Vijayawada: Education Minister Nara Lokesh has announced that the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation has entered into an agreement with UNICEF to enable the latter to develop the skills of the unemployed youths in AP.As part of this collaboration, the state government and UNICEF have launched three key youth development programmes. The signing of the MoU took place in the presence of Lokesh and representatives from APSDC and UNICEF. Also present at the MoU signing were UNICEF representatives Zelalem Birhanu Taffesse and the chief field office for the South Murali Krishna, the adolescent and youth development officer Manasa Priya Vasudevan and Ravi Thejha Bale, digital, AI and strategy consultant from UNICEF office in Stockholm. Lokesh said these transformative programmes are aligned with the state’s ambitious “One Entrepreneur, One Family” mission and the Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 aimed at fostering innovation, inclusion and sustainable livelihoods among the youth. The key initiatives are Youth for Social Impact (YFSI) which would empower over 2,00,000 youth from polytechnic, degree and engineering institutions with entrepreneurial thinking and problem-solving skills using UNICEF’s globally recognised UPSHIFT framework. It aims to cultivate a generation of job creators rather than job seekers. YouthHub, a multilingual digital platform integrated with the state’s Naipunyam portal, connects marginalised youth to skilling, job, and volunteering opportunities. It ensures inclusive access to the digital economy and support for all young people, regardless of their background. The Passport to Earning (P2E) project targets youths aged 15–29 and provides free, globally competitive digital and professional skill training, preparing them for leadership roles in the fast-evolving workforce landscape. Zelalem Birhanu Taffesse and Manasa Priya Vasudevan lauded the AP government’s forward-thinking approach. “The state’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive development is a model for the nation. UNICEF is proud to partner with Andhra Pradesh in building a future where every young person is prepared to thrive and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development,” they said. The success of this collaboration is credited to the leadership of Kona Sasidhar, principal secretary to the higher education department and G Ganesh Kumar, CEO of the state skill development corporation, who played a pivotal role in conceptualising and operationalising the programmes.
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