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<\/p>\n\nNeha is one of the 20,000 youth who have been so far placed after completion of employability training under Smile Foundation\u2019s livelihood programme STeP\n\nThe youth comprises over one-third of the Indian population which in turn constitutes a major part of the labour force of the country. The number of underprivileged youth in India who lacks education and proper guidance is so huge that according to the reports of the Financial Express only 15% of the young graduates passing out of colleges are employable; the rest are branded unemployable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) is such an initiative of Smile Foundation that aims at creating a pool of young and independent people, from a section of underprivileged youth, through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements. It is an effort towards bridging the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower in the fast emerging services and retail sectors of modern India.<\/p>\n\n\n
Here are some inspiring stories of young girls from across India who have been skilled, trained and empowered under the STeP programme to earn an independent and dignified livelihood:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\nNeha is one of the 20,000 youth who have been so far placed after completion of employability training under Smile Foundation\u2019s livelihood programme STeP\n\n
\u201cIt is not easy for girls to have dreams. I was one of the only few girls in our slum who went to school. My parents were never able to buy new clothes for us. Every year I prayed to God to not grow since I had to wear the same cloth all the time. I knew my father\u2019s income wasn\u2019t enough to feed the six members of our family. My father struggled every day to ensure that I go to school. Because of lack of money I could not study beyond class 12. I stayed indoors to avoid talking to people. Neighbours and relatives started blaming my father for pinning their hopes on a daughter. He had suffered the same taunts when he had decided to send me to school, when the family was almost starving. When I got my first job, my father was the happiest man. He always says \u2013 If you have a heartbeat, there\u2019s still time for your dreams.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2013 Neha<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOrphaned in childhood, harassed by in-laws over dowry, beaten by husband, two miscarriages \u2013 life has shown me everything that can give shivers to any woman. After losing both my parents in childhood, emptiness killed me every day. I craved for a family, for belongingness. At the age of 21, my aunt got me engaged. There were fears, but somewhere I hoped to get a soul mate and new parents too. But destiny betrayed me again. My in-laws from whom I sought parental love started\u00a0torturing me for dowry. What devastated me further was my husband\u2019s attitude towards me. Despite taking marital vows of always supporting me, he started beating me mercilessly for demanding a car from my aunt. I got pregnant twice, but they never took me to doctor for routine check-ups. Due to poor health<\/a> and mental trauma, both time, I suffered miscarriages \u2013 and the mother within me died one day.<\/em><\/p>\n Having lost hope and faith in life, I came back to my aunt\u2019s house. Days passed but I could not move on. Being unproductive and sitting idle at home made me feel worthless and a burden on my aunt. Once I was a daughter, a wife and a mother\u2026 and suddenly one day, I became alone in a lost world where there was nothing but darkness. It was easy for me to remain in that darkness, but I decided to stop crying behind closed doors. I began fighting a battle nobody knew about \u2013 to earn food and dignity. My aunt says it\u2019s my rebirth now and she wants me to celebrate it every day.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2013 Mamta (Name changed to protect identity)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a girl always represented a lot of \u2018NO\u2019s. I wanted to study, the answer was \u2018no.\u2019 I wanted to join singing classes, the answer was \u2018no.\u2019 I wanted to travel, the answer was \u2018no.\u2019 All my life, I felt like there was a barrier separating me from life. I grew up in a densely populated slum in Mumbai\u2026 in a one-room house where everything is limited \u2013 limited space, limited clothes and limited food. After lots of debates and fights at home, I got the chance to go to school.\u00a0However, I could not study beyond class 10 because my father could no more afford my school fees. The only thing my family wanted for me was to get married. I lost almost four years of my life sitting at home and unable to do anything. Eventually I reached a moment where I knew that my only chance was to make a major change. I chose to stand against all \u2018NO\u2019s for the first time. I enrolled myself for an employability training and was fortunate to get a job upon completion. I am the first girl in my family to have got an employment. This has changed many things \u2013 people\u2019s opinions about me, my family\u2019s faith on me, and of course \u2013 me as a person. \u2018NO\u2019 is not always the answer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2013 Sana (Name changed)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRespect is the most important thing in a human\u2019s life. My father did all kind of small jobs in his life to survive with his family. Sometimes he worked as a labour on construction sites, sometimes he worked on small shops as a helper, and sometimes he did loading and unloading of goods in factories. He was bound to respect everyone \u2013 those who were older than him and also those who were very younger than him. On the other hand people insulted him for being uneducated and poor. Despite the hard struggles, my father ensured that I and all my sisters get an education<\/a>. He says society respects educated people, and I always wanted to earn that respect for him. Today, I work as a teacher and nothing brings more happiness to my heart when people talk to my father with admiration and honour.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2013 Seema<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.smilefoundationindia.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/bolog-300x199.jpg\")
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