The British Asian Trust announce that its partnership with BT Group India to empower adolescent girls through technology was recognised as the Social Impact Project of the Year at the India Global Forum’s UK-India Awards 2024.
The Awards celebrate the contributions of those who drive the UK-India partnership, including leaders in business, professional services, government, culture, and social impact.
The award-winning social impact programme supports India’s policies on skilling, education and digital literacy by empowering adolescents, primarily girls, through digital inclusion, employment readiness, gender empowerment, and skill development.
The BT-British Asian Trust partnership works with seven local partners – Breakthrough Trust, ETASHA, Going to School, Katha Lab School, IT for Change, Mentor Together, and Transform Schools/People for Action, engaging high-need communities in Delhi/NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and select districts in Haryana.
Over the last five years, the partnership has empowered over 1.1 million adolescents and another 2.2 million parents, teachers, and community members across India.
Highlights from the last one year of the partnership:
- Provided technical and life skills training, career guidance, STEM education, and gender awareness workshops to over 78,000 adolescents, primarily girls.
- Conducted training for over 600,000 parents, teachers, and community leaders, fostering positive attitudes toward girls’ education and career aspirations.
- Established 89 youth-led enterprises through seed funding.
- Engaged over 600,000 people through Doordarshan in India on crucial topics like life skills, digital literacy, STEM, and climate change.
- Launched the ‘Empower program’, providing mentorship opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth.
Pooja Lamba, Director BT Business and Chair of Social Impact Board at BT Group India, said, “We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of the transformative impact achieved through our collaboration with the British Asian Trust. The digital transformation of India has potential to drive the economic empowerment of women and contribute to greater gender equality.
“By championing digital inclusion, this partnership has brought opportunities to young women from under resourced communities, aligned with our purpose of ‘Connecting for Good’ and creating a more inclusive society,” Lamba said.
Kapil Khaneja, Director of GBS India and Chair of India Management Group at BT Group India, said, “This award highlights the significant impact of corporate social responsibility efforts that BT Group with the British Asian Trust and our local partners are undertaking with utmost pride and commitment.
“We thank the India Global Forum for recognising the crucial role we have played in driving digital empowerment, advancing gender equality, transforming lives, and fostering sustainable community growth,” Khaneja said.
Bharath Visweswariah, Executive Director – India of the British Asian Trust, said, “This award recognises the importance of investing in the future of adolescent girls for a thriving India. It is inspiring to see that many of the young women we support are poised to lead and transform their communities. Congratulations to BT Group for this well-deserved recognition.”
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