By Mr Jesuraja Joseph for BISMumbai

In association with Tata Strive’s Entrepreneurship Development Program, Don Bosco Academy, Nerul, conducted an entrepreneurship program from 3 to 12 December 2022. Focused on non-technical skills, the program aimed to cultivate a knack for entrepreneurship in the minds of the participants. 17 young men and women from ages 18 to 40 years were screened and shortlisted from the applicants by means of group discussion, personal interview, and business proposals. The shortlisted candidates were given this 10-day training on topics like feasibility study to begin a business, costing of materials and supply chain management, tactics to overcome the hurdles while running a business, broadening the clientele base with customer satisfaction, ideas to sustain the business in the current competitive business world, and so on.

On successful completion of the training, each of them was given Rupees 20,000 as financial support, and also assigned a mentor under whom they would continue their entrepreneurial journey for a year. Mr Dilesh Gharat, an electrician turned entrepreneur remarked: “This programme has helped me became a business man. Thank you, Don Bosco!”.

Don Bosco Academy, a new facility built in Don Bosco, Nerul, also made a tie-up on 8 December 2022 with 'Sui Dhaaga Ji' under Indian Development Foundation (IDF) agency to help amateurs become professionals in the fields of advance tailoring and fashion designing, while proving to be another step towards employment. It was structured to aid marginalized women, especially housewives and housemaids.

As the event began, Fr Akhil Abraham, the Vice Principal, welcomed the guests and students. Dr Narayan Iyer and Dr Mumtaz Syed, the co-founders of IDF, expressed their enthusiasm to join hands with Don Bosco in skilling the womenfolk of Navi Mumbai. Ms Kiran Badhe, the CEO of Samruddhi Mahilabachat Gat and the training partner for tailoring, explained the course objectives and motivated the women to be empowered through tailoring.

The research and marketing students of ITM (Institute of Technology and Management) - Kharghar, were present for the inauguration. Their involvement has opened the possibility of a collaborative study on research and marketing among DBAN (Don Bosco Academy Nerul), IDF (Indian Development Foundation), and ITM (Institute of Technology and Management). This venture is a good opportunity for the ladies to be certified and bag a job.