15,000 Youth in Mumbai to be trained in Employability Skills under ‘Digital Sakshar’

India CSR News Network

NEW DELHI: Pratham Education Foundation in partnership with L&T Infotech launched the Digital Sakshar program with the mission to train 15,000 youth across Mumbai suburbs in employability skills in 2017.

Youth from 14-30 age group from underserved communities will be the beneficiaries of the program. The rigorous two months training intends to develop the foundation skills for employability and offers Basic IT, Soft Skills and Interview Skills as core training modules. L&T Infotech volunteers participate on Saturdays to impart soft skills training.

Placement Assistance is also provided to students on successful completion of their training. Pratham Infotech Foundation is the implementation partner for the program.

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The Phase I of the program was launched in March 2016 with 10 centers in Navi Mumbai. After the overwhelming response from the community to the first phase, where 2300 students enrolled and 2000 completed their training, Phase II of the program was launched on 28^th January 2017 with 40 additional centers across Mumbai. The program works on a unique center based model in collaboration with local schools. It is an evening (after school) program and leverages the existing infrastructure of partner schools. Qualified, enthusiastic and committed youth from the community have been appointed as Program Fellows to run the program.

Students are trained in classroom as well as in their communities. The unique feature of this program is every group of 4-5 students are given a laptop by L&T Infotech during the training which they use while studying in their community. This is to give emphasis on self and peer to peer learning. Job fairs are organized for each batch and job seekers get multiple chances for interviews. This year collectively through Phase I & II the program will reach approx 15,000 youth and the expansion will happen in phases. The course is free of cost to all.