In early 2025, St. George’s Academy Society (SGAS) undertook a detailed Skill Gap & Livelihood Needs Assessment across six blocks of Bijnor District—including Nagina, Najibabad, Afzalgarh, Seohara, Chandpur, and Dhampur. Conducted in collaboration with local panchayats and community workers, the survey engaged over 850 respondents, with a focus on rural youth, school dropouts, and women from economically weaker households.
🔍 Key Findings from the Bijnor Baseline Survey:
71% of youth surveyed were unemployed despite having completed Class 10 or 12.
82% of rural women expressed interest in learning tailoring, embroidery, or beauty services for home-based income generation.
Only 9% had access to formal vocational training in the past three years.
High seasonal migration among male youth was observed, particularly from Najibabad and Chandpur blocks, due to lack of local job avenues.
65% of surveyed families were open to female members participating in short-term, locally delivered training programs.
🧵 Testimonies from the Ground
“My daughter left school after Class 10 because we couldn’t afford books. When SGAS mobilizers came to our village and told us the training was free and certified, we saw hope again.”
— Parveen Bano, Seohara, mother of a current trainee
“I never thought I could learn something at 34. The tailoring course gave me more than just a skill—it gave me self-confidence.”
— Munira Begum, Housewife, Nagina block
“As a local teacher, I’ve seen girls drop out too early. SGAS’s training is giving them a second chance—not in a classroom, but through livelihoods.”
— Rakesh Kumar, Schoolteacher, Najibabad
🎯 Skill Training Programs Offered in Bijnor (2025–26):
Apparel Sewing & Tailoring (NSQF Level 3)
Hand Embroidery & Zari Work
Beauty & Wellness (Rural Salon Model)
Basic Computer & Smartphone Skills
Retail Assistant with Hindi-English Interaction Training
Each course is conducted free of cost, and certified under NSDC and UKSDM guidelines, ensuring job-readiness and national recognition. The training also includes:
Soft skills and personality development
Digital financial literacy (UPI, mobile banking)
Post-training livelihood guidance (local job placement / microenterprise support)
👥 Community Engagement & Support
SGAS’s Bijnor initiative is backed by active mobilization campaigns through anganwadis, schools, SHGs, and gram pradhans. Early support has also come from local organizations such as:
Nagina Mahila Vikas Samiti, supporting women candidates from backward blocks
Bijnor Youth Circle, promoting skilling among rural school dropouts
Block Development Offices, which have assisted in identifying candidates from BPL families
🌱 Why SGAS Chose Bijnor
Low access to structured skill training despite strong demand
Growing population of rural youth seeking non-agricultural income
High rate of women willing to skill and work from home
Untapped potential in crafts and apparel sector for local enterprise
At SGAS, we believe in earning trust through action, and building capacity through partnership with the people. In Bijnor, this mission is already taking root—in sewing machines humming in village corners, in women learning new skills with pride, and in youth who now see a future worth staying for.
