A Million Livelihoods

Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF) is on a mission to build empowered communities through life-skills, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for a million disadvantaged youth across India.

A Million Livelihoods

Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF) is on a mission to build empowered communities through life-skills, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for a million disadvantaged youth across India.

Latest News

Xoriant Hosts Enriching Exposure Visit for Dapodi Youth to Bridge the Corporate Gap

A heartfelt thank you to Xoriant for hosting an enriching exposure visit for our Lighthouse youth from Dapodi on 25th November 2025. The visit offered 30 Lighthouse youth a valuable glimpse into corporate culture, observing real-time workplace operations,...

Bridging Creative Gaps: MESC and LCF Partner to Equip Odisha’s Youth with Media & Entertainment Skills

Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC), in collaboration with Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF), Odisha, is working to equip youth with industry-relevant skills and local employment opportunities. Through MECAT assessments, Celebrity School courses, and...

Strengthening PCMC’s Skilling Ecosystem: Kiwale Lighthouse Becomes the 11th Centre for Youth Empowerment

We are delighted to announce the inauguration of the Kiwale Lighthouse, launched in partnership with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) under the Kaushalyam livelihood development program. The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Hon. MLA Mr....

Expert Insights at Kalkaji Lighthouse: Rimy Oberoi and Sara Jamal Explore the Foundation Course and Youth Empowerment

We were happy to host Rimy Oberoi, Founder of the Centre for Employability Research and former leader at OysterConnect, along with Sara Jamal, at the DSEU Lighthouse, Kalkaji on 2 December 2025. Rimy visited the Lighthouse to learn about our program and interacted...

Building Future Leaders: HSBC Technology India Mentors Lighthouse Youth on Professional Excellence

100 Lighthouse youth from Yerwada, Aundh and Bhawani Peth Lighthouses visited the HSBC Technology India Headquarters in Pune for an exposure visit. The day began with the youth delivering a strong and meaningful presentation on environmental conservation. This was...

Pathways to Employment: LCF and Motilal Oswal Foundation Drive Youth Livelihoods in Balotra

The Pathways to Employment event was organised on 26th November at Raj Resort, Nakoda, Balotra, bringing together industry partners, skilling organisations, NGOs, and district officials on one platform. The event created a meaningful space for dialogue, collaboration,...

Empowering Balotra: One-on-One Counseling at Govt. ITI Job Fair Sparks New Career Journeys

On 19th November 2025, Balotra Lighthouse participated in the Job Fair hosted at Govt. ITI Balotra, an event honoured by the presence of Shri Bhuvneshwar Singh Chuhan ji, ADM Balotra, and Dr. Arun Choudhary ji, Hon’ble MLA. Our one to one counselling sessions became...

Lighthouse Communities Foundation and Thane Municipal Corporation Sign MoU for New Youth Skilling Centre

A proud milestone for Lighthouse Communities Foundation as our 50th centre comes to life! We are delighted to announce the signing of an MoU between Ms. Anagha Kadam, Deputy Commissioner, Social Development Department, Thane Municipal Corporation, and Ms. Anuja...

SBI Foundation Leadership Visits Angul Lighthouse to Celebrate Alumni Success and Youth Transformation

Recently, we were privileged to host the SBI Foundation team including Mr. Swapan Dhar (MD designate, SBIF), and Ms. Anubhuti (Asst. Manager, SBIF) at our Angul Lighthouse Centre. During the visit, the team felicitated Lighthouse alumni who are now leading sustainable...

Empowering Pune’s Youth: PMC Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur Visits Aundh Lighthouse

On 19 November, we had the privilege of hosting Mrs. Pavneet Kaur, Additional Municipal Commissioner, PMC, at the Aundh Lighthouse, along with Mr. Bhosekar, Deputy Commissioner UCD and his team. This being her first visit, it offered her a close look at how the...

Our vision

 

Our vision

Underserved youth realising their full potential through sustained livelihoods and good citizenship.

We envision a future India where youth from low income households thrive

The youth of India are its future. Millions of young people are struggling to build better lives for themselves and their families. COVID-19 pandemic has further pushed low-income communities into extreme poverty. We are on a mission to change that by enabling sustainable and prosperous livelihoods.

Making a difference

Making a difference

 

Impact of Our Work

Lighthouses guiding youth towards full potential

Lighthouses guiding youth towards full potential

Slum communities covered

Youth enrolled in the livelihood journey

Youth completed training or placed after Foundation Course

Youth are placed/self employed

Youth opted for higher education

%

Youth who are placed, are still at work post one year

Slum communities covered

Youth enrolled in livelihood journey

Youth completed training or placed after Foundation Course

Youth are placed/self employed

Youth opted for higher education

%

Youth who are placed, are still at work post one year

Success Stories

Lighthouse Youth Leader Pragati Kopare Appointed as Scientific Assistant for Government of Maharashtra

We are happy to share that our youth leader, Pragati Kopare, has been appointed as a Scientific Assistant under the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory (DFSL), Government of Maharashtra, where she will serve as a Crime Scene Investigator. Pragati has been a...

Against All Odds: Smita Barve’s Determination to Achieve Her Dreams

Smita Dhulaji Barve has always been a hardworking girl, but life has not been easy for her. Losing her mother in 11th grade was a major setback, but she did not let it deter her from pursuing her dreams. With the help of her father, grandmother and brother, she ...

Single Dad Finds Stability Through Skills Training

As a 31-year-old single father, I was struggling to find a stable job and provide for my family. I enrolled at the Foundation Course at the Aundh Lighthouse which provided me the tools and confidence I needed to succeed and provided me with the opportunity to...

From Village Dreams to a Dignified Future: Biswajit’s Path to Pride

Today, 21-year-old Biswajit walks into the Jindal Foundation lab with quiet pride. His lab coat is crisp. His ID badge swings gently. ₹24,500—a number that still feels unreal. The financial burden that once crushed his family has finally eased. Just months ago, this...

Overcoming Adversity to Become the Sole Provider for Her Family

Sangita Rajbhar, a 33-year-old from a Pimpri slum, faced adversity after losing her husband to COVID-19, leaving her as the sole provider for her two children. With her father working as a farmer and her mother a homemaker, Sangita's life took a challenging turn....

Kalyani Behera’s Quest for a Brighter Future

Kalyani Behera, a resilient 23-year-old from Ramachandra Pur Bazar, Jatni, faced countless challenges growing up in poverty. Despite her family's financial struggles, her desire for education never faded, and she held onto her dream of education. Becoming the first in...

12 LGBTQ individuals breaking the societal norms and taboos

It has never been easy for a person belonging to the LGBTQ community in our country. Rejected from their home and society, they could not complete their education and ended up begging or in low paying jobs. Some dared to break the shackle of the structured societal...

Successful Entrepreneurship Journey of Arshada

Arshada, 27, was born in a conservative family where were not allowed to step out of the house without a male family member. Her father worked in Mumbai and hardly earned enough for the family of eight. Arshada always wanted to be an independent person. She was a...

Priya touching new milestone in her life’s journey

A young girl who got married when she was just 19 years old had never thought that she would someday start her own business! After her marriage, Priya soon gave birth to two beautiful children. She lives in a joint family of 12 members and her husband is a private...

Video Library

Explore the Foundation Course

From self-discovery to career clarity, the Foundation Course is more than a learning program—it’s a journey of agency building, digital empowerment, and laying the foundation for sustainable livelihoods.

Each day brought new opportunities for Lighthouse youth to reflect, connect, grow, and step closer to their dreams—with support from a thriving community.

At Lighthouse Communities Foundation, we’re proud to walk alongside every youth as they unlock their potential and build a path forward.

About us

Lighthouse Communities Foundation

Lighthouse Communities Foundation is a beacon of hope and opportunities for youth from low-income households to make their dream of a better life, a reality. Our flagship program, the Lighthouse fosters agency, skills, and workplace competencies in youth, makes them employable and enables them to get employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

About us

Lighthouse Communities Foundation

Lighthouse Communities Foundation is a beacon of hope and opportunities for youth from low-income households to make their dream of a better life, a reality. Our flagship program, the Lighthouse fosters agency, skills, and workplace competencies in youth, makes them employable and enables them to get employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

Cofounder and Chairman, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

Ruchi Mathur

Cofounder and Vice Chairperson, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

Rajnish Kumar

Ex-Chairman SBI

Ujwal Thakar

Chairman, Educate Girls

Anita Rajan

Consultant,
Tata Strive

Pervin Varma

Trustee – CRY

Malini Thadani

Director, Access Development Services

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

Chairman & Cofounder, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

 

Ruchi Mathur

Cofounder and Vice Chairperson, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

 

 

Malini Thadani

Senior Advisor, FTI Consulting

 

Ujwal Thakar

Chairman – Educate Girls

 

Rajnish Kumar

Ex Chairman SBI

Anita Rajan

Consultant, Tata Strive

Our Partners

We work together in a unique Public-Private partnership with government, corporates, nonprofits and citizens. This pioneering collective action model ensures that each partner plays a specific role in achieving the goals.

Government Partners

Donor Partners

Placement Partners

Ecosystem Partners

Government Partners

Donor Partners

Placement Partners

Ecosystem Partners

City-Specific Programs

As part of our other social transformation initiatives, we are implementing a large-scale program for livelihoods (Global Opportunity Youth Network, Pune), digital empowerment for low-income citizens and quality education in public schools.

Pune City Connect

 

Celebrating 5 years of communities transformation

Lighthouse Communities started its first initiative in Pune, Maharashtra in partnership with Pune Municipal Corporation. We operate in Pune with a vision of “Sampoorna Pune” (Pune Fulfilled) and work with youth through the Lighthouses while also identifying further opportunities through the Aspen Institute “Global Opportunity Youth Network” partnership.

We also have a comprehensive Digital Empowerment initiative, inspired by the Prime Minister’s National Digital Literacy Mission to make one person in every family digitally empowered. We have been facilitating holistic Education through the “Shikshak Sahyogi” or Teacher Mentor program as well as the “Models of Excellence” program that aims to take Social Emotional Learning across PMC schools.

Pune City Connect

Pune City Connect

Celebrating 5 years of communities transformation

Lighthouse Communities started its first initiative in Pune, Maharashtra in partnership with Pune Municipal Corporation. We operate in Pune with a vision of “Sampoorna Pune” (Pune Fulfilled) and work with youth through the Lighthouses while also identifying further opportunities through the Aspen Institute “Global Opportunity Youth Network” partnership.

We also have a comprehensive Digital Empowerment initiative, inspired by the Prime Minister’s National Digital Literacy Mission to make one person in every family digitally empowered. We have been facilitating holistic Education through the “Shikshak Sahyogi” or Teacher Mentor program as well as the “Models of Excellence” program that aims to take Social Emotional Learning across PMC schools.