PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) has partnered with the Gujarat University Entrepreneurship Council (AIC GUSEC) and the social impact company Xcelevate Skills Foundation to launch its CSR initiative, “FutureReady – Skilling for Employability”.

The program’s goals are to equip impoverished kids with skills for the twenty-first century and assist social impact startups in establishing inclusive employment possibilities. Out of more than 750 nominations, the first round of 29 beneficiaries was chosen. The remaining participants are from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, with 23 of the pupils hailing from Tamil Nadu. To get ready for job placement and revenue-generating prospects, they will receive in-depth training and mentorship in Chennai. Thanks to Xcelevate’s employment collaboration with international corporations, these young participants will be the first in their families to gain competent professional roles, marking a revolutionary step towards removing barriers between generations.

The program’s reach and sustainability are increased by fostering early-stage social-impact enterprises that prioritise training, mentorship, and job creation in addition to equipping young people.

“The FutureReady programme is our response to India’s employability challenge, where 83% of the unemployed are youth, despite having education,” stated Sameer Bansal, MD & CEO, PNB MetLife. In keeping with PNB MetLife’s mission of assisting people in building a more confident future, we want to promote inclusiveness and assist people in developing sustainable livelihoods by providing access to skills and opportunities.

“FutureReady is a powerful step towards enabling equitable access to opportunities,” stated Srinivasa Rao Sureddi, CEO of AIC GUSEC. We at AIC GUSEC are dedicated to developing talent and bolstering the innovation environment, particularly for historically marginalised populations. Through this collaboration with PNB MetLife and Xcelevate Skills Foundation, we are empowering social-impact entrepreneurs that are developing significant livelihood solutions in addition to providing avenues for young people to become employable. Our shared goal is to unleash potential, stimulate aspiration, and promote long-term socioeconomic transformation.

“Given high unemployment and 75% digital illiteracy among the most vulnerable youth, Xcelevate has set out a 30-year vision to elevate excellence for the underprivileged through inclusive sourcing, future-ready skilling, and mainstream career placement,” stated Umang Doctor, founder of the Xcelevate Skills Foundation. This collaboration supports Xcelevate’s goal of expanding the cause.