Axis Bank Foundation marks a decade of creating inclusive work opportunities for over 24000+ youths with disabilities

Bengaluru, January 3rd, 2024: Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) celebrates a decade of dedicated efforts towards empowering youths with disabilities in semi-urban and rural India, providing them with training and job avenues to build sustainable livelihood opportunities. In collaboration with Youth4Jobs (Y4J), ABF has trained more than 24000 youths who were facing challenges such as speech and hearing impairments, locomotive disabilities, and low vision. Through this programme and partnership, ABF and YFJ have achieved a remarkable placement rate of 60%.

This alliance underscores the Sustainable Livelihood Programme that supports youths in pursuing employment opportunities through a comprehensive skill development ecosystem. The partnership has developed a programme - WISE (Work Integrated Soft Skills and English) which mobilizes youths with disabilities to build skills, confidence and the capability to secure jobs in the organised sector. The WISE programme serves as a gateway for these youths to foray into mainstream sectors like retail, e-commerce, IT, hospitality and other service industries. In addition to providing extensive training and identifying the right placement opportunities, the programme also fosters an inclusive work environment by sensitising employers through workshops.

Over the past 10 years, this collective effort of the programme has achieved the following results:

· A total of 958 employers actively participated in the placement process, hiring 15,466 youths with disabilities, out of the 24,000+ young individuals who underwent training.

· Major sectors such as Retail, IT, and Hospitality have actively recruited participants, with notable companies like Amazon, Infosys, JIO, KFC, Reliance, Shoppers Stop, Zomato, Accenture etc.

· Through 860 workshops, 472 companies have been sensitized on the importance of inclusion, contributing to a significant growth in number of first-time employers.

· Programme operation has grown from 2 training centres across 2 states to 22 centres in 16 states and Union Territories.

· Despite the challenges posed by the two-year COVID-19 pandemic, all batches have had an impressive placement rate.

· Participants have witnessed an increase in their income by 195% since inception of the programme.

Reflecting on this transformative journey, Dhruvi Shah, CEO, Axis Bank Foundation, said, "In our decade-long partnership with Youth4Jobs Foundation, we're driven by a shared belief in inclusivity. Together we have been able to harness our collective strengths to successfully train and equip Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) with skills and confidence to enhance their transition and experience of the work ecosystem, making it more inclusive. Every success story, every individual we have empowered, underscores our commitment and the endless possibilities that lie ahead."

ABF and Y4JF remain committed to scaling new heights, broadening their reach, and ensuring that youths with disabilities rightfully integrate into India's workforce.

About Axis Bank Foundation:

Axis Bank Foundation is committed to aiding vulnerable rural communities, aiming to secure stable and sustainable livelihoods. The foundation focuses on creating economic opportunities for small and marginal farmers as well as landless rural citizens. It implements systems to enhance income through agriculture, natural resource management, livestock, and by establishing financial and market linkages. Additionally, it offers vocational skills to unemployed youth, both able and disabled, in urban and rural India. Working with a wide network of NGO-partners, the foundation tailors programs to meet specific community needs. With a vision to reach the most marginalized communities, Axis Bank Foundation aspires to create lasting socio-economic impact, aiming to affect two million households by 2025.


About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. With its 5,152 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 15,806 ATMs across the country as on 30th September 2023. The network of Axis Bank spreads across 2,864 centres, enabling the Bank to reach out to a large cross-section of customers with an array of products and services. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.


About Youth4Jobs:

Youth4Jobs is an action organisation with a heart working to ensure youth with disabilities can be poverty-free in India. Our focus is on building resilient livelihoods for both youth with disabilities, with a focus on the most vulnerable, women with disabilities. Towards this, we partner with governments, markets, and civil society to remove physical and attitudinal barriers and enable the scaling of evidence-based effective solutions. It is led by Meera Shenoy who has the unique experience of working in senior government positions, World Bank and UNDP. This transformational work has won several national and international awards.

Company :-Adfactors PR

User :- Shreedhar BH

Email :-shreedhar.bh@adfactorspr.com