Lighthouse: Centre for Skilling and Livelihood
Creating jobs, transforming lives.
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Lighthouse: Centre for Skilling and Livelihood
Creating jobs, transforming lives.
What is the Lighthouse?
The ‘Lighthouse: Centre for Skilling and Livelihood’ is a sustainable livelihood program for urban disadvantaged youth. The Lighthouse fosters agency, workplace competencies and skills in youth, thus enabling social and economic transformation for themselves and in their communities.
The underlying belief is that of ‘full potential’ of individuals and the Lighthouse supports each individual in discovering this path and taking the next step towards fulfilling their potential. Through the Lighthouse intervention, youth in low-income or slum communities are able to make more informed life choices and acquire the necessary skills for improved employability.
Ruchi Mathur, CEO of Lighthouse Communities on what Lighthouse is and how it is creating social transformation.
What is the Lighthouse?
The ‘Lighthouse: Centre for Skilling and Livelihood’ is a sustainable livelihood program for urban disadvantaged youth. The Lighthouse fosters agency, workplace competencies and skills in youth, thus enabling social and economic transformation for themselves and in their communities.
The underlying belief is that of ‘full potential’ of individuals and the Lighthouse supports each individual in discovering this path and taking the next step towards fulfilling their potential. Through the Lighthouse intervention, youth in low-income or slum communities are able to make more informed life choices and acquire the necessary skills for improved employability.
Ruchi Mathur, CEO of Lighthouse Communities on what Lighthouse is and how it is creating social transformation.
The Lighthouse Model
Through the Lighthouse intervention, youth in low-income or slum communities are able to make more informed life choices and acquire the necessary skills for improved employability.
Outreach
The first step of the program is to reach out to youth and low-income communities. Home visits, relationship building with community leaders, and working with Lighthouse alumni are some outreach strategies. In addition, local Corporators promote the Lighthouse concept within their constituencies, and PMC social workers support in spreading awareness in communities. Over 76% of enrollments at the Lighthouse happen through references provided by Lighthouse alumni.
20% inflection point – The Lighthouse program has a strategy of enrolling over 20% of households from each slum community. The belief is that 20% household penetration constitutes an inflection point for the culture, sense of possibility, and ‘agency’ of the entire community to change. Accordingly, enrolment, skilling, and placement statistics are tracked for every slum community.
We work with some of the most marginalized youth
62%
enrolments are women
81%
students are school dropouts/ 10th Pass/ 12th Pass
73%
of placed youth have never worked before
100%
youth are from low-income households, and 60% live in slums/chawls/villages
Rhythm
Once enrolled, students start with Rhythm- a program designed to awaken youths’ inner ‘Agency’ by creating a safe space that respects each youth’s unique context and strengths. The concept of having ‘Agency’ within oneself refers to the capacity of an individual to determine his/her future. Through the interplay of creative exercises, mindfulness practices, group challenges, and learning from successful individuals, the Lighthouse youth start to see themselves in a new light.
A glimpse of the activities held in the Lighthouse.
Counseling
The two key aspects of the Counselling process are- a deep belief in a young person’s potential and ‘freedom of choice.’
The objective of career counseling at the Lighthouse is to help each young person find her/ his path to full potential. Having moved each student from a place of choicelessness to one possibility through the Foundation Course, it would not make sense to offer limited options for vocational skilling. Instead, youth are encouraged to decide on the vocational skill of their choice.
Each student is equipped with three kinds of information to make this decision: an analysis of their aspirations and interest, an aptitude assessment, and market trends. This is done through 1-1 counseling sessions in which the student determines the meeting point of her/ his aspirations, talent, and market reality.
Choice of Career for each youth is at the intersection of Interest, Aptitude and Market Reality
Vocational Skilling
Being a collective action program, the Lighthouse has entered into partnerships with vocational skilling partners across the city, thus enabling wide choice. To date, over 55 skilling courses have been held in partnership with 20+ skilling partners.
The Lighthouse team continues being in touch with students after they start their vocational skilling program. Attendance is tracked, as well as program quality. If and where required, conversations are held with the youth, their family, or the skilling partner.
Skilling courses that are in high demand, such as data entry/ accounting/ office administration/ fashion designing or beautician, are held within the precincts of the Lighthouse. Other courses which have only a few students enrolling per batch are held at the location of the skilling partner.
Our 20+ Skilling Ecosystem Partners
Placement
Pre-placement coaching, CV making, mock interviews, and personal support during the entire interview process are important components of this stage. Family counseling is undertaken when it comes to accepting a job offer.
Two-thirds of the placements from the Lighthouse are generated through self-leads. This implies that youth feel empowered enough, after the Foundation course, to develop their own job leads. This is the best possible outcome because it sets up a young person to be resourceful and take the initiative at a later stage in life, which makes this a sustainable livelihood program.
Currently, the placement ecosystem comprises 3000+ organizations. Many of these are SMEs emanating from local economic opportunities. These enterprises are well-positioned to be the stepping stones that young people require to be able to make the transition from the informal to the formal sector.
Some of our 3000+ Placement partners
Outreach
The first step of the program is to reach out to youth and low-income communities. Home visits, relationship building with community leaders, and working with Lighthouse alumni are some outreach strategies. In addition, local Corporators promote the Lighthouse concept within their constituencies, and PMC social workers support in spreading awareness in communities. Over 76% of enrollments at the Lighthouse happen through references provided by Lighthouse alumni.
20% inflection point – The Lighthouse program has a strategy of enrolling over 20% of households from each slum community. The belief is that 20% household penetration constitutes an inflection point for the culture, sense of possibility, and ‘agency’ of the entire community to change. Accordingly, enrolment, skilling, and placement statistics are tracked for every slum community.
We work with some of the most marginalized youth
62%
enrolments are women
81%
students are school dropouts/ 10th Pass/ 12th Pass
73%
of placed youth have never worked before
100%
youth are from low-income households, and 60% live in slums/chawls/villages
Rhythm
Once enrolled, students start with Rhythm- a program designed to awaken youths’ inner ‘Agency’ by creating a safe space that respects each youth’s unique context and strengths. The concept of having ‘Agency’ within oneself refers to the capacity of an individual to determine his/her future. Through the interplay of creative exercises, mindfulness practices, group challenges, and learning from successful individuals, the Lighthouse youth start to see themselves in a new light.
A glimpse of the activities held in the Lighthouse.
Counseling
The two key aspects of the Counselling process are- a deep belief in a young person’s potential and ‘freedom of choice.’
The objective of career counselling at the Lighthouse is to help each young person find her/ his path to full potential. Having moved each student from a place of choicelessness to one possibility through the Foundation Course, it would not make sense to offer limited options for vocational skilling. Instead, youth are encouraged to decide on the vocational skill of their choice.
Each student is equipped with three kinds of information to make this decision: an analysis of their aspirations and interest, an aptitude assessment, and market trends. This is done through 1-1 counselling sessions in which the student determines the meeting point of her/ his aspirations, talent, and market reality.
Choice of Career for each youth is at the intersection of Interest, Aptitude and Market Reality
Vocational Skilling
Being a collective action program, the Lighthouse has entered into partnerships with vocational skilling partners across the city, thus enabling wide choice. To date, over 55 skilling courses have been held in partnership with 20+ skilling partners.
The Lighthouse team continues being in touch with students after they start their vocational skilling program. Attendance is tracked, as well as program quality. If and where required, conversations are held with the youth, their family, or the skilling partner.
Skilling courses that are in high demand, such as data entry/ accounting/ office administration/ fashion designing or beautician, are held within the precincts of the Lighthouse. Other courses which have only a few students enrolling per batch are held at the location of the skilling partner.
Our 20+ Skilling Ecosystem Partners
Placement
Pre-placement coaching, CV making, mock interviews, and personal support during the entire interview process are important components of this stage. Family counselling is undertaken when it comes to accepting a job offer.
Two-thirds of the placements from the Lighthouse are generated through self-leads. This implies that youth feel empowered enough, after the Foundation course, to develop their own job leads. This is the best possible outcome because it sets up a young person to be resourceful and take the initiative at a later stage in life, which makes this a sustainable livelihood program.
Currently, the placement ecosystem comprises 3000+ organizations. Many of these are SMEs emanating from local economic opportunities. These enterprises are well-positioned to be the stepping stones that young people require to be able to make the transition from the informal to the formal sector.
Some of our 3000+ Placement partners
What is Unique About the Lighthouse Program
Youth Centricity
The program design has been crafted based on insights from youth. The approach is to build a long-term relationship based on trust, respect, and deep listening.
Space & Light
Each Lighthouse has a dedicated room to conduct the Foundation Course, a Counselling room, and various training rooms equipped for holding vocational programs.
Collective Action Model
The uniqueness of the program lies in the dual focus on scale and depth. While the depth of impact is addressed through program design and culture, the scale is achieved through Collective Action.
Culture & Values
Courage | Empathy | Inclusion | Integrity.
These values are role-modelled by the Lighthouse team to enable for dignity, self-reflection, honesty and self-awareness.
Mapping for City Transformation
Rigorous tracking of slum communities across the city with GIS mapping for the penetration of the Lighthouse program to enable social and economic transformation.
Thriving Public-Private Partnership Model
Apart from the partnership between the Municipal Corporation and the LCF, there is a mirroring partnership with the corporate sector. Thus, a PPP with a unique business model where Capex is by ‘public’ and Opex by ‘private’.
What is Unique About the Lighthouse Program
Youth Centricity
The program design has been crafted based on insights from youth. The approach is to build a long-term relationship based on trust, respect, and deep listening.
Space & Light
Each Lighthouse has a dedicated room to conduct the Foundation Course, a Counselling room, and various training rooms equipped for holding vocational programs.
Collective Action Model
The uniqueness of the program lies in the dual focus on scale and depth. While the depth of impact is addressed through program design and culture, the scale is achieved through Collective Action.
Culture & Values
Courage | Empathy | Inclusion | Integrity.
These values are role-modelled by the Lighthouse team to enable for dignity, self-reflection, honesty and self-awareness.
Mapping for City Transformation
Rigorous tracking of slum communities across the city with GIS mapping for the penetration of the Lighthouse program to enable social and economic transformation.
Thriving Public-Private Partnership Model
Apart from the partnership between the Municipal Corporation and the LCF, there is a mirroring partnership with the corporate sector. Thus, a PPP with a unique business model where Capex is by ‘public’ and Opex by ‘private’.
Youth Centricity
The program design has been crafted based on insights from youth. The approach is to build a long-term relationship based on trust, respect, and deep listening.
Culture & Values
Courage | Empathy | Inclusion | Integrity.
These values are role-modelled by the Lighthouse team to enable for dignity, self-reflection, honesty and self-awareness.
Space & Light
Each Lighthouse has a dedicated room to conduct the Foundation Course, a Counselling room, and various training rooms equipped for holding vocational programs.
Mapping for City Transformation
Rigorous tracking of slum communities across the city with GIS mapping for the penetration of the Lighthouse program to enable social and economic transformation.
Collective Action Model
The uniqueness of the program lies in the dual focus on scale and depth. While the depth of impact is addressed through program design and culture, the scale is achieved through Collective Action.
Thriving Public-Private Partnership Model
Apart from the partnership between the Municipal Corporation and the LCF, there is a mirroring partnership with the corporate sector. Thus, a PPP with a unique business model where Capex is by ‘public’ and Opex by ‘private’.
Technology in the Lighthouse
Technology is leveraged for the administration of the Lighthouse, as well as to ensure that youth are better equipped for jobs, through familiarity with technology. Students learn via a mix of classroom and online courses and also complete a digital empowerment program.
The entire administration of the Lighthouse from outreach to enrolment and all the way up to placements and alumni management is mapped onto the ‘WeConnect’ technology platform. Students also use our Skills Alpha platform to manage their learning and opt to continue to use it even after they become proud alumni of the lighthouse. Impact across the city is assessed visually through Google Earth mapping.
Technology in the Lighthouse
Technology is leveraged for the administration of the Lighthouse, as well as to ensure that youth are better equipped for jobs, through familiarity with technology. Students learn via a mix of classroom and online courses and also complete a digital empowerment program.
The entire administration of the Lighthouse from outreach to enrolment and all the way up to placements and alumni management is mapped onto the ‘WeConnect’ technology platform. Students also use our Skills Alpha platform to manage their learning and opt to continue to use it even after they become proud alumni of the lighthouse. Impact across the city is assessed visually through Google Earth mapping.
Success Stories
