As part of the HSBC Skills for Life project, implemented in collaboration with Swades foundation and the monitoring partner Deloitte Social Impact had organised two days Partner orientation workshop in Mumbai on the 2nd and 3rd April 2019. The selected 56 partners from the current project cycle across India participated in the workshop. The workshop began with a welcome note by Ms. Aloka Majumdar, Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC India. The key note address was delivered by Mr. Surendra Rosha, CEO HSBC, India and the special address by Ronnie Screwvala, Founder Director, Swades Foundation. Mr. Kumar. K, the Partner and Industry Leader, Deloitte also delivered a special address on the occasion of the inauguration.
The two days’ workshop commenced with a learning organization exercise which was facilitated by Ms. Shubha Srinivasan, Director of Social Impact Practice at Deloitte, India. The workshop included various practical learning sessions, group activities, discussions and monitoring overview. The demonstration of MIS to the participants and the practical input of the data through demo systems helped the participants comprehend the formats better and make better clarifications. At the end of the first days training, we were clearer on the expectations and the management of the skill training project from the end of the funding partner and the Deloitte team respectively. On the second day, there was a quick recap on the session conducted on the previous day. The following session was on financial risk and advisory, compliances and FCRA regulations. The workshop was clear on the expected manner of submission of financial reports and the evading of duplications in budgets and vouchers. Mr. Girish Singhaniahe, the EduBridge Founder conducted a session about the mission and purpose of EduBridge School which provides a certified training for the trainers in multiple domains of formal and non-formal skill training sectors. The greatest highlight of the workshop, the World Café exercise was fun filled and thought provoking. The session built a platform through its activity for the participants who were experts in the field to chalk out and identify possible solutions to the challenges encountered in the skill development Eco system. As the partners were from different locations in India, the participants had vibrant and manifold experience in the field especially concerned with the regions and locations. Even though from different organizations, all drive towards a like mission to skill and employ the youth, hence the sharing of ideas, challenges, solutions and experiences have disseminated better reflections and competency to strive for better impacts. The two day’s workshop was successful and was concluded with a feedback session.