Shillong, Feb 8: In a world-first, two youth-focused organisations from Meghalaya and Australia have come together to foster the first knowledge-exchange in entrepreneurship education with indigenous youth between Australia and India.
The signing of Memorandum of Understanding for this initiative took place at a roundtable event in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, between Avenues (Meghalaya) and Young Change Agents (Australia).
This unique Australian-Indian partnership between two youth-focussed organisations aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two nations through innovation education and global learning pathways.
Lauding the signing of the MoU, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, also wished the association through a virtual address, stating “I am delighted to learn that Meghalaya’s AVENUES is signing an MoU with Young Change Agents, Australia in Melbourne. I have been given to understand that this partnership is aimed at introducing globally recognized entrepreneurial mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to youth and educators in Meghalaya and North East India through a sustained series of interventions over a two year period. It is truly a historic moment for North East India and particularly for the development of our youth. Through the Avenues-Young Change Agents collaboration, it is our hope that thousands of young individuals in our home, Meghalaya and further in North-East India will be inspired with the spirit of social entrepreneurship, guided by an innovative, integrated education pathway.”
The initial phase of the partnership will see Young Change Agents, Australia hosted in Meghalaya by Avenues to collaborate and contextualise a customised entrepreneurial learning initiative for the youth of the state and Northeast India. The long-term goal of this partnership is to build and enhance entrepreneurial education pathways with young people as they decide on their next life steps in education and employment. The MoU signing will be followed by a similar roundtable event to be held in Meghalaya, India, in the month of March 2024.
The Young Change Agents – Avenues, Meghalaya partnership is funded by Avenues and supported by the Australia India Business Council, Australia India Youth Dialogue, South Asian Australians Representing Ideas (SAARI) Collective and the Governments of India and Australia.
Mark Laitflang Stone, Founder & CEO, Avenues Meghalaya, said, “This event is a historic moment in the Northeast India region’s youth development narrative. It marks the first knowledge-exchange intervention for entrepreneurship education for indigenous youth between our nations. Working with Young Change Agents will help us to spark entrepreneurial mindsets in our indigenous youth, in ways where youth build their confidence and realise what is truly possible”.
Margaret O’Brien, CEO, Young Change Agents, shared how, “early, equitable access to innovative and hands-on education is critical. Young Change Agents helps youth become the custodians of their own lives and futures, with entrepreneurship as the vehicle. We are so impressed with the work of Avenues in North East India, which sparks life skills and leadership opportunities with youth, and by way of invitation from the team, we look forward to shaping a program in partnership, with a focus on sparking entrepreneurial mindsets for tribal youth and exchanging knowledge with teachers and communities.”
AVENUES-YCA Key Partnership Objectives
• to build entrepreneurial education pathways for Meghalaya and NE indigenous youth
• to strengthen educator capacities in entrepreneurial education
• to support entrepreneurial ecosystem linkages for both organisations in their respective geographies
• to initiate opportunities for collaboration in talent identification and cultural exchange for indigenous youth across the two countries
• to plan and operationalise a pilot programme amongst tribal youth in Meghalaya for an AB testing of the partnership initiative to drive entrepreneurial skillsets programmes for indigenous communities.
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