Omidyar Network Supports Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programs with Grant to Anudip Foundation

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, February 22, 2012 — Omidyar Network announced today a grant of up to USD $650,000 to the Anudip Foundation. Anudip will use the four-year grant to scale its skills-training and entrepreneur-development operations in eastern India. Shreya Deb of Omidyar Network will take an observer seat on the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Anudip Foundation seeks to provide a pathway to new-economy livelihoods for impoverished youth in rural and semi-urban areas of India. Its integrated model is both innovative and successful. By providing educated, yet underprepared, youth with both IT-based job skills training and job placement services, Anudip has recently achieved an 80% job placement ratio. More than 8,000 students have been trained over the organization’s five-year history.

“Anudip Foundation plays a vital role in bridging the gap between traditional schooling and achieving a sustainable livelihood for many of the country’s youth,” commented Deb. “Omidyar Network is proud to help motivated individuals reach their potential by supporting Anudip in scaling and fulfilling its mission.”

NASSCOM Foundation recently honored Anudip with its Social Innovation Honor on February 14, 2012 in Mumbai. Anudip’s model and resulting impact were recognized for ICT-led social innovation in the not-for-profit category. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/ypuGxm.

In addition to its job skills training and placement services, Anudip offers its DREAM entrepreneurship program that mentors students interested in starting their own business and assists them with initial start-up financing.

”We are deeply honored by the faith placed us by Omidyar Network through the grant,” said Dipak Basu, chairman of Anudip. “We are confident in our ability to scale up our operations.” For more information on Anudip Foundation, visit www.anudip.org.

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