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

From Ideas to Impact: A Day of Strategy, Creativity & Well-Being with GOYN Pune’s Youth

Youth Leading Change - The GOYN Pune Youth Advisory Group (YAG) met last Sunday for a session focused on growth, leadership, and mental resilience—key pillars for youth-driven change! Highlights from the day: Creative Expression: Ankit led an engaging rap session,...

Bridging Skill Gaps in Logistics: UDAAN-GOYN Conclave Drives Collaboration Between Industry, Academia, and Workforce Experts

The Logistics-Manufacturing, Retail, and Distribution (MRD) Conclave, held in Pune on March 12, 2025, under Project UDAAN-GOYN, united industry leaders, academia, and workforce experts to address the future of logistics, skill gaps, and AI’s impact. With 38 employers...

Mallepally Lighthouse Inaugurated with UBS Support

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to UBS for its invaluable partnership in establishing the Mallepally Lighthouse, our 42nd center across India. It was an honor to host Mr. Kishore during the Inaugural Lighthouse tour on February 26, and we deeply appreciate the...

Stronger Women, Stronger Communities: Celebrating the Women Leading Change at Lighthouse Communities

Leading with strength, inspiring change. Today, we celebrate the incredible women of Lighthouse Communities Foundation! 60% of our team and 100% of our leaders are women, proving that strong women build stronger communities, influencing decision making. We’re proud to...

First HR Industry Conclave in Delhi Empowers Youth, Bridges Skill Gaps

On February 28, 2025, Lighthouse Delhi hosted the First HR Industry Conclave, a transformative gathering that brought together 25 employers, 10 skilling and NGO partners, 13 Lighthouse alumni, and 75 participants, including youth from Lucknow. The event focused on...

Lighthouse Centre in Mallepally opens to the Public

RSB NEWS 9 https://youtu.be/yQ-A7OlXUTU?si=FbNjw_hDEK1C3r5o

Lighthouse Centre in Mallepally opens to the Public

Hyderabad, Feb 28, 2025: Lighthouse Communities Foundation dedicated its 2nd Lighthouse - A Unique Skilling and Livelihood Center -  to the youth of Mallepally in a Public Opening ceremony today.   Following the success of the first Lighthouse in Chandanagar, started...

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

A story of sheer hard work that reaped the sweetest fruits

A resident of Laxmi Nagar community in Yerwada, Tauseef is a persevering youth who has been by his family through all their ups and downs. His family’s sold fruits at the market as a vendor which was a major source of income for them. He has currently appeared for...

An Inspiring Transformation into a Quality Manager

Pradnya Nagtilak, Warje Quality Manager at Parle-G Pradnya, an Arts graduate, currently lives with her family in Pune. Her father was the only earning member of the family who lost his job due to an accident and is now bed-ridden. Since the only source of income had...

Neelam's life had always been a struggle. Living in a cramped house with her parents and siblings, she often wondered how they would make ends meet. Her father's meager income as a private bus driver barely managed to keep the family afloat. Neelam, the eldest among...

Kaushalyam Initiative Changes Lives: Aditya’s Story of Hope, Learning, and Employment

Aditya, a young boy from the bustling streets of Jotibanager, Pimpri-Chinchwad, had always aspired to a life beyond his humble circumstances. His mother's meager earnings, coupled with the harsh realities of job hunting, had left him feeling adrift. Yet, Aditya's...

Finding diamonds in the rough: The empowering journey of a woman who refused to be broken

Ashwini's life has been a tumultuous journey, one filled with unimaginable pain and heartache. At the tender age of 18, she entered into marriage, and soon after, she became a mother to two beautiful boys. Life seemed perfect, but little did she know that fate had...

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...

Akshay on his way to expand his Entrepreneurship Journey

Akshay resides in Pimple Gurav, Pune, along with his parents and a sibling. In spite of his family's limited financial resources, he was always encouraged to follow his dreams of becoming a photographer and filmmaker. Soon he ventured into an entrepreneurship journey...

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....

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

Pradeep Bhargava

Former Director, Cummins India Ltd

Anita Rajan

Consultant,
Tata Strive

Pervin Varma

Trustee – CRY

Malini Thadani

Director, Access Development Services

Ujwal Thakar

Chairman, Educate Girls

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

Chairman & Cofounder, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

 

Ruchi Mathur

Cofounder and Vice Chairperson, Lighthouse Communities Foundation

 

Pradeep Bhargava

Former Director, Cummins India Ltd

 

 

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.