The workshop will be held as part of the NGO’s 15th anniversary celebrations, according to CIGI’s Director N.V. Kabeer. “We have planned 15 diverse programs and activities to mark the occasion of CIGI’s crossing the milestone of 15 years of committed services to society,” he said.

Speaking to Arab News, Kabeer, who is fully devoted to promote the activities of the vibrant career guidance organization, said the workshop, scheduled to be held in Calicut, would be a major boost for CIGI’s efforts to achieve national development through empowerment at the grassroots.

The recently concluded Career Caravan was another activity organized as part of the celebrations. “There was tremendous response from all sections of the Kerala society for the 18-day caravan featuring a group procession of career experts passing through cities and villages across the state with attractive modus of guidance services.

The caravan, launched by former Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharur on Jan. 24 at the state capital of Trivandrum, concluded in the northern district of Kasargode on Feb. 10,” Kabeer said, adding that the 500-km procession had offered comprehensive career solutions to about 50,000 students, 10,000 parents and 2,000 teachers.

“It was a concerted effort of CIGI to popularize and ruralize the services, taking them to the most deserving people at the grassroots. Expert career trainers and counselors presented career solutions with the support of audiovisual devices with an eye on making the grassroots pockets fertile for further empowerment interventions,” he said.

Kabeer noted that CIGI boasts of having more than a million beneficiaries of service in a year. “We use our vast experience and expertise in providing training to different groups of society, including students, parents, teachers and voluntary organizations.

“Our interventions in the educational and social fields — especially among the downtrodden — have drastically changed the scenario and have won wide acceptance and accolades. Various sections of society, including students, teachers, parents, job seekers, organizations, institutions, government bodies and nongovernmental initiatives, have made use of CIGI in various capacities and arenas for scientific career planning, educational guidance and counseling, psychological counseling, aptitude tests, competitive examination coaching and the like,” Kabeer said.

The organization, he noted, also offered ambitious projects like SAGE, GRAND, Hikma and PRATHYASHA for social empowerment, and projects like STEP and REVIVE for quality improvement.

“SAGE (Social Action for Grassroots Empowerment), an integrated project launched two years ago with an objective of addressing the challenges of the minorities, is now scoring excellent performance results,” he said.

The official also unveiled CIGI’s plans to share its experience and exchange views with people from other parts of India. Kabeer’s itinerary included meeting of expatriates from various Indian states in this respect.

Kabeer addressed sessions for non-Keralite Indians in Jeddah, Dammam and Muscat during his current tour of the Gulf states.

“The response was tremendous from all attendees who are eager to embrace CIGI as a role model for career guidance and empowerment in their respective states,” he added.

The Jeddah meeting was held at Seasons Restaurant. Chairman of CIGI International Ameer Thayyil and Ashraf, general manager of Peevees Schools, also addressed the audience. K.M. Musthafa, chief coordinator CIGI International, delivered the introductory speech.

K.T. Abubacker, vice president of CIGI Jeddah Chapter, welcomed the gathering while Mehaboob Ahmed, CDP convener of CIGI, gave the vote of thanks. CIGI Jeddah Chapter Director Rasheed was the anchor. Several academics, businessmen and community leaders from various Indian states attended the session.