Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Smile Foundation launches its 35th STeP centre

Smile Foundation launches its 35th STeP centre
Smile Foundation, a national level development organization, has launched its 35th Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) centre in India; the second one in Bangalore at Medahally today. Supported by Bosch India Foundation the newest STeP centre will be run in association with Vidyaranya. It will focus on making the urban underprivileged youth employment-ready in the service and retail sector.
The centre was inaugurated by Dr. Jessy Fenn, Project Manager, Bosch India Foundation.
Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) is a national level initiative of Smile Foundation. The Programme aims at preparing urban underprivileged youths with skills in English Proficiency, Basic Computer Education, Retail Management, Personality Development and various Soft Skills for enhancing their prospects of employment in fast emerging retail, service and BPOs sectors.
This centre also became the seventh STeP centre in Southern India.
Bosch India Foundation, the social wing of the Bosch group in India, with its focus on ‘Enabling Lives and Livelihood’ through skill training and healthcare touched the lives of over 6000 youth in 16 locations in India, in 2012.  Through new committed partners such as Smile Foundation, the foundation hopes to reach out and skill more youth.
Speaking about the association Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation said “STeP is an effort towards creating a pool of independent youth living with dignity from the underprivileged section through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements. Smile Foundation, through this programme, has trained 13,735 youth and placed 9,849 of them in over 140 leading retail and service brands across India.”
The event took off well with lighting of lamp by Ms. Pankaja, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka.  Ms. Pankaja was present as Guest of Honour for the event. She addressed the programme by applauding Smile Foundation,

Bosch India and Vidyaranya for helping the marginalized youth in getting employed and thus putting them on path of sustainable empowerment.
The course curriculum for Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) has been developed by leading International Management Institute, New Delhi) except the computer course, which is certified by Microsoft. The course material is reviewed and updated from time to time.
 
About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation reaching out to more than 200,000 underprivileged children & youth across 25 states of India through more than 185 welfare projects on subjects like education, healthcare, livelihood, women empowerment, and advocacy.