Pratham began its journey in 1995 to provide education to children in the Mumbai slums.  It has grown in scope & scale today with programs for children and youth across the Country.  Pratham focuses on high-quality, low-cost and replicable interventions to address gaps in the education system.  

In 2005 Pratham Institute was launched, its vocational skilling arm, to train youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (18-25 years), provide them with employable skills and give them access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.  Today it offers programs for entry-level positions and placements in 10 major vocations – some of them being construction (including electrical, plumbing, welding & masonry), hospitality (housekeeping, food & beverage service & food production), automotive mechanic, healthcare nursing and beauty & wellness.

Pratham has run training programs for the rural youth to be employed in the Hospitality F&B and Housekeeping sectors.  Both trainings are 3-month residential programs with boarding & lodging provided by PARC for the trainees.  They are trained at a mock restaurant & bar and a mock hotel room & bathroom.  Most graduates of the training programs immediately find jobs at star hotels.  The Taj Group of Hotels has certified both training curriculums and has employed hundreds of graduates from these programs.