REACHA partnership with IBM and Goa State Higher Education Council, Government of Goa for SkillsBuild Program. Converge 2024 Powered by IBM and REACHA Updates - Day 1 - 15th January 2024 was the inauguration of Industry-Academia Connect (Shiksha Udyojak Sangam) - first of its kind. The goal of this connect series was to conduct a series of industry expert sessions for the students of Goa. Dr. Pramod Sawant Sir, Chief Minister of Goa was the Chief Guest. He shared in his speech that the collaboration with IBM through SkillsBuild Program is helping Goa to move towards the Viksitbharat 2047 goal. He added that the Goa Government has proactively taken up this program in partnership with IBM. This has also been taken up by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India. The ceremony was attended by more than 200 students along with the faculty of Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sanquelim. Dr. Mani Madhukar, senior leader from IBM gave an update about the program and also shared the vision to take this program ahead in a focused manner with Goa Government and REACHA as the implementing partner. Dr Niyan Marchon from Goa Government spoke about the Converge Event 2024, the vision of this program towards Viksit Bharat 2047, and how Goa Government's partnership with IBM and REACHA is strengthening this effort. REACHA expert speaker Muneesh Batra gave a market expert session on Cybersecurity and its importance to the students. REACHA CEO Nikhil Pant also marked his presence along with team members to further strengthen this initiative. Day 2 at the Government College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Quepem on 16th January 2024 - Insightful Expert Session by Mr. Divyam Garg (REACHA Team Industry Expert) on Intro to Robotics, Application of Robotics and AI and Robotics. Day 3 at S.S.A. Government College of Arts and Commerce, Pernem on 17th January 2024 - Expert Session by Mr. Vasu Sethia (REACHA Team Industry Expert), focusing on AI in Commerce. Day 4 at the Government College of Science and Commerce in Borda Margao on 18th January 2024 - Enlightening Expert Session by Ms. Radhika Verma (REACHA Team Industry Expert), focusing on Emotional Well-Being.

Imperial Auto Industries supported ITI Students Upskilling Project implemented by REACHA. Industry aligned Technical books, and soft skill training books distributed to the students as they start their theory and practical training to learn skills that are needed in order to become job ready for the industry.

REACHA team is currently on ground for monitoring and evaluation visit for IIFL (India Infoline Group) Foundation's, Home Stay Host Training Project in partnership with National Cadet Corps (NCC) India in Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh. The students were presented with the Home Stay Host Curriculum Books as they take on this journey of getting skilled, so that they can contribute towards the increased demands of Home Stays as a result of increase in tourism in the area. REACHA team is also going deep into communities to spread information regarding this training program and also for mobilization efforts. The response has been positive. Staff members and youth are getting more excited as they understand the intent behind the program more, as an initiative like this has not happened in the area in the past. The students, staff members and REACHA team also went on an exposure visit to a local homestay in Tezu.

REACHA organised an industry webinar as part of the IBM SkillsBuild Program, "Navigating the Future with Generative AI" by Mr. Maniesh Kulshrestha who shared his wisdom with the students registered on the IBM Skillsbuild portal. The session covered the following - - Beginnings of AI from the 1950s to the ChatGPT revolution. - Everyday AI? It's not just a buzz, it's our reality. We're only 70 years deep into the AI revolution! - We learned about Alan Turing and John McCarthy who were thought leaders for AI - Mr. Maniesh Kulshrestha, dropped tips for humans to navigate Generative AI as we're at the early stages of an AI era and exciting times lie ahead. - He believes that we should befriend AI while being aware of its limitations; delegate the dull work to it but keep learning from it while having a global outlook - Keep in mind our safety while using it as that, definitely, comes first. Heartfelt thanks to Mr. Kulshrestha for the interesting and engaging session, and also to the 100 participants who joined us from Chennai (Surabi INM Chennai) and Nagaland (Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland) and asked relevant questions during the Q&A session!

REACHA team was on ground to take the IBM SkillsBuild Program to districts - Kanpur, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Muzzafarnagar. REACHA is partnering with UPSDM (U.P. Skill Development Mission under REACHA's MoU signed with Uttar Pradesh Government to take IBM's SkillsBuild Program to the interior roots of Uttar Pradesh. Updates from the Kanpur District - Meeting with DC Naresh Kumar Ji and MIS Sanjay Kumar Ji for taking the IBM SkillsBuild Program to the interior regions of Uttar Pradesh in Kanpur. REACHA is partnering with IBM and UPSDM for this effort. Goal is to upskill youth so they can be prepared for job opportunities. Updates from Varanasi REACHA team met with CDO- Himanshu Nagpal Ji, DC- Ashok Kumar Ji, MIS Abhishek Singh in Varanasi for taking IBM SkillsBuild Program to the interior parts of their district. REACHA is partnering with UPSDM in order to bring IBM SkillsBuild’s benefits to the youth in this area. Updates from Muzzafarnagar Meeting done with MIS Muzzafarnagar Akshay Ji and Director of Employment Exchange AK Bharti Ji in Muzaffarnagar. This was regarding IBM SkillsBuild and how to take this program to interior areas of Muzzafarnagar to benefit the youth with 21st century skills. Updates from Gorakphur Team visited UPSDMOfficial centers in Gorakhpur and conducted IBM SkillsBuild Orientation sessions. The students were excited to get enrolled and look forward to enhancing their learning through the SkillsBuild Portal.

Our guest speaker is Mr. Projesh Kar - National Head of Digital Sales and Online Commerce at Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. The sessions aims to focus on - "Unlocking the future: Digital Marketing, E-commerce, and AI Integration". IBM with REACHA as implementing partner is bringing in these industry expert sessions as part of the SkillsBuild Program to touch and emphsaize on the important 21st century skills for the youth in India.

The goal of the project includes - Upskilling of ITI candidates who are already enrolled in ITI Faridabad in trades such as Welding, Fitter, Machinist, any other identified trade. Industry exposure to be given to the students of the ITI so that gap between academia and the industry can be addressed. The training to take place at Imperial Auto's factory and at its training center where the market aligned curriculum is to be taught to the students as part of their training. The enrolled youth to also be trained in life skills such as communication, job readiness etc. so that they can become better prepared as they enter the workforce after finishing ITI. REACHA continues to strive to take up projects where public private partnerships can take place in order to maximize the benefit for the people of the communities.

REACHA is partnering with UPSDM (U.P. Skill Development Mission and DDUGKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Ministry of Rural Development, India) Centers under REACHA's MoU signed with Uttar Pradesh Government to take IBM's SkillsBuild Program to the interior roots of Uttar Pradesh. UPSDM's mission is to train all eligible youth in 14-35 age group (There are more than 25 million youth in UP in this age range) in any sector with their selected courses. (DDU-GKY) is demand-driven, placement-linked skill training initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development, GoI. UPSDM took out a circular on 20th September 2023 urging UPSDM Centers and DDU-GKY centers to take up IBM SkillsBuild Program at the respective centers with REACHA as implementing partner, so that students from the most backward areas can benefit through this initiative. REACHA team along with Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) of the UP state in partnership with DC office are aiming to embed the IBM SkillsBuild Program within districts of UP like - Muzaffarnagar, Pratapgarh, Raebareli, Sambhal etc. REACHA aims to strategically continue its journey to try to embed IBM SkillsBuild Program into the government systems with an aim to increase the outreach and benefits of the program exponentially.

REACHA team was part of the Annual IBM SkillsBuild Event held at Hotel Pullman New Delhi and presented its work that it has taken up pan India in partnership with IBM. IBM Global CSR team was also present at the event. REACHA CEO Mr. Nikhil Pant was part of the panel discussion - Industrial Revolution 4.0 - shared how REACHA along with its partners in innovative ways is taking the IBM SkillsBuild Program to the remotest areas in India. Mansi Sharma's story was covered by IBM. She joined REACHA a few months back as a Documentation Executive. Mansi learned many skills through SkillsBuild platform, and now herself has become a trainer, and goes and visits colleges on ground to take orientation sessions.

REACHA team signed an LoU with Department of Higher Education (DHE), Nagaland and Investment Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) to bring benefits of IBM's CSR initiative - SkillsBuild Program to youth in Nagaland. REACHA is countrywide implementation partner of IBM SkillsBuild Program. REACHA team along with IDAN team members covered 10 colleges, across Dimapur and Kohima as part of phase 1 from 4.10.2023 to 7.10.2023. Around 4000 students from colleges around these areas were oriented about the IBM SkillsBuild Program during this phase. The goal of the initiative is to bring market relevant skills to the youth of Nagaland so that they can have an equal opportunity to learn these, and also have a chance of accessing better livelihood opportunities, which can help them to support themselves and their families. LoU between REACHA, DHE and IDAN Nagaland is a start of a new partnership, and will also help in strengthening the Northeastern region of India, which the government of India is also putting a lot of emphasis on.

This project, a collaboration between India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) Foundation, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) under the Ministry of Defence and REACHA, supported by Lohitpur Brigade and Dao Division, aims to transform the lives of underprivileged youth and contribute to regional prosperity.Over the next 12 months, 160 Tezu youth will receive comprehensive training in home stay hospitality, equipping them for the thriving tourism industry. This program emphasizes technical skills as well as essential soft skills such as communication, grooming and computer proficiency. .Key program objectives: Community Engaement: Mobilizing youth for careers in hospitality Home Stay Training: Creating professional hosts with industry know-how. Employment: Facilitating gainful employment/entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality. Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Newsletter (May 2023) called for balanced CSR spending, particularly in the Northeast. Organizations like NCC, THSC, the District Commissioner's Office, and MDoNER support this initiative.! Esteemed guests included GOC 2 Mtn Div Lt. Gen MS Bains, Mrs. Madhu Jain (Director of IIFL Foundation), Brig Dr. PM Bali, Dr. Kangki Megu (Principal, IGGC Tezu), Local District Administration, and Mr. Nikhil Pant (CEO, REACHA). Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein, MP Shri Tapir Gao and others conveyed their wishes through video messages. This project aligns with PM Modi's vision for Northeast development. REACHA, with IIFL Foundation and NCC's support, is taking a vital step in this direction. Collaboration is central to MDoNER's focus, setting an example for regional development. This initiative promises positive change, nurturing youth potential and creating a brighter future for Tezu and Arunachal Pradesh.

Students of Hospitality and Retail supported by IIFL Foundation and implemented by REACHA participated in flag hoisting at DC Office (Kupwara) and interacted with Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate Ms. Ayushi Sudan (IAS). Students handed over the Tiranga to the DC as a token of their love for the nation. The National Anthem was also sung. There were more than 100 people present during the Flag Hoisting/exchange, including people from the local community. The event was undertaken with guidance from Col MS Navalgatti, CO, 41 RR of the Indian Army at Kupwara. Staff, Students of the above project and local civilians participated in a Tiranga Rally to Machil (60 km from Kupwara) near the line of control and distributed Indian Flags in the villages that were on the way. Participants were received at Machil under supervision of Brigadier Vinod Singh Negi (Commander 53 Infantry Brigade). Col Rajat Kumar Birman (CO 56 RR) along with other Army officers hoisted the Tiranga on 15 August 2023 along with our students and staff and paid tribute to army martyrs at Machil War Memorial. There was a lot of excitement amongst everyone as people came out of their homes together to celebrate the 77th Independence Day! The Indian army appreciated the efforts of IIFL Foundation and REACHA for organising such an event near the line of control. This has sent a very positive message across the border that people of Kashmir love their nation like other citizens of India.