Dream A Dream: Allowing India's At-Risk Youth to Dream Big
Part of the magic of childhood is dreaming about future possibilities. But for children from vulnerable backgrounds, even the most modest of dreams can seem far out of reach. Thanks to Dream A Dream — an organization that teaches essential life skills to at-risk youth in India — more than 3,000 young people have had the opportunity to shape a better future.
Dream A Dream’s programs, using effective mediums such as sports, creative arts, mentoring, outdoor adventure and computer education, supplement regular schooling to foster the emotional and intellectual maturity necessary for a successful and healthy life journey. At the same time, the organization chisels away at class barriers by recruiting volunteers (over 1,500 today) from the local community to help run the program. The organization targets young people aged eight to 18 and focuses on building skills such as:
- Communicating with others
- Handling difficult situations and solving problems
- Taking initiative
- Managing conflict
- Following instructions
The good news is that many program graduates currently employed by Dream A Dream as youth leaders, are pursuing a college education or have found meaningful jobs. But the dedicated staff at Dream A Dream recognizes that there are many more vulnerable children to reach. For this reason, the organization is working toward government adoption of their life-skills model so that it becomes a regular feature of all schools that serve disadvantaged youth.
While many participants have smoothly transitioned from the program to higher education or employment, some of these young people encounter challenges in taking their next steps. They do not have access to last-mile support at their most vulnerable age — 15–18 years old. That’s why, in partnership with Dell, the organization will create DreamConnect — a technology center to offer young adults career-enhancing skills and opportunities. Those enrolled in the program will have access to computers, e-learning tools and workplace-readiness courses to help them make the right choices. The latest Dell YouthConnect grant will fund the setup of A Life Skills for Career Center and, in its pilot phase, will help the development of the DreamConnect program for 100 young adults from the poorest areas of Bangalore this year and serve more youth in the coming years.
Learn more about Dream A Dream’s programs