By Pritesh Kamble, Program Manager
Supported by Intel
Shyam grew up in Kannur, Kerala. Her father left when she was small and her mother raised her alone with love. Shyam loved dance from childhood. Dance was her way to express her feelings. She performed in temples and at cultural events. She also taught dance to 15 children and earned about Rs. 2,000. Shyam also supplied traditional dance costumes. Later, she started a dance class for senior citizens and arranged costumes for them as well.
Her mother always supported her dream. The joy of her students gave Shyam strength. Things changed when Shyam understood that she was a transwoman. This brought clarity, but also pain. People who once praised her started to avoid her. Parents stopped sending their children to her classes. She faced hurtful comments and judgment. Shyam also designed costumes for cultural shows. But a manager she trusted cheated her and took unfair commissions. Still, she did not give up. She kept working and followed her dream. “I am the same dancer. But after they knew I was a trans woman, they stopped seeing my art. They only saw my gender…that was a difficult phase,” Shyam says.
One day, Shyam met her friend Sandhya. She introduced her to Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA). CYDA conducts the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) for people from marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The training helped Shyam to learn how to manage money, plan her expenses, and save. CYDA also gave her a Rs. 10,000 grant. She used it to buy multipurpose dance costumes. Now she rents these costumes and earns more.
“Earlier, I spent most of my money on renting costumes. Now I save around Rs. 10,000 every month and invest in a local co-operative society. CYDA helped me become financially stable. It gave me confidence and a new identity as a businesswoman,” she says.
Today, Shyam runs her own dance academy. She manages her income, teaches regularly, and promotes her classes through social media and word of mouth. Her honesty and hard work brought students back to her. She performs at events and inspires many in her community.
“Whenever a parent thanks me for teaching their child, I feel proud. I have proved that being a transwoman does not decide my worth,” Shyam says with a smile.
