary education. Students will be exposed to about 30 different streams and will gain insights about corporate giants, the BPO industry and Health chains along with the Defence Forces: Army, Navy and Air force.

Prior to the Career Mela, LIFE Trust had a meeting with key representatives from the MCGM Education Department, including the Additional Municipal Commissioner, Administrative Officer, Education Officer, Public Partnership Cell, Head Masters, Supervisors, Beat officers and teachers to ensure maximum attendance and participation from the students.

LIFE trust is also organising transport and lunch for 1,200 students.

Speaking about the Career Mela, Mrs. Poonam Lalvani, Managing Trustee, LIFE Trust, said, “LIFE Trust has been actively involved in fortifying the future of students and guiding them on the right path. The very first step of this initiative was to provide career counselling by LIFE coaches in 49 BMC secondary schools. The next step was to conduct a “Differential Aptitude Test” for more than 1300 students in 10 LIFE Trust adopted schools. Psychologists appointed by LIFE Trust conducted professional and clinical counselling. They conducted 7 different tests for the students, scored and analysed the data, prepared individual results, provided one on one counselling and guidance about their strength and skills for future by explaining the results. And now, LIFE Trust is organizing a Career Mela – ‘Ek Choti Si Asha’ which will open opportunities to the children and show them a path to fulfilling their dreams.”

“The students will have an opportunity to interact with spokespeople and representatives from different avenues, which will help broaden their horizons. Normally such initiatives are organised only for students from B Schools and Colleges. We hope that the students use this platform as an effective launch pad to a successful career and bridge the gap between cross-sectoral manpower shortage and unemployment” added Mrs Lalvani.