IBS Software to set up Candle Centre of Excellence for underprivileged youth

• Project is the CSR initiative of IBS Software in its silver jubilee year
Trivandrum / October 22, 2022

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct. 22: As part of its 25th Anniversary, IBS Software has unveiled an ambitious project to set up a Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Kochi to support underprivileged youth under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative “Candle.”

Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan launched the project while inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of IBS Software here on Wednesday.

The Centre of Excellence will provide skill training for the underprivileged youth with the objective of enabling them lead productive lives, said Ms Hannah Mathews, Head of Candle, the CSR initiative of IBS.

The programme envisions to create a skilled workforce with the right work ethic. It is primarily meant for underprivileged youth, who have lost their way and have an aspiration to be back in the main stream. The project will enable them earn a livelihood and lead a life of dignity taking care of themselves and those around them. Apart from equipping them with the necessary skills, the Centre will also empower them to engage in a job or start a small enterprise of their own, Ms Hannah said.

CSR initiative of IBS Software is called Candle, which is short for Care and Love. It has two streams, Candle CSR, which is funded by corporate funds and Candle Outreach which is funded by employees through their contributions. Candle was formed immediately after IBS started functioning in 1997 and has been implementing projects providing the underprivileged children and youth the best education, healthcare and good standard of living, helping them become responsible citizens.

There are more than 15 projects currently being implemented by Candle benefitting more than 1200 children and 350 young adults. These projects are implemented through different partners, who are non-governmental/charity organizations with a track record of implementing projects and are selected after careful scrutiny. The partners include foster care homes, schools that provide care for specially abled children, organisations which focus on mental and physical health of young individuals and schools in economically backward localities. In order to spearhead and take the CSR activities further IBS also has formed a Trust, IBS Foundation, last year.

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