7,887+
youth trained
1,35,493
people upskilled
25
States
India’s youth hold the promise of shaping a dynamic and resilient future for the nation. Unlocking this potential through focused skill development and employability training is central to building an inclusive and progressive economy.
Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiatives aim to equip youth and informal workers with the skills, confidence, and exposure needed to thrive in today’s competitive world. The Skill Training and Employability Programme prepares young people for diverse roles across sectors such as Retail, BFSI, Healthcare, IT/ITeS, and Digital Marketing, while trade-based upskilling initiatives like iTrain on Wheels, Plumber Saathi, and Electrician Training enhance the capabilities of the existing workforce through hands-on learning, safety practices, and entrepreneurship inputs.
Aligned with the Skill India Mission and the vision of a Viksit Bharat, the programme promotes sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment. By connecting aspirations with opportunities, Smile Foundation is helping build a generation of skilled, confident, and future-ready Indians driving the nation’s growth story forward.
Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)
The BFSI module prepares youth for roles across banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies. Training is focused on banking operations, financial literacy, insurance processes, customer relationship management, and compliance. Participants also develop communication and digital skills to perform effectively in professional settings. The module enables young professionals to enter a fast-evolving sector with confidence. During the year, the BFSI module was expanded to 20 centres across India, creating a strong pool of job-ready candidates for the financial-services industry.
Retail
The Retail module develops customer service, sales, and operational competencies required in organised and modern retail environments. The curriculum covers store management, billing systems, product display, communication, and teamwork. Participants learn to deliver service excellence while maintaining professionalism and efficiency. The training enhances employability in malls, retail outlets, and service chains. During the year, retail training was implemented through 12 centres, enabling more youth to secure stable employment in the sector.
The 21st Century Skills module is focused on building essential employability skills that are critical in every workplace. The training enhances communication, problem-solving, teamwork, digital literacy, and time management, helping participants develop both competence and confidence. It strengthens their ability to adapt, collaborate, and succeed in dynamic work environments. These skills continue to see growing demand and, during the year operated through 27 centres, equipping thousands of youth with skills that formed the foundation of sustained career success.
Introduced as a new-age trade, IT & ITeS aims to prepare youth for careers in the expanding digital and technology-driven economy. The course includes computer operations, data management, digital communication, and process support. A pilot project in Bengaluru trained 135 youth in IT & ITeS and 70 youth in Data Analytics, successfully placing 90 and 45 participants respectively. The initiative aligns with the growing demand for digitally skilled professionals and is prepared for phased expansion to other regions based on its successful outcomes.
skilled and upskilled across 25 States and 3 Union Territories, including 51 Aspirational Districts
Centres operational across 5 States and 8 Cities, delivering courses in BFSI, Retail, 21st Century Skills, and IT & ITeS
with 5,417 placed in formal employment across multiple sectors
collaborated across industries, enabling 69% of trained youth to secure jobs and enter the workforce
To expand reach and ensure quality in training, Smile Foundation established six Mega Centres across India during the year. Each centre operated multiple batches, supported by trained faculty, digital learning resources, and improved infrastructure. These centres served as key hubs for standardised training, mentoring, and placement coordination. The larger setup also enabled better monitoring and capacity building of staff, ensuring consistent delivery across locations. By combining upgraded facilities with centralised management and real-time performance tracking, the Mega Centres helped scale the programme efficiently while maintaining focus on quality learning outcomes.
New processes and partnerships helped make the training journey more efficient and result-oriented. A digital screening process was introduced to assess participants on language, computer, and basic aptitude skills, ensuring that those most ready to learn could benefit from the programme. Learners also received career counselling and mentoring support to build confidence and clarity about job options. With over 400 employment partners, learners attended industry exposure sessions, mock interviews, and recruitment drives that prepared them for the workplace. Together, these efforts strengthened every stage of the learning-to-employment pathway, helping more youth begin stable and meaningful careers.
To reach more deserving youth, Smile Foundation introduced a Community Mapping approach that helped identify neighbourhoods and clusters with high potential learners around each centre. Mobilisation teams connected with families, schools, and local institutions to raise awareness about training opportunities, especially among young women and first-generation learners. Improved signage, learning spaces, and outreach materials made centres more welcoming and recognisable in their communities, increasing enrolment and reinforcing trust in the programme.
Smile Foundation’s upskilling initiatives aim to enhance the technical abilities, confidence, and income of India’s informal workforce. The programme delivers free, on-site training to painters, plumbers, electricians, and allied workers, helping them adopt safer practices, learn modern techniques, and progress towards self-reliance.
During the year, 23 mobile projects operated across 25 States and 3 Union Territories, including 51 Aspirational Districts. The mobile training vans travelled over 5,01,200 kilometres, conducting 5,924 sessions and reaching 1,35,493 beneficiaries. Since its inception, the initiative has trained 2.98 lakh individuals across 443 districts. Complementary efforts such as Plumber Saathi in Jharkhand and Odisha and an Electrician Upskilling Centre in Jaipur expanded opportunities across new trades.
The initiative integrated GPS-enabled monitoring, improved training equipment, and added modules on entrepreneurship, soft skills, first aid, and health safety. Independent assessments recorded 90.38% certification, with the vast majority reporting increased earnings and stronger customer engagement. Women’s participation also grew in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan, reflecting expanding inclusion.
Aligned with Skill India Mission and the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8, and 10, the programme continues to build a skilled, confident, and future-ready workforce contributing to India’s economic growth.
“When I received my first offer letter, I knew my real journey had begun. My path to confidence started when I joined the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) course at Smile Foundation’s Skill and Livelihood Training Centre.
The trainers believed in our potential and guided us patiently. I learned to communicate clearly, manage customer needs, understand financial products, and use digital tools with ease. Mock interviews, personality development sessions, and exposure to workplace situations prepared me for my first job.
Today, I am employed, support my family, and help my younger siblings continue their education. Each day, I feel proud to stand on my own feet and apply the skills I gained through the training. What once seemed like a distant dream has now become a reality, one built through learning, confidence, and perseverance.”
“There was a time when I felt unsure about my future. I wanted to support my family but lacked the confidence and skills to begin. Speaking with people or even using a computer seemed difficult.
Everything changed when I joined the Retail Training at Smile Foundation’s Skill Training and Employability Programme Centre. The trainers encouraged me to learn step by step – communication, customer handling, product display, billing, grooming, and digital skills. Gradually, I started believing in myself. Mock interviews and practical sessions helped me prepare for real job situations.
After completing my training, I applied for a sales role and got selected. Today, I contribute to my family’s expenses, help with my brother’s school fees, and occasionally bring small gifts for my mother. Every evening, when I return home after work, I feel proud knowing that I have built this life through effort, learning, and determination.”
“Sita lost her father while she was still in school and had to discontinue her studies to support her family. Life was difficult, but she wanted to stand on her own feet. When a local painter introduced her to the trade, she began learning small tasks and soon developed a passion for colours and design.
Her skills grew further when she received training from Smile Foundation, where she learned modern painting techniques, the use of rollers and texture tools, and the importance of safety and professionalism at work.
Over the last ten years, Sita has worked on temple walls and homes across villages, completing over two hundred painting projects. Today, she earns a steady income, manages her household, and dreams of training other women in her community. Confident and independent, Sita continues to add colour not just to walls but to her own life story.”
“I grew up in a small village in Odisha where my family often struggled to meet daily needs. There were times when we didn’t have enough to eat, and continuing school was not possible. To support my parents, I began working as a helper with local painters. My job was to mix colours, clean brushes, and watch others paint, hoping that one day I would learn enough to stand on my own.
That turning point came when I joined a training programme by Smile Foundation. The sessions taught me modern techniques, texture work, use of tools, and customer handling. I learned how to plan jobs, communicate better, and deliver quality work.
Today, I lead a small team of painters and take up projects in nearby towns. Each day reminds me how far I have come – from a young helper earning daily wages to a skilled professional building a better future.”
