Pace – the Skills Training Program
This program is targeted at the economically disadvantaged youth in the 18-30 year age group. India has a large percentage of youth who have not been able to complete their formal education and also do not have the required vocational skills to be gainfully employed.

Pratham’s Skills Training Program tries to
1) Train youth in market relevant skills such as banking, agriculture, hospitality etc. and
2) Help them start their own businesses.

This program was started in 2005 and currently there are 7 centers across Maharashtra. Over 3500 youth have been trained. Pratham has partnered with Larsen & Turbo to give training in the construction industry, with Taj Hotels to give training in hospitality industry, with Godrej Agrovet to give training in Agriculture, with Deutsche Bank to give training in Banking and Financial Services and is about to start a partnership with Landmark Group for Retail Training. The program is also training youth in basic foundational skills to make them more employable & more trainable. Training is also given to youth who are in conflict with the law and are in prisons. The entrepreneurship support program is in a nascent stage.