Pune’s Lighthouse Program celebrates the successful employment of 10,000+ youth from underserved communities
Pune, 10th March 2023: The Residency Club in Bund Garden Road was buzzing with excitement at the “Connecting Pathways” event, which marked a significant milestone for the Lighthouse program, celebrating the successful placement of over 10,000 youth from Pune’s low-income communities in the last five years.
The program is being run with support from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to impart various skills training free of cost to the youth. At present, there are 13 centres in PMC areas and two centres in PCMC areas.
Ruchi Mathur, Director & CEO of Lighthouse Communities Foundation, informed that till now, a total of 11,895 youth have been placed, with an average salary of Rs 10,510 per month and the highest salary is Rs 70,000 per month. Of those placed, 56% are female, 43% male, and 1% others. The youth comprise 12th pass (54%), graduates (27%), and 10th pass and below (19%).
They have been placed in various sectors like retail, healthcare, manufacturing, ITES, beauty and wellness, food and beverages etc. The top 10 employers are Amazon, Dmart, HDFC Data Processing Center, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Eureka Forbes, Infosys, TCS,
WNS and Zomato.
The event witnessed 90 participants, comprising 40 employers, ten skilling partners, 15 youth, and Lighthouse team members, join with full zeal and enthusiasm. The event began with lighting the inaugural lamp, followed by the youth and employers sharing their experiences and perspectives on the program. The event concluded with group work and a summary of actions to be taken by each stakeholder. The organizers hope to create a platform for constructive dialogue that leads to better outcomes for Lighthouse youth in the future.
The Lighthouse program has a rich collective action ecosystem with 50+ Donors, 100+ Implementation partners, and 7000+ employers.
Neha Deosthale– Senior Director of Principal Global Services, said, “We have been associated with Lighthouse since 2017, and we are really satisfied to see the progress and the way they are driving the objective of the skill-building program and the employment of students in different sectors and multiple spectrums. We are one of the employers, along with the donor partner to Lighthouse. We have some hires from Lighthouse, and we will continue to do that, looking at the talent and potentially available. “
Case Studies:
Mrunal Rajeev Badade, 23 years old, is a shining example of determination and hard work! Coming from a marginalized family background, Mrunal’s father is a rickshaw driver. When she joined Bibwewadi Lighthouse during the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial crisis left her confused about her future career prospects. But with the help of Lighthouse, Mrunal gained a better understanding of the job market and found her calling as a Tech Analyst at an IT company. The Foundation and Spoken courses at Lighthouse boosted her confidence and communication skills, while the Full Stack and Skilling courses honed her technical abilities. Today, Mrunal earns a salary of Rs 41,000/ month.
Pradnya Rajendra Nagpurkar, a 22-year-old from the slum pockets of Janata Vasahat, faced a difficult reality growing up with her parents and two elder sisters. Her father worked as a watchman, and her parents couldn’t afford to let her pursue higher education after her graduation in Commerce. But she refused to let her circumstances defeat her and learned about the Lighthouse through Community Outreach. She enrolled in September 2022, and after completing the foundation course, she finished the Financial Accounting course on 30th March 2022. With the help of the Lighthouse team, she prepared for interviews with the aspiration of getting placed in an MNC. Her hard work paid off when she cracked her interview with a leading IT giant and was placed as an Accounts Executive on 14th July 2022. Her journey is a testament to the power of determination, ambition and the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Nikita Limbaji Kamble, 22 years old, from the Janata Vasahat Slum community, defied the odds to become a successful Full Stack Developer. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, Nikita remained determined to pursue her dreams. After completing her Bachelor of Engineering degree from Zeal College, Nikita struggled to secure a job through the college’s placement program. Undeterred, she joined LH to pursue her Full Stack Developer course. Through her journey with Lighthouse, Nikita learned valuable skills in decision-making, communication and honed her IQ, EQ, and Aptitude. Nikita’s hard work and dedication eventually paid off when she landed a job with an IT service management company, thanks to the support and guidance provided by Lighthouse. She started with a stipend of Rs 15,000 per month, and her commitment and skills soon led to a salary raise to Rs 30,000 per month. Nikita’s inspiring journey serves as a reminder that with determination and support, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter where they come from. She is now a role model for aspiring Full Stack Developers, showing that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.
Rehan Abubakar Maniyar is an 18-year-old student pursuing his BCom degree. His family depends on his father’s scrap business, and his mother is a homemaker. Rehan’s two younger brothers are also pursuing their education. Rehan learned about Aundh Lighthouse through a friend and decided to enroll. The Foundation course helped him identify his skills and boosted his confidence. Through the Digital Empowerment program, he gained knowledge of different applications and government websites, which proved to be helpful during documentation processes at his company. Rehan is currently completing his Skilling course in Office Administration to enhance his technical skills. His hard work paid off when he got placed as a Back Office Executive in a business advisory firm, earning a monthly salary of Rs.12000 per month. Rehan is determined to stabilize his family’s financial situation and contribute to their well-being. He also aspires to pursue higher education and become a CA in the future. His story is a reminder that with the right guidance and opportunities, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter where they come from.
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