The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) Sapta Shakti Command has launched a pioneering initiative to empower army wives, students, and war widows through media skills. In collaboration with the Army Public School (APS) in Jaipur and the Saksham Sanchar Foundation, the three-month Media Masterclass Programme aims to equip participants with the skills to become entrepreneurs, influencers, media professionals, and more.
The programme, which commenced during the summer vacations, will train students and army wives in mobile journalism, script writing, video making, and story writing. The curriculum is designed to help participants tell stories about local culture, art, tourism, historical assets, and more. The initiative also aims to provide a platform for army wives and war widows to become influencers and entrepreneurs in their home country, without having to relocate.
According to Ravindra Nagar, Spokesperson for Saksham Sanchar Foundation, "The idea is to train students to learn stories catering to art, craft, culture, tourism, historical assets, and so on. The students have been using mobiles, but if they learn the art of mobile journalism, they can do wonders." Geetanjali Bahl, Chairperson of Education, South Western Command, emphasized that media education will help students choose their desired career in multiple fields and build upon skills to shape their future.
The programme has already garnered significant interest, with around 400 students attending a career counseling session and approximately 60 students being selected for the programme. Seven army wives have also registered for the programme. Gayatri Kulshreshtha, Principal of APS Jaipur, highlighted the importance of skill-based education in present times, as emphasized by the National Education Policy (NEP).
In the next phase, the programme plans to expand to the interiors, empowering war widows and local students by teaching them the art of storytelling. This initiative is a significant step towards empowering army wives, students, and war widows, providing them with the skills and confidence to pursue their passions and make a meaningful impact in their communities.