The Royal Enfield Academy for Skills, a CSR initiative of Eicher Group Foundation and Aide et Action, an NGO working to empower youths and children have come together to initiate decentralized demand driven employability and entrepreneurship training for youths in the age group of 18-35yrs. Over the next 3 years, the project aims to train over 5,500 under-privileged youth including 40% women in Chennai and Gurugram.

The trainings will be imparted through the centres in Pappadai, Walajabad and Sriperumbudur in Chennai and in Gurugram. The centres will conduct training for a period of 3-months in skills such as Industrial electrician, Four-wheeler service technicians, ITES and House Keeping.

While inaugurating the Pappadai centre, Mr G. Sekar, Director, Eicher Group Foundation says “The courses are designed based on the industry need and after the 3 month training, we provide a one month hands on job training to help the trainee apply the skills in real time.” He also added that “the youth in this age should take responsibility in developing themselves and others, should always be focused & enthusiastic and in a position to look forward for opportunities”.

 “Trained candidates will be placed through industry partnership in companies in and around Chennai” says Dr. Aishwarya Mahajan, Director – Livelihood Education, Aide et Action. “We will also encourage the trainees to start their own enterprise” he added.

 The Eicher Group Foundation is currently engaged in Sustainable Village development, Housing for the disaster-affected,  Skill Development, Environment, Health and Education projects in India and Aide et Action, an international NGO is engaged in Education, Skill Development, Health, Women Empowerment and Disaster Preparedness programmes. The iLEAD (Initiative for Livelihood Education and Development), a flagship programme of Aide et Action is currently operational in 21 states of India and in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, Philippines, Cambodia and ready to be launched in France has till date trained more than 2,25,000 youths with a success of 75% placement.

The inauguration was chaired by Mr. G. Sekar –Director, Eicher Group Foundation and the representatives of EGF and Royal Enfield teams along with Aide et Action officials, local stakeholders, community members and youths from all the centers in Chennai.