GOAL (Going Online as Leaders)

Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) Program was launched by Facebook in partnership with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) on 15th May 2020 to digitally skill and empower 5000 youth from tribal communities over the next five years. The project aims to identify and mobilise 2500 renowned people from the industry which include policy makers and influencers, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs and social workers known for their achievements in their respective domains, to personally mentor tribal youth across India. The nine-month program includes seven months of mentorship in areas such as digital literacy, life skills, leadership & entrepreneurship and sector-specific skills followed by a two-month internship for the mentees to gain an on-ground experience.

The GOAL program is a completely digitally enabled program, especially relevant during the COVID times. Leveraging digital tools and platforms for e-learning, interaction and monitoring, this initiative serves the leading objectives of Digital India. The aim of the program is to empower the youth from tribal communities to become village-level digital leaders and entrepreneurs for their communities. This program is likely to ignite competitiveness of our tribal communities by offering them an opportunity to come forward to showcase their creative potential leveraging digital platforms. It will enhance their market linkages and further serve the purpose to make Indian economy Atma Nirbhar by promoting local products and ensure participation of tribal youth in nation building.

A pilot run of the program was done in 2019 to mentor 100 tribal girls through the support of 25 women leaders. It was spread across five Indian states i.e. Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Maharashtra and received an enthusiastic response and has many success stories to its credit. The program has, in 2020, reached and engaged with more than 46 MPs, 250+ NGOs & COEs, top-tier educational institutes and members of the state and central bureaucracy by means of webinars, video endorsements, social media support etc. thus creating a strong pan-India reach.

The program has also ensured that a structured governing committee be made to monitor and guide the program using its varied experience. It contains people from the government, academia and industry along with the presence of stalwarts from social organisations such as UNDP, FICCI, Niti Ayog, Art of Living, AIIMS Jodhpur etc. The program, through its wide network of partners aims to ensure optimal reach of the initiative, thereby creating a holistic environment for the growth and development of the tribal community.