Care to Join
The Lighthouse is a multi-disciplinary project with a holistic approach to skill development and employment. It caters to young people (18-30 years of age) from socio-economically vulnerable backgrounds. It is designed to awaken deep and long-term aspirations in these youth and addresses their skilling needs at the same time.
To enable the social and economic development of 25000 youth and 100 slum communities by 2021. In order to achieve this, one Lighthouse in each Administrative Ward of Pune, that is, 15 Lighthouses in all, are to be set up.
The Foundation Course at the Lighthouse is about awakening the youth’s inner “Agency”. The concept of having ‘Agency’ within oneself refers to the capacity of an individual to determine his/her future. Awakening agency entails self- exploration, evolution of self-image and seeing new possibilities for oneself.
It also includes the development of human capacities and life skills such as reflection, listening skills, empathy, creativity, problem-solving, etc. Through the Foundation Course young people prepare themselves with greater awareness as they enter the job market.
The students undergo Skill Analysis Test Battery (SATB), a psychometric assessment tool developed and standardised to assess skill and abilities.
This is followed one on one counselling session for each student considering his/her interests, abilities as per SATB reports, personal and family challenges.
Skilling programs are offered by different training partners through a collaborative partnership that (a) enables a wide choice of programs and (b) enables the flexibility to place limited number of students in the respective programs. There is an array of courses ranging from IT and ITeS related programs such as Java, CCNA, Data Entry Operator, and Non-voice BPO etc.
There are also service related programs such as Nursing, Cooking, Beauty Parlour, Fitness Trainer and many more. The idea is to allow the individual to pursue a course of their liking, keeping in mind their skill-sets and the eventual career growth as a consequence (direct/indirect) of the course undertaken.
The youth are offered placement assistance on successfully completing the skilling program. In some cases, they choose to take up further studies, depending on their interest. Youth are also supported in taking up entrepreneurship.
All Alumni are welcome to the Lighthouse to seek desired support in managing any challenges at work, for up-skilling, for mentoring and coaching support and also just to be themselves. They are also invited to share their journeys with new students to encourage and motivate them.
By 2022, there will be 25000 youth alumni. This will be a strongly networked set of youth leaders who can then be the hubs for social and economic change across the city. Moreover, the Lighthouse is proving itself to be a model for community transformation, through (a) increase in gender equity (b) emergence of peer-support groups and leadership cadre in communities (c) dissolving of class boundaries and (d) increase in social harmony. This community transformation is already visible in 20 slum communities and will increase to 100 communities by 2022.
Foundation Course & Counselling
Skilling Enrolled
Skilling Completed
Employed/Entrepreneurs
Today there are 5 Lighthouses; they are located in Aundh, Yerawada, Hapdapsar, Warje and Bhavani Peth. The next Lighthouse will be set up in Bibvewadi Ward.
The Lighthouses of Pune are closely supported by the Urban Community Development (UCD) department of the Pune Municipal Corporation. The UCD department provides the space for the Lighthouses in PMC owned spaces. Other departments such as Bhavan (Construction), Electrical and IT department are responsible for the set-up, renovation and infrastructure. All capital expenditure incurred towards setting up the Lighthouses is the responsibility of the Pune Municipal Corporation.
(For Hadapsar Lighthouse)
