"Technical skill is mastery of complexity, while creativity is mastery of simplicity", Erik Christopher Zeeman

"It has been going great. We can now see better livelihood opportunities for ourselves," said the three students in unison who are enrolled in the Mobile repairing course being conducted at the Goela community centre under the Life Skills Education (LSE) program of Institute of Rural Research and Development. This is the first batch of 20 students who are undergoing training at the mobile repairing centre which started on 14th March 2008.

Vocational training or learning a skill is like an investment which reaps benefits throughout the lifetime. Agriculture is the main source of income in the villages of Mewat but it cannot ensure employment to the large number of people in villages, especially the youth as agricultural and other land-based activities are not remunerative at all times. Therefore, knowledge of an employable skill becomes all the more important.

The success and satisfaction is visible on the faces of mobile repairing course participants. Mujahid, Asthali and Mubarik Ali belong to farming families and have been brought up in compromising conditions due to a large family. Their aspirations were rekindled when they heard about the mobile repairing course and after seeking permission from their families they decided to learn this technical skill. “Fee was not a problem because it was reasonably placed at Rs 50 a month and we could afford it,” said Asthali, whose father is a retired army man. On asking about their future plans they said, “We are getting ready to open our own shops as some of our friends have already done that.” Eight students have already started to run their mobile repairing shops and with an initial investment of 10,000-15,000 they have started earning Rs. 3,000-4,000 per month.

Shahid, native of Chila village of Mewat purchased a computer with his own resources, to keep abreast of the latest mobile repair technologies. The course was beneficial as he can repair 80% faults easily; only 20% faults sometimes need the consultation of our trainer. “My father had a general store earlier but after I learnt the mobile repairing skill I suggested him to revamp the business and now the repairing job makes the larger chunk of our business which also has a huge demand,” said Shahid.

The success of the course lies with the trainer. Finding the instructor was not an easy task but the team at IRRAD did an extensive search to appoint the right person. The trainer Saiffudin, is an arts graduate from Zakir Hussein College, Delhi. Before joining the center he did his own business for two years apart from holding workshops for other institutes. With his vast experience, Saiffudin trains the students using sound training methodologies and procedures . He admits that the training was a challenge at the beginning, “It was difficult as some students took a lot of time to open up. They were reluctant to come up and discuss things with me, which is not a problem now since the students respect my knowledge in this field” He advices his students to practice what they have learned and not let this knowledge go waste. The students regard him as a mentor, a friend who is directing them to learn a skill that will be useful throughout their life.

The session wrapped up with the students saying, “Mobile Phones have become an integral part of our lives”. With such encouraging response and newly learned skill, one hopes that it would prove beneficial for the students and will add to their earnings.