PepsiCo-CAP successfully completes training program in Nagapattinam

Company Brief

Nagapattinam, September 27, 2007

Livelihood Resource Center–“Nallai-Namadhe”, an innovative employability skill development initiative by PepsiCo foundation & CAP foundation, handed over graduation certificates to 300 tsunami affected students at a valedictory function organized in Nagapattinam today.

The function was also attended by Mr. Radha, Project Officer, DRDA Nagapattinam, Mr. Kandaswamy Tsunami Rehabilitation Officer, Nagapattinam, Mr. Venu Gopal, Assistant General Manager – NABARD, Mr. H. Kannan V.P – HR, PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd, Ms. Nalini Gangatharan Chairperson, CAP Foundation, Hyderabad, Dr. C R Naidu IPS Inspector General of Police, Govt. of AP & Trustee – CAP Foundation

LRC was initiated by PepsiCo Foundation in partnership with CAP Foundation in September 2005 with an aim to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to more than 1500 tsunami affected youth. LRC largely aims at providing Employability Training Program (ETP), Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) and Micro Enterprise Support to these youth. PepsiCo foundation has funded LRC with a total grant of Rs 1 crore.

Over a period of one and half years, more than 1500 youth have been trained at 6 centers located in Nagapattinam, Tarngambadi, Kevlar, Mailaduthurai, Pudipattinam, Tirvenugadu. A total of 13 batches of students trained under LRC have been placed with some of the leading companies such as – Hutch, Airtel, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries, Nokia and Hero Honda.

The core focus of the program was to rehabilitate the youth between the age group 18-35 years who had lost family or livelihood in the disastrous environmental calamity. The training was provided in 6 market driven skill training courses Customer Relations & Sales, Hospitality, Automobile mechanism, IT Enabled service, Multi Skilled training (Electrical & electronics, plumbing, house wiring) and White Goods Services, R &A/C (refrigeration and air-conditioning) across Nagapattinam district.

Equipping them with softer skills, students were also provided career counseling & guidance, personality development exercises, spoken English and computer literacy skills along with the placement opportunities.

The selection process was based on assessment of the student’s present economic situation, their interests and aptitudes, testing, counseling and interviews. Most of the students under the program are 10th and 12th class dropouts and mainly belong to the fishing communities of Nagapattinam.

Additionally, more than 300 men and women were provided Entrepreneurship training; 233 men and women were provided venture support to initiate businesses like Dairy farming, integrated vegetable cultivation, Brick making, marketing of herbal products, Coir making, fish pickling.

For further details please contact:

Mrinall Kanti Dey

GM-Corporate Communications

PepsiCo India

Mob: +91 9818449509

Email: Mrinall.dey@intl.pepsico.com

Kaveri Sengupta

Genesis Burson-Marsteller

Mob: +91 9811616685

Email: Kaveri.sengupta@bm.com