The programme ran for 150 hours and provided rigorous training to its participants, with a particular emphasis on technical and behavioral skills required in the tourism and hospitality industry.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): In the vast landscape of global outsourcing and technology services, VFS Global stands as a world-renowned specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. Recently, they partnered with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) to launch an inspiring initiative that promises to transform lives in a profound way.
Together, they established a strategic hospitality training programme specifically designed for 25 young women from marginalized communities. This initiative didn’t just offer training, it offered an opportunity, a chance for these women to secure a better future and to break the cycle of poverty and marginalization.
The programme ran for 150 hours and provided rigorous training to its participants, with a particular emphasis on technical and behavioral skills required in the tourism and hospitality industry. At the end of the program, all participants received completion certificates, with 16 of the participants receiving full-time employment offers. These job offers, providing an average monthly salary of INR 10,000, came from some of the leading employers in the tourism and hospitality industry.
This programme, a reflection of VFS Global’s focus on women empowerment and youth skilling, was initiated in alignment with the ‘Women in TAAI & Tourism’ (WITT) initiative. “Caring for our Communities is an important pillar of our Sustainability strategy,” said Ms Sukanya Chakraborty, Chief Communications Officer & Head of CSR at VFS Global.
The initiative was highly commended by the industry leaders. Jyoti Mayal, President TAAI, pointed out the transformative potential of such CSR initiatives, enabling youth, particularly women, to gain meaningful employment opportunities. Similarly, Rajan Bahadur, CEO – THSC, appreciated the efforts taken by partners and wished the successful candidates the best for their future.
This venture has not only empowered the ‘Power of 25’, but it also promises to build trust and confidence among aspiring job seekers planning to join the ever-growing sector of tourism and hospitality. The ripple effects of this transformative initiative, aiming at providing meaningful employment opportunities and improving earning potential, are bound to change numerous lives and contribute to a more equal and inclusive society.
“CSR initiatives for skill development is a wonderful initiative. There are many youths who after completing school education are not able to afford courses which can help them to get gainful employment opportunities. Through this special initiative, female youths will get hyper local job opportunities and add substantially to their household income. More and more women skilled workers are joining the travel, tourism & hospitality industry and there will be a day when they play more than equal role in the countries employment scenario, “said Jyoti Mayal, President TAAI.
Rajan Bahadur, CEO – THSC thanked VFS Global and TAAI for supporting its endeavour. An initiative like this by an Industry body of Tourism & Hospitality sector will build trust and confidence among job seekers who are aspiring to join the ever-growing sector. He also appreciated the efforts taken by partners for mobilising a special batch of Women Skilled workers and wished the successful candidates best for their future.
Key takeaways of the training programme
- Providing meaningful employment opportunities to women from marginalised communities.
- Developing the technical and behavioural capabilities of the participants and helping them to build a career within Tourism & Hospitality industry.
- Improving earning potential by bringing them into the formal workforce.
