India’s demographic dividend has been a powerful source of economic ammunition- captivating nations and corporate giants alike. As per a report published by Macquarie Research and Global Demographics, the working age population of the country is expected to rise by 100 million by 2025. This makes India the largest contributor to the working population. But that’s just one part of the story.

As much promise as this poses for the world’s youngest populace, inadequate job creation and absorption into the market leaves room for many young people not having avenues to escape the cycle of poverty. The abysmal standards of education and skill training, coupled with a culture that remains rather stoic on positive reinforcement, distorts the confidence of young, impressionable minds.

Holistic education- one that focuses on the economic, social and emotional well-being of the individual- is a trend that has often been overlooked in India. While appropriate skills prepare individuals for success, confidence and character equip them to handle failure and crisis.

Kiran, a confident, happy student at the Mphasis-Nudge Gurukul, graduated as a certified driver this month.

Contextually, Mphasis found the right CSR partner in The Nudge Foundation, providing an avenue for the idea to turn to reality with the inauguration of the first Mphasis-Nudge Gurukul in November 2015. The ‘Gurukul’ is a 4-month residential program in Life Management, designed to provide 360 degree learning and support experience for youngsters from impoverished communities to master life, literacy and livelihood skills. The rigorous, fully-residential program focuses on extensive experiential learning across an array of subjects, ranging from digital and English language literacy to employability, financial and family management.

‘The idea is to fundamentally invest in people coming from underprivileged backgrounds-those who missed out on their first chance at life, people who lost their the birth lotteries, and give them life skills, skills that allow them to make better decisions; literacy, and the economic foundation that can nudge them out of poverty’, says Atul Satija, CEO of The Nudge Foundation.

So how do they ensure that students are poised for success? The Gurukul ensures that the learning infrastructure is equipped with the latest technologies, giving students experiences on par with any other business school. Simultaneously, it is functional and hygienic, without being excessively technology-centered. This helps make their stay in the Gurukul as close to home as possible.

‘High Tea’ for Gurukul students with Padmasree and Arjuna Award winner, Malathi Holla.

Along with conducive living and learning arrangements, students are intellectually stimulated and emotionally mentored through a series of workshops and discussion held at the Gurukul. The 46 students currently at the institution have grown up in vulnerable communities, often without the presence of a role model or mentor. A study by Karcher, Davis and Powell (2002) found a direct correlation between mentoring and achievement among youth. Every week, a ‘high tea’ event is carried out at the Gurukul where people, who have come from humble backgrounds but have fought the odds to make it, share their stories, their victories and failures. Experts in the field of sports, academia and technology are invited to encourage students to believe in the value of hard work, discipline and honesty. Muzkeera, for example, sees this as her ticket out of poverty. ‘After having come here, I have learnt how to realize my dreams in the face of adversity and crises. My goal is to be able to secure a job so that I can stand on my own feet while taking care of my family as well. I would recommend it to others as it means an opportunity to change one’s life.’

How do the teachers and staff glean whether or not the students are growing in their confidence? ‘Most students come from neighboring slums and villages where English is not the language frequented in conversation. Recently, employees from a prominent philanthropic organization visited the Gurukul. Every student that interacted with them spoke confidently in English, without any information loss. These subtle instances speak volumes of how far they’ve come. It’s moments like these that remind us of the value of reassuring them that their past doesn’t define their future’, says Anurag Dixit, the head of Corporate Engagement at the Gurukul.

Puneet Bhirani, Chief Administrative Officer, Mphasis, with the class of February 2016!

There’s a long way to go. Building the confidence of a generation implies undoing years of neglect, pain and hardship. But in the words of Barrie Davenport, ‘Low self-confidence isn’t a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered – just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better.’ On the 22^nd of February, we witnessed the first batch of students graduate with a certification in driving and beautician courses, armed with every ounce of confidence and character they need to chase their dreams.