Skilling
Read about our work
Our work in the area of Skilling strengthens our vision to build an equitable world – a world where everyone has the opportunity to maximize their potential. Towards this, we are supporting initiatives that enable low-income families and youth from communities near Cipla manufacturing locations to be more productive and employable. The skilling initiatives that we support range from long-term professional skilling to short-term vocational training programmes as well as projects to build capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
UNLOCKING HOPE & OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE PANDEMIC
Covid has underlined the urgent need to to rebuild productivity through timely and relevant skilling and upskilling efforts. We have been working with our partners to adapt classroom-based skilling models to e-learning formats. This is enabling youth from remote communities to continue enhancing their capabilities and remain productive.
Additionally, we have been partnering to create income-generating livelihood opportunities so communities can stand strong through this crisis.
SAVING LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS
SAANS Face Mask
On 4th August 2020, we embarked on a unique partnership with CSIR-IICT (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad) to support the development and production of India’s first-of-its-kind high quality affordable face mask – SAANS.
In 2021, we have been scaling up the SAANS face mask project to create livelihood opportunities for communities in smaller towns and villages. We are partnering with NGOs and Self Help Groups (SHGs) to produce and sell the mask in communities that need affordable high-quality protection.
TRANSFER OF PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Online training sessions are being conducted by CSIR-IICT for NGOs and SHGs to share know-how of mask production.
This also includes the sharing of relevant documents like Standard Operating Protocols.
SEED MONEY SUPPORT FOR MATERIALS & TRAINING
Seed money is critical for an enterprise to build capacity. Cipla Foundation provides a one-time grant for the procurement of raw materials and machinery to each SHG and also supports training from CSIR-IICT.
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION
Cipla Foundation has been working with NGOs and CSIR-IICT basis the information shared by Government of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research’s standard messages for ensuring high usage of face mask. An information leaflet on the correct usage is included in SAANS face mask packaging.
QUALITY CHECK & CERTIFICATION
The SAANS face mask is certified by SITRA (The South India Textile Research Association) and is designed for high breathability, right fit and filtration in addition to easy wash and re-use.
CSIR-IICT is providing on-going quality checks. 20 masks are checked for every 1,000 masks produced by NGOs and SHGs.
We are empowering women and the elderly while also ensuring the availability of high quality face masks in rural areas – thereby supporting the national and global mandate for ‘Covid appropriate behaviour’
Women have produced and sold, till date
Masks in Maharashtra & Himachal Pradesh
INR revenue earned by NGOs and SHGs
Making Women Self-Reliant And Keeping Communities Safe
“I lost my job and was worried about my daughter’s education. Then I joined the SAANS project Self Help Group. I feel happy that the face masks I stitch and sell now not only protect lives but also my family’s future.”
Mina from Andur SHG, Rural Osmanabad, Maharashtra
PROFESSIONAL SKILLING
Continuing Virtually –
B.Sc. Medical Graduate Programme
Since April 2020, the Baddi University programme has been continuing through online sessions for students impacted during Covid.
The first batch graduated in 2018 with excellent job placements.
We have been supporting this transformational initiative for capable youth from remote communities in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh since 2014.
Through this initiative, meritorious students with financial difficulties get the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree programme at Baddi University. They receive on-the-job-training across departments at the Cipla Baddi manufacturing unit and mentoring from the Cipla leadership team.
Building Social And Life Skills
Among students enrolled in the programme, it is heartening that half of them are girls.
Many students, first generation learners from their families, are using the skills they have learnt in the programme to contribute to their communities.
They are helping to organize Covid vaccination drives and teaching younger children in their villages. The Baddi University programme students are role models inspiring youth in their communities to expand their horizons.
The 2021 graduating batch is currently undergoing counselling and job interview training.
In addition to mentors from other organisations, Cipla teams have also stepped forward to volunteer their time virtually to coach students for the competitive work environment.
About our Virtual Volunteering platform – Cipla for Change
VOCATIONAL SKILLING
Continuing to empower youth virtually
An online household electrical training session in progress
In collaboration with Ambuja Cement Foundation’s Skill & Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) in Baddi and Indian Technical Institute (ITI) in Sikkim, we support short-term vocational skilling in electrical training, beautician course, industrial sewing and more for local youth. We aim to make them job-ready and professionally productive.
Since April 2020, the courses are being delivered virtually so youth can continue building their skills and progressively move towards achieving financial stability in the pandemic.
From April 2020 – June 2021
265
Youth trained virtually across 8 job-linked technical coures
50%
Got employment in Covid with average salary of Rs 8500 per month
A Young Woman’s Story Of Hope And Ambition
Lakshmi, with a large household of nine members, decided to upskill herself to safeguard her family that was facing severe financial insecurity in Covid. Inspired by her sister, who underwent SEDI’s Sewing Machine Operator course and has been working thereafter with TVS Motors, Lakshmi enrolled herself in SEDI’s Tally Ace Accounting short-term professional course in July 2020.
Soon after the programme, she got a job with Arcis Pvt Ltd and has been earning Rs. 15,600 per month since – a respectable sum to help her family live with dignity in the pandemic.
“Today I hold my head up when I walk into my community and feel proud about the appreciation I get in return”, says Lakshmi, 23 years, who hopes to work with the Indian Army some day. She completed the Tally Ace 5-month course from July-November 2020 at SEDI in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
Empowering individuals with visual impairments – Project EYEWAY
Along with Score Foundation, we have been supporting the Eyeway Helpdesk at the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind in Mumbai since 2017.
The helpdesk is a one-stop repository that aims to increase access to resources, information and counselling for people with visual impairments.
9000+ visually impaired individuals have been supported over the last 3 years with:
- Information on Government Schemes
- Educational and Advocacy Support
- Assistive Technology and Legal Assistance
- Counselling
From April 2020 – June 2021
3,600+
Individuals Reached
Information to cope in Covid – needed now more than ever
The Eyeway Helpdesk counsellors have been supporting individuals all through the lockdown – connecting them with pandemic specific government schemes, resources for food, shelter, transport, jobs and more.
Empowering Herself And Empowering Her Community
Our Eyeway Helpdesk Counsellor
“I began losing my vision in my early youth and was grappling to stay independent and productive. Working as an Eyeway counsellor has transformed my life.”
“When I get calls, I can correlate it with my own life as a blind person – I feel happy to be able to help people, especially in these difficult times.
A blind couple reached out to us just days into the lockdown – the wife had delivered a baby and the husband, a hawker, could not make ends meet. They were going to be thrown out of their rented house. The Eyeway Helpdesk contacted donors and delivery agents to arrange food for them and raised funds for their rent through a Facebook campaign.
There are so many such examples of how the right information at the right time is making a real difference to peoples lives.”
Darshana Jain
Eyeway Helpdesk Counsellor since 2017 at the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind, Mumbai
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
Building capacity of teachers to support children with intellectual disabilities – Project GYANDEEP
Our teacher training initiative in Goa, in partnership with Sethu, to train government Anganwadi teachers (part of Integrated Child Development Scheme) continued online in Covid.
The project aims to build capacity of teachers to assess children with intellectual disabilities. This helps in timely diagnosis of children so they can be appropriately supported through medical and education interventions. Parents are counselled on how to care for their children.
From April 2020 – June 2021, online training sessions reached
1,000+
Teachers and Parents