After failing to clear her II PU exams several times, Preetha W had lost confidence and given up. "My mother told me to stop trying, that I would not be able to pass. I had to stay at home all day for months because I was not getting a job," she said.
Then she got an opportunity to apply to The Nudge Foundation for a four-month program-me at their gurukul. "The programme has given me the confidence to attempt the exa-ms again. I want to clear it and go for higher studies," she said.
The residential 'Programme in Life Management' offered by the non-profit start-up has many such success stories of young men and women who graduated with placement offers and renewed determination. Supported by Nandan Nilekani and Tata Trusts, the mission of the foundation is to alleviate poverty by training youngsters in careers which have potential for growth. Based on interactions with poor communities to understand aspirations of youth, beautician, driver and data entry operator were chosen as the livelihood skill.
"Imparting the skill is only 30% of the course. Financial and digital literacy, communication skills, language, numeracy - we give them a strong foundation in these aspects as well," said founder and CEO Atul Satija. The purpose of providing additional skills is to give students the option of changing careers and even start their own businesses.
The gurukuls have been set up with CSR partners such as Cisco and Mphasis. The training in livelihood is imparted by corporates such as Maruti for driving and Godrej for beautician course.
Six batches and a total of 284 students have graduated from the four gurukuls in Bengaluru. Placement offers have come from firms like InMobi, SBI, Bajaj Finance and YLG.
"It has to be experience-based and not rote-learning," said Deepti Dwivedi, principal of Cisco Gurukul. Deepti was earlier a Supreme Court lawyer. "I did well, made many connections but the job was not helping me sleep peacefully," she said.
"The people here, the warden, teachers and my batchmates, are like family now," said Dhanalakshmi, who passed out recently with the qualification of a beautician.
![]( "A total of 284 students have graduated from the four gurukuls in Bengaluru.")
After failing to clear her II PU exams several times, Preetha W had lost confidence and given up. "My mother told me to stop trying, that I would not be able to pass. I had to stay at home all day for months because I was not getting a job,” she said.
Then she got an opportunity to apply to The Nudge Foundation for a four-month program-me at their gurukul. "The programme has given me the confidence to attempt the exa-ms again. I want to clear it and go for higher studies,” she said.
The residential 'Programme in Life Management’ offered by the non-profit start-up has many such success stories of young men and women who graduated with placement offers and renewed determination. Supported by Nandan Nilekani and Tata Trusts, the mission of the foundation is to alleviate poverty by training youngsters in careers which have potential for growth. Based on interactions with poor communities to understand aspirations of youth, beautician, driver and data entry operator were chosen as the livelihood skill.
"Imparting the skill is only 30% of the course. Financial and digital literacy, communication skills, language, numeracy - we give them a strong foundation in these aspects as well,” said founder and CEO Atul Satija. The purpose of providing additional skills is to give students the option of changing careers and even start their own businesses.
The gurukuls have been set up with CSR partners such as Cisco and Mphasis. The training in livelihood is imparted by corporates such as Maruti for driving and Godrej for beautician course.
Six batches and a total of 284 students have graduated from the four gurukuls in Bengaluru. Placement offers have come from firms like InMobi, SBI, Bajaj Finance and YLG.
"It has to be experience-based and not rote-learning,” said Deepti Dwivedi, principal of Cisco Gurukul. Deepti was earlier a Supreme Court lawyer. "I did well, made many connections but the job was not helping me sleep peacefully,” she said.
"The people here, the warden, teachers and my batchmates, are like family now,” said Dhanalakshmi, who passed out recently with the qualification of a beautician.
Then she got an opportunity to apply to The Nudge Foundation for a four-month program-me at their gurukul. "The programme has given me the confidence to attempt the exa-ms again. I want to clear it and go for higher studies," she said.
The residential 'Programme in Life Management' offered by the non-profit start-up has many such success stories of young men and women who graduated with placement offers and renewed determination. Supported by Nandan Nilekani and Tata Trusts, the mission of the foundation is to alleviate poverty by training youngsters in careers which have potential for growth. Based on interactions with poor communities to understand aspirations of youth, beautician, driver and data entry operator were chosen as the livelihood skill.
"Imparting the skill is only 30% of the course. Financial and digital literacy, communication skills, language, numeracy - we give them a strong foundation in these aspects as well," said founder and CEO Atul Satija. The purpose of providing additional skills is to give students the option of changing careers and even start their own businesses.
The gurukuls have been set up with CSR partners such as Cisco and Mphasis. The training in livelihood is imparted by corporates such as Maruti for driving and Godrej for beautician course.
Six batches and a total of 284 students have graduated from the four gurukuls in Bengaluru. Placement offers have come from firms like InMobi, SBI, Bajaj Finance and YLG.
"It has to be experience-based and not rote-learning," said Deepti Dwivedi, principal of Cisco Gurukul. Deepti was earlier a Supreme Court lawyer. "I did well, made many connections but the job was not helping me sleep peacefully," she said.
"The people here, the warden, teachers and my batchmates, are like family now," said Dhanalakshmi, who passed out recently with the qualification of a beautician.
After failing to clear her II PU exams several times, Preetha W had lost confidence and given up. "My mother told me to stop trying, that I would not be able to pass. I had to stay at home all day for months because I was not getting a job,” she said. Then she got an opportunity to apply to The Nudge Foundation for a four-month program-me at their gurukul. "The programme has given me the confidence to attempt the exa-ms again. I want to clear it and go for higher studies,” she said.
The residential 'Programme in Life Management’ offered by the non-profit start-up has many such success stories of young men and women who graduated with placement offers and renewed determination. Supported by Nandan Nilekani and Tata Trusts, the mission of the foundation is to alleviate poverty by training youngsters in careers which have potential for growth. Based on interactions with poor communities to understand aspirations of youth, beautician, driver and data entry operator were chosen as the livelihood skill.
"Imparting the skill is only 30% of the course. Financial and digital literacy, communication skills, language, numeracy - we give them a strong foundation in these aspects as well,” said founder and CEO Atul Satija. The purpose of providing additional skills is to give students the option of changing careers and even start their own businesses.
The gurukuls have been set up with CSR partners such as Cisco and Mphasis. The training in livelihood is imparted by corporates such as Maruti for driving and Godrej for beautician course.
Six batches and a total of 284 students have graduated from the four gurukuls in Bengaluru. Placement offers have come from firms like InMobi, SBI, Bajaj Finance and YLG.
"It has to be experience-based and not rote-learning,” said Deepti Dwivedi, principal of Cisco Gurukul. Deepti was earlier a Supreme Court lawyer. "I did well, made many connections but the job was not helping me sleep peacefully,” she said.
"The people here, the warden, teachers and my batchmates, are like family now,” said Dhanalakshmi, who passed out recently with the qualification of a beautician.