Urvashi Skill Foundation

Ahiritolla is one of those places in Kolkata that has so much history in the walls. Our foundation is located at 1/2 Ahiritolla, right on the 1st Lane. It’s the kind of area where you have to know which turn to take or you’ll end up somewhere else entirely. We’re in the 700005 pin code, deep in the heart of North Kolkata. Living and working here, you get used to the narrow lanes and the constant movement of people. Urvashi Skill Foundation was set up here because we felt like the people in this part of town have a lot of talent but maybe don't always get the right start. We aren't a huge institution with hundreds of staff. It’s just a handful of us in a small space, trying to teach things that actually matter for getting a job or starting something of your own. The humidity can be tough in the summer, and the rains flood the lanes sometimes, but we keep the doors open. We talk to the local kids and the parents who are worried about the future. It’s not about some grand plan; it’s about what we can do this week or this month. Sometimes we have tea and just chat about how things are going in the lane. It’s a very local way of doing things, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. People often drop in just to ask for directions, and we don't mind. It's just part of being in such a busy neighborhood.