Standard Chartered Bank has recently launched the latest phase of 'Giving Wings to Dreams for Youth Empowerment' programme in collaboration with UCEP Bangladesh, in Gazipur industrial zone.
Over the next two years, the programme will serve 3,000 beneficiaries, prioritising those who have become unemployed recently. Participants will receive classroom and workplace-based training in electrical installation and maintenance; welding; sewing machine operation; motorcycle service maintenance; refrigeration and air conditioning; apparel screen printing; tailoring and dress making; beauty care and various other employable skills.
After completing trade-specific trainings, high-potential trainees will receive Entrepreneurship Development Training. All graduates will receive employment placement support. The project prioritises inclusivity with a target of 50% female representation, 2-5% returnee migrants and 2% representation of persons with disabilities among the beneficiaries. The initiative also offers a Workplace Wellbeing Management course to sensitize participants on physical and mental health wellbeing idea and topics, along with sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "As the oldest and largest foreign financial institution in Bangladesh, Standard Chartered has always prioritised investing in education and helping develop the youth of this nation. Through initiatives such as this, we are supporting them with contemporary knowledge, certified skills, and opportunities to find gainful employment or to become entrepreneurs. We thank our partner UCEP Bangladesh for their continued efforts to further our mission to upskill the youth for a sustainable economic impact."
The programme was launched in 2019, with a cohort of 300 trainees. Following its success, more initiatives were lunched in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Till date, the programme has supported more than 6000 participants with skills training along with mid-level management and entrepreneurship development opportunities. More than 70% of the graduates have secured employment through the job placement support, which is also a part of this programme.
The project has been launched under Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank's flagship global community initiative. Futuremakers aim to tackle inequality and empower disadvantaged young people, helping them learn, earn and grow. Since launching in 2019, Futuremakers has enabled and supported more than 88,900 jobs across the world.
With around 120 years of commitment to Bangladesh's growth, Standard Chartered continues to champion initiatives that promote sustainable development in critical sectors like agriculture, environment, health and education. The Bank remains dedicated to investing in communities, expanding services, and creating new opportunities, while fostering inclusive and sustainable growth across Bangladesh.
