Retail Associate program is one of its kind in Kupwara town which is jointly implemented by *REACHA foundation* and *Indian Army* and funded by IIFL foundation. The said project was inaugurated by CO, 41 RR in presence of CEO, REACHA and representative of IIFL foundation on 27 July 2022. REACHA, known for its expertise in executing large- scale training programs has been instrumental in designing and delivering the program. Their experienced trainers bring a wealth of industry knowledge to the training sessions.
The aim of the program is to provide training and employment to 180 unemployed youth of Kupwara district, which is taking place in Sheikh-ul-Aalam complex near Bus stand, Kupwara. The centre is equipped with hi-tech computer lab and NSQF aligned curriculum. All trainees are being awarded with certification from Retail Sector Skill Council of National Skill Development Corporation of India after the completion of the training programme. Efforts are being made to ensure the placement of all the trainees. Till date, 150 motivated youth of Kupwara have been trained out of which 69 have already got placements in different places of Kashmir region.
Industrial visits are an important exercise for retail trainees which has positive impact not only on the trainees but also on the trainers & helps them enhance syllabus and training techniques. Such exercises builds confidence and helps trainees understand the prevailing work culture in retail sector. It also helps build relationships with partners, and helps them in getting placed in quality outlets and organisations.
On Saturday, 17th June 2023, a group of 45 trainees were taken on a visit to Srinagar City Mall, Vishal Mega Mart, McDonald’s Srinagar, Supermarkets and to few other marketplaces to give them an insight into the real-world retail environments. The participants were able to apply their training in a practical setting and gain valuable hands-on experience. The participants were given exclusive access to observe the inner working of the malls, including store operations, visual merchandising techniques, and customer engagement strategies. These opportunities enable the trainees to witness and experience the intricacies of managing a bustling retail space and provides them with invaluable insights into optimizing customer experiences.
