YMCA Bombay aims to foster Skill Development in Rural Maharashtra with its first Vocational Training Centre at Kanhe, Lonavala

by Suman Gupta

• 23,000sqft Vocational Center to create jobs for rural youth

• Focus is on helping 1400+ trade students yearly

Mumbai, 2020: The 145year old, the Bombay YMCA has been a pioneer in the field of vocational training of the vast labour force in the city. The National agenda of the government is to provide skill training to youth and make them job ready. Established in 1875, the Bombay YMCA has constantly innovated programmes to meet the needs of the cross sections of society, especially the less privileged ones in the city of Mumbai. The Bombay YMCA is all set to inaugurate its first Vocational Training Centre in rural Maharashtra at Kanhe, Vadgaon district near Lonavala, interconnecting both the twin cities Mumbai – Pune on Sat. 29th Feb 2020 by the hands of Mr. Chin Seng Chen, President, Asia & Pacific Alliance, YMCA along with Shri. Sunil Shelke (MLA) Talegaon. Bombay YMCA has had exceptional success in the field of vocational training in urban areas, YMCA is moving their attention to rural and backward areas of Maharashtra to fulfill a lament and urgent need for such vocation training centres.

“This 23,000sq.ft vocational training center isbuilt by YMCA with an investment of 7crs with support from various corporates and philanthropists. The launch of this vocational center also marks the commemoration of 145 years of YMCA in Mumbai.The Vocational training aspect of the YMCA Community Development Centre at Kanhe will be providing various vocational craft skills and help 1400+ trade students yearly. The night study classes also aims to provide a utilitarian study atmosphere for 100+ students lacking the resources. We will focus on rural youth from around 25 villages who will benefit and be job ready. We have signed MOU’s with Mahindra & Mahindra Group of Companies and Blue cross Laboratories Foundation for creating job opportunities for the youth who will graduate from the vocational center”shared Mr. Paul George, General Secretary/CEO of Bombay YMCA.

Bombay YMCA felicitated Ex. YMCA Champions, Table Tennis player Sanil Shetty and Victor Salve,noted basketball coach also to mark the occasion. Sanil Shetty shared, “YMCA provided me with a strong base, the best training facilities and coaches, which helped me win medals at various levels and also at the Commonwealth Games.” Victor Salve further added, “YMCA introduced me to basketball, and in turn it brought me my livelihood. Learning under international coaches and using training facilities helped me use those ideas to implement in my coaching techniques”.

A survey was conducted under the aegis of YMCA which highlighted that the youth in the region cannot find work due to a lack of trade related skills. With home financial levels being very low, students finishing secondary school do not look at college as a viable option as it does not offer employable skills. Factories, with the Make in India, initiative are opening up in this belt and require vocational skills. “We are also introducing new courses like Bedside Nursing/ paramedical courses, Beauty therapy, Sewing / Tailoring, Seed Co-operative, Natural farming methods besides conventional courses like Computer Training, Electrical and more.The long term goal of the Community Development Centreis to reach out to almost 1400 students every year and to improve and supplement local education to the youth of the area”, further adds Mr. Paul George, General Secretary/CEO of Bombay YMCA. The project plans to add to Pradhan Mantri Kausha lVikas Yojana (2016 – 2020) is the flagship outcome-based Skill Training Scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) which aims to train 10 million youths by 2020 pan India both in Rural and Urban areas.

The YMCA Community Development Centre (CDC) is a green site, with hostel facilities, training zones, study rooms, play areas, and community engagement halls. Designed with a very eco-friendly mind-set, the Centre uses modern conservation concepts like solar power, water harvesting, and will also have a bio-diverse mini-forest atop the structure. It will strive to be a pillar of the community!

ABOUT BOMBAY YMCA :Bombay YMCA runs several programmes for the underprivileged such as the Boys Home – a home for orphans, the street children’s programme and rehabilitation of the commercial sex workers and their children.  Besides, the YMCA provides clean and wholesome accommodation through hostels for students and working men and the many social service centres cater to the deprived and the marginalized.

The Young Mens’ Christian Association (YMCA) is one of the oldest and largest non-profit community service organizations in India. A community based organization; we work collaboratively with government and non government organizations, and partners to provide a range of programmes and services to build strong people, strong families, and strong communities.