20/08/2026
“Technology has made outreach easier. But nothing replaces a real conversation.”
Over seven years, Raghupavan, Centre Associate with GROW Youth in Rajahmundry, has seen social media add a new dimension to outreach alongside door-to-door visits and kiosks outside colleges. Reaching young people may be easier today. Understanding what they want still requires listening.
For Raghupavan, it is only when a young person begins talking about what they really want from life that guidance becomes meaningful.
He remembers meeting three students from a remote village, each from a family living under a temporary roof. All three enrolled, trained and found jobs. Months later, when he returned to the village, their parents spoke about what those jobs had changed at home.
Seven years of listening to young people have left their mark on him too.
“The students changed. But honestly, so did I. This work taught me how to listen.”
GROW Youth centres offer a 60-day training programme in Core Employability Skills, covering communication, digital literacy, aptitude, soft skills and career readiness, preparing young people for entry-level roles across sectors.
