Lighthouse Centre in Chandanagar to offer free skilling programs to over 500 youth in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, 12th April 2023: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in collaboration with Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF) and Principal Global Services (PGS), launched the Lighthouse Skilling Centre in Chandanagar, Hyderabad. This 4000-square foot centre, provided by GHMC will enable agency, develop workplace competencies and offer industry relevant vocational skilling programs to underserved youth from the Chandanagar area. The key objective of the program is to enable social and economic transformation for the youth and their communities.
The Lighthouse Centre is a well-designed space with multiple training rooms and facilities, established through a unique public-private partnership model. GHMC has provided the location and PGS has supported the cost towards renovation, equipment and operational expenditure. Lighthouse Communities Foundation, a section 8 non-profit organisation with a strong track record, is responsible for the implementation of the program.
Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi inaugurated the Lighthouse Centre, with Lokesh Kumar D.S., IAS, Commissioner, MLA, Additional Commissioner Shruti Ojha, IAS, Neha Deosthale– Senior Director of Principal Global Services (PGS) and Ruchi Mathur, Director and CEO, Lighthouse Communities Foundation.
Mayor Vijayalakshmi stated that the program aims to provide direction, skills, and employment opportunities to the youth of Hyderabad, with over 500 youth being impacted in the first year. Free short-term programs in healthcare, e-commerce, retail, banking, finance, insurance sales, information technology, and beauty & wellness industries will be offered to young people from communities between the ages of 18 and 35.
MLA, Arekapudi Gandhi, said that such an initiative is needed for the area, as there are many youth who are looking for direction and employment opportunities.
Neha Deosthale from PGS mentioned that the Foundation is committed to supporting the program for the long term such that youth have an opportunity to change their life trajectory.
Ruchi Mathur, CEO of Lighthouse Communities Foundation, shared that the Lighthouse program is unique in that it offers life skills, mentorship, and personalised support apart from technical skills and employment opportunities that result in sustained livelihoods and overall well-being.
Sharing the details of the Lighthouse at Chandanagar, Ruchi Mathur added, “The Lighthouse at Chandanagar comprises 5 training rooms, a video-conferencing room, and a fully equipped tech hub with Wi-Fi connection and laptops. Every year, upwards of 500 youth from low-income communities around the vicinity of Chandanagar will be equipped with life skills and technical training and have access to livelihood opportunities. We thank GHMC for this partnership and for providing this wonderful space for community youth, and PGS for their generous support and commitment to livelihoods for the underserved youth of Hyderabad.”
Lighthouse Communities Foundation is on a mission to build empowered communities through life-skills, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities for a million disadvantaged youth across India. The organisation has been working since 2015 for large-scale city-wide transformation through a unique Public-Private Partnership where the government provides capex and infrastructure, and the private sector contributes towards opex as well as implementation of the program. One Lakh citizens have been impacted till date.
About Principal Global Services, it is a leading global financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, operating in Hyderabad since 2006. PGS is committed to making a positive impact on the local community and has been actively involved in CSR initiatives in the areas of education, healthcare, environment, and livelihoods. PGS is the donor partner for the Lighthouse program in Hyderabad and is committed to providing livelihood opportunities for low-income youth in the city.
