She Earns, She Leads, She Lifts

Born from a simple yet radical belief that women, regardless of background, education, or age, deserve a chance to thrive, it does not merely train entrepreneurs. It activates changemakers.

Designed with a multidimensional approach, Skill LEAP provides:

• Orientation for first-time entrepreneurs.

   

• Skill upgradation to help women refine their craft, and 

• Guide them through branding, bookkeeping, compliance, and market strategy through ESAF Udyami.

From simmering masala blends in home kitchens to delicate embroidery under dim lamplight, from handcrafted jewellery to eco-friendly soaps and tailored blouses, Skill LEAP brings enterprise to life at the heart of everyday living. 

The training is hands-on, rooted in real-world demands, and designed to equip women with practical skills that meet market needs. Importantly, it reaches those often left behind—women from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), caregivers of children with disabilities, and others who sit at the edges of mainstream opportunity.

But ESAF Foundation’s support does not end with skills. It continues in the bustling energy of Mahilodaya, a vibrant market platform where women sell their products during festive seasons like Onam, Christmas, and Pongal. These exhibitions offer visibility, confidence, and community. Through the Udyami Awards, ESAF Foundation recognises and celebrates the achievements of these entrepreneurs, while also guiding them towards formalisation and long-term viability.

So far, over 20,000 women have been trained through Skill LEAP, with more than ₹10,00,000 in sales generated through 32 exhibitions. A growing network of 1,075 women have accessed mentorship and peer support, while 100 women have received in-depth guidance under ESAF Udyami to scale their enterprises—covering everything from packaging and branding to financial access and compliance.

At its core, Skill LEAP is a platform for transformation. By weaving legal, financial, and social support into each step, ESAF Foundation ensures that enterprise is not just possible, but sustainable.

Turning Demography into Opportunity

If women are the backbone of the household economy, India’s youth are its forward stride.

India’s youth comprise 28% of the population (aged 15–29), as per the National Commission on Population (2019). This demographic edge, if harnessed well, could shape the country’s future (Dhanya & Thakur, 2024). Yet this strength remains underleveraged. Especially in rural and marginalised communities, the issue is not one of aspiration, it is one of access. The path from potential to profession is often unclear or out of reach.

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is more than a skilling programme. It is a bridge from ambition to achievement. Designed by the Ministry of Rural Development and anchored in the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, it targets young people aged 15–35 from SC/ST households, minority groups, MGNREGA worker families, and others on the economic and social margins.

At ESAF Foundation, the mission is clear: transform raw talent into real opportunity.

In partnership with the BFSI Sector Skill Council, the Foundation delivers a six-month training in Credit Processing and Financial Services. It is a future-facing course for rural youth entering the finance sector, including:

• Classroom sessions blending skill-building with digital literacy and soft skills.

• Hands-on training aligned with industry needs and employer expectations.

• Placement support, connecting graduates to formal roles in respected institutions.

To date, ESAF Foundation has trained 926 young candidates across multiple states and placed nearly 500 in salaried positions. But numbers tell only part of the story.

Each job marks a turning point—the first salary in a household, the first train ride to a new city, the first moment a young man or woman becomes someone others look up to. They are social equalisers, narrowing divides, restoring dignity, and unlocking generational change.

Beyond Training: A Continuum of Care

This is the quiet revolution. 

One skill at a time, one placement at a time, ESAF Foundation helps individuals chart new futures for themselves and for the communities they call home. 

As the nation grapples with the challenges of inclusion and growth, it is this blend of purpose and practice that becomes the true measure of progress. Because when women rise and youth stride forward, the nation transforms.

Reference

Ministry of Labour and Employment. (2023). Female Labour Utilization in India: Employment Statistics in Focus – April 2023. Directorate General of Employment. Retrieved from https://dge.gov.in/dge/sites/default/files/2023-05/Female_Labour_Utilization_in_India_April_2023_final__1_-pages-1-2-merged__1_.pdf 

Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. (2024, July 31). Women Entrepreneurship Program launched to empower women entrepreneurs and spurring economic growth [Press release]. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2039876

Dhanya, M. B., & Thakur, A. (2024). Youth Employment, Labour Market, and Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and the Way Forward.Economic and Political Weekly,59(38). Retrieved from https://www.epw.in/engage/article/youth-employment-labour-market-and-sustainable