INDIA: Don Bosco Tech Society launches hospitality skills initiative for 500 women
Project will also provide placement assistance
(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Tech Society in India, in collaboration with Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd, has launched “Project Udaan”, a skills development initiative to equip 500 women from remote and underserved communities with skills and create pathways to careers in the hospitality sector.
The nine-month initiative, part of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India’s corporate social responsibility efforts, will operate across Sikkim, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry. As a result of the training, women aged 18-30 will gain opportunities for financial independence, employment and long-term career growth. Training will be conducted through Don Bosco institutions, providing participants with a safe and supportive learning environment.
Participants will undergo training for guest service associate, food and beverage, and housekeeping roles. The courses are aligned with the standards of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council, the National Skill Development Corporation and the National Skills Qualifications Framework.
Each participant will receive 420 hours of training covering technical skills, life skills, digital literacy and financial literacy. The program will also provide counseling, certification and placement assistance to help participants transition confidently into the hospitality workforce.
Ghanashyam Hegdekatte, chief human resources officer at Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India, said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable opportunities in the hospitality sector. He said Project Udaan would help women from underserved communities acquire industry-relevant skills and access meaningful work.
Father George Mathew, executive director of Don Bosco Tech Society, said, “The initiative goes beyond providing skill certification by helping young women enter formal employment with confidence and dignity. Equipping women with market-ready skills and work opportunities could strengthen their families and communities as well.”
Don Bosco Tech Society is a network of over 300 institutions across 217 districts in India offering formal, non-formal and short-term skill training. The organization has nearly two decades of experience in employment-linked skill development. It has trained close to 500,000 young people across India, particularly from underserved communities, helping them acquire industry-relevant skills and access livelihood opportunities.
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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco South Asia
Don Bosco South Asia – Empowering 500 Women Through Skills, Careers and Opportunity
Salesian Missions – India
World Bank – India
