Standard Chartered Foundation, in collaboration with strategic education partner Friends Union for Energizing Lives (FUEL) International, on 25 November 2021 launched literacy classes for Vocational High School (SMK) students under the banner of Futuremakers, Standard Chartered’s community empowerment program. As a local implementing partner, FUEL International will cooperate with Yayasan Mitra Mandiri Indonesia.
Armed with the experience from the previous year, which provided literacy education to 270 students, this year’s program will target 2,000 SMK students in Greater Jakarta. English literacy skills, computer literacy, and digital marketing literacy are the three curricula that are implemented comprehensively in this program that will last until 2023.
In the launching of the literacy class, which was held virtually, alumni and teachers from previous literacy projects were present. Representatives from the Education Office, Anas Rosich – Education Office of Plt KASI for the Vocational School Curriculum, will also be present to witness the start of an important program that will contribute directly to the enrichment of the education curriculum and skills of vocational students.
According to an analysis conducted by YMMI & FUEL, these three basic literacy skills are very important today. The existence of SMK in preparing a skilled workforce also needs to be continuously supported to increase considering that not all SMK graduates can meet the demands of employment in accordance with their specialization. Some basic skills and a large number of applied skills are found to be still lacking in mastery of high school graduates, in addition to oral and written communication, computer technology and digital marketing methods which are still not excellent skills.
Diana Mudadalam, Head of CABM Indonesia and ASEAN Market (AU,BN,PH), Standard Chartered, said that “Through Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, we strive to provide broad opportunities for young people to gain education, work experience, and skills that are later it will be their provision to enter the world of work or entrepreneurship which is increasingly challenging and requires skills that are relevant to future needs.”
“We at FUEL are very pleased to be partnering with the Standard Chartered Foundation to provide training for young Indonesians. We look forward to bringing our skills development expertise to reach 1 million youth globally,” said Ketan Deshpande, Founder, Chairman and CEO of FUEL International (Friends Union For Energising Lives).
Gino Latief, Executive Director of YMMI, added, “The continuation of the commitment that Standard Chartered has given to the beneficiaries has demonstrated the good role and responsibility of the company in shaping a better future for Indonesia’s next generation.”
(India CSR)
