Skilling India, One Youth At A Time

Every morning, like millions of other Mumbaikars, 21-year-old Suryakant also gets ready and goes to work. He works for a multinational company that has entrusted this young man with a marketing role. The reason this is noteworthy is because of where he comes from.

"I come from the lanes of Kala Killa in Dharavi, where I share a 8x10ft kholi with my family of five," says Suryakant. "It is in this home – without even the basic amenities – that I studied hard and dreamt of a poverty-free future for my family."

Like 54% of his fellow Mumbaikars, Suryakant too grew up in circumstances that are sub-human. A weatherproof roof over the head, nutritious food, quality education and healthcare – Suryakant is part of the 54% of Mumbai that lives without these basics that most of humanity takes for granted.

"Our country faces a dual challenge — paucity of trained workforce as well as large sections of youth who aren't educated or skilled," says Santosh Singh, Head – Business Excellence, Tata Motors Finance. Out of India's 421 million workers in the age group of 15-59, 125 million – or 35% – are estimated to be illiterate. "We need solutions that address three key needs: K-12 education, enhanced employability and jobs, as well as skills that empower them to overcome environmental challenges around them."

For a first generation learner like Suryakant, these three things were out of reach. "My father is a cobbler and my mother is a homemaker. For someone of my background to get out of poverty seemed like an unachievable dream," recalls Suryakant.

What made this dream possible? "I joined Magic Bus when still quite young. At their activity-based learning sessions, I learnt not only the important things that children should be learning – such as how to improve at school, be healthy and plan a career, but also came to believe that my dreams were as valid as the next child's."

Magic Bus, an idea born in Mumbai 17 years ago, runs an intensive programme to educate young people and get them into stable jobs when they grow up. "It is in a city like Mumbai, with so many opportunities lying unutilized for lack of skilled youth, that I realized that the only passport out of poverty for youth like Suryakant is empowerment and education so that they get employment and can pull themselves out of chronic want," says Matthew Spacie, the Founder of the NGO.

Like Suryakant, there are 400,000 children from 2500 of India's poorest neighbourhoods who are now learning and growing up well with Magic Bus. "If you are a Magic Bus child – especially if you are a girl – you are almost 100% sure to go all the way upto Class 12, after which our Livelihoods Centers can support you to get a stable job," says Spacie, ading: "This is why we are trying to embed this programme in every poverty eradication approach in the country."

Learn about the organization and ways to support them on donate.magicbus.org