With soft skills and effective mentorship, Mumbai NGO Antarang is helping fill the gap for Mumbai teenagers from less-privileged backgrounds to make a safe transition from education to employment.

As Antarang opens its first career resource centre at Dharavi, later this month, success stories like Yelve’s convince its founder Priya Agrawal, that they are on the right path. The Non Government Organisation, founded in 2012, works with children in the 14-25-year age group to improve their access to career opportunities in the formal sector.

About 200 students have been placed in companies like HDFC, HDB Financial services, Hyatt, Taj Group, Cafe Coffee Day, Trignomedia, Starbucks, Abaca and Crossword, among others. Nirav Shah, Partner Human Resources who hired Yelve recalls, “During our first interaction (at a Starbucks outlet) with students, we discussed things we do, expectations, work culture and a walk through. Students interacted with store partners for first-hand experience and tasted coffee. We hired four bright students.” There is much to be done, but when a pizza delivery boy understands customer satisfaction, a retail store manager is confident to interact with customers in English, and a young assistant learns the power and etiquette of emails, they set themselves up for rewarding careers that will transform the lives of their families and communities.

Reported by Mid Day