“It was a delighted moment for me when I got a ‘branded’ shirt for my father and a ‘Sambalpuri saree’ for my mother” with my first salary – says Roji with her dazzling eyes.

Roji Nayak, a next door girl of 19 years, living with her father in Salia Sahi slum of Bhubaneswar – who is the only earning member with an inadequate income to support the expenses of a family of five members. The financial constraint compelled Roji to stop going for higher education after Intermediate (12th Std.). But no financial crisis could stop her dreaming of doing something better for her family and bring them smiles. She was aspiring to get employed.

Roji’s journey began with ‘Skills for Life’ – a programme for unemployed slum youth to make them gainfully employed. Unconsciously, Roji’s personality traits transformed and she began showing keenness in learning skills with confidence. The slum community, where she stays, could not digest this transformation in a poverty-stricken underprivileged girl and Roji became a part of every discussion in the community.  She underwent the Retail Sales Associate Training programme of CYSD and like other youngsters, she learnt life skills, self-presentation with dignity and the art of being a good sales person who can pitch anything with confidence.

All said and done, Roji’s family was happy with their daughter getting the opportunity of learning something new that will help her lead a life with dignity and support the family in the long run. The training helped Roji know herself, build her self-esteem and be a self-confident individual.

“September, 7th, 2018, the day is a memorable day for me, I got the job at a BPO called AEGIS in Bhubaneshwar” says Roji with a jubilant mood. Roji is now earning 15000 rupees per month.  She works as a ‘customer care executive’ and her job is to solve the queries and problems of the customers, accept their requests and take a note of their complaints in relation to products and services. She is happy!!!

Like Roji, more than 500 unemployed youth, who aspire of getting gainful employment have been a part of the ‘Skills for Life’ programme. In the initial phase of the programme 223 youth are trained and connected to employment in FY 2019-20.