FUEL marks 17th Foundation Day, focuses on empowering underprivileged youth

Pune, October 08, 2023: FUEL, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized youth, celebrated its 17th Foundation Day in Pune, emphasizing its commitment to uplift underprivileged communities. The event included the awarding of scholarships to 90 female students in need, highlighting FUEL's dedication to improving lives through skill development and vocational training. Eminent personalities, policymakers, industry leaders, and government delegates attended the occasion.

FUEL's impact is evident in its outreach, having reached more than 45,976 girls through its dedicated efforts in education, employability, and empowerment. The organization has played a vital role in enhancing skills and employability among underprivileged populations across states. With a history of providing education, granting 10,000+ scholarships, and equipping over 98,667 individuals with skills, FUEL has facilitated placements for 62,753+ youths in various careers, supported 350 entrepreneurs, and conducted 1 million career counseling sessions. FUEL's Career EduConnect initiative targets students from Class 7 to Class 12, offering insights into education and career paths to address unemployment. The organization provides courses in Digital Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and 3D Printing, empowering marginalized communities for improved employability.

The highlight of the celebration was the Future Skills Summit, attended by renowned industry leaders and policymakers. The summit explored future skills, talent acquisition, and innovation in CSR in education and skill development. Distinguished guests included Hon’ble Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Shri Rahul Narvekar, Social Worker and Corporator BMC, Harshita Narvekar, Vice-President Hitachi Air Conditioning India, Col. Rajesh Ohol, Vice President Corporate Communications Bajaj Group, Sanjay Ojha, Director-International Business Serum Institute of India, Parag Deshmukh, Chief Sustainability Officer LTI Mindtree, Paneesh Rao, Founder and Chairman of FUEL, and FUEL Business School (FBS), Ketan Deshpande, and Santhosh Huralikoppi, Chief Mentor at FUEL.

The guest of honor, Shri Rahul Narvekar, Honorable Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly said, "On FUEL's 17th Foundation Day, I congratulate Ketan Deshpande and the entire team for their outstanding work in empowering underprivileged youth through skill development, training, and scholarships. Their commitment to social progress, evidenced by collaborations with major MNCs and NITI Ayog, is commendable. Providing over 1 million career counseling sessions has been pivotal in guiding countless individuals toward meaningful careers. Best wishes for continued success as FUEL enters a new phase with its university campus, aiming to elevate expectations and contribute significantly to a prosperous future”. 

The host Mr. Ketan Deshpande, Founder and Chairman of FUEL and FUEL Business School said, “On our 17th Foundation Day, I'm proud to acknowledge progress in supporting underprivileged students. While witnessing positive outcomes is gratifying, I recognize more must be done. The ongoing success of our mission to empower every student relies on unwavering support from stakeholders. Together, we must continue striving for our goal, ensuring no student is left behind in their pursuit of knowledge and empowerment. We have envisioned a future with equal access to career opportunities for every student, achieved through proactive initiatives like endowment scholarships, volunteer-guided internships, blended learning, and collaboration with social organizations for on-the-ground implementation”. 

The Foundation Day featured various programs, including a scholarship ceremony where 90 deserving female students from underprivileged backgrounds received scholarships. These scholarships were part of an MoU between FUEL, LTI Mindtree, and the Oracle Scholarship Program, designed for female PGDM students at FUEL Business School (FBS). The initiative aims to empower these students for higher education and promising careers. The event also included the unveiling of "FUEL Hope Stories," a book showcasing the determination of FUEL students, and the launch of the Saksham Digital Skill Program. This program equips student leaders with essential skills such as computer literacy, coding, data analysis, online communication, cybersecurity, and proficiency with digital tools and software applications.