Founded in 2016, the Govardhan Skill Centre, an initiative of Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV), is filling a massive gap among rural and tribal residents by providing educational and employment opportunities.

The institution was conceived by HH Radhanath Swami and has been operating under the leadership of HG Maithili Priya Devi Dasi (Mrs. Maithili Desai), the Sri Nityananda Educational Trust, and APAR Industries Ltd. 

The Govardhan Skill Centre, as an educational institution, currently offers both CSR-sponsored and government-funded courses like welding or plumbing for the benefit and skill training of rural/tribal youth. Women-specific courses include topics like tailoring, dress-making, and basic or advanced beautician training.

In the cow products and incense manufacturing unit of the centre, various rural/tribal women are employed in preparing cow-based natural, herbal products, and incense products. Various entrepreneurial workshops are offered, including 3D printing technology, spice and pickle manufacturing, diya paintings, and more. There are also gardening and handicrafts courses conducted regularly.

Ajit Krishna Das, Project Lead and General Manager of the Govardhan Skills Center said, “We are focusing on creating a workforce equipped with integrity and sound work ethics in the professional front, and that also imbibes humane values from our rich Indian cultural heritage,” He continued, “We want to make the Govardhan Skills Centre a self-sustainable institute by incorporating several nature-driven economic measures such as the production of panchgavya-based products and cultivating an agriculture-based economy.”

“So far, GSC has trained and placed more than 650 students, and more than 3,000 Students have been trained in two days workshops on technical skills (like operating CNC machines or 3D printers). More than 4,000 tribal students from nearby village areas have also been given early childhood and preschool education,” Ajit Krishna said.

Ajit Krishna added, “We want to initiate additional skill courses for tribal/rural youth based on their interest and with the aid of government funding.”

In the future, the Govardhan Skill Centre aims to develop itself as a centre for spreading spiritual culture and value education among rural/tribal youth, encouraging them to be valuable assets to human society through their culture and skill. It has set four goals to achieve in the next decade: Education, Empowerment, Employment, and Entrepreneurship. For this purpose, it conducts weekly value education and spiritual classes for students, helping build character, sound psychological health, and academic training.

To learn more about how you can contribute to this vital service or for more details, visit their official website or follow them on Facebook.