By Manisha Bhalerao, YouthAid Foundation When people hear the word “carpenter,” they often imagine a man. However, here’s a story that challenges this stereotype. Meet Anita Eknath Shelke from Shingote village in Nandurbar, Maharashtra-a woman who entered the male-dominated field of carpentry and carved her own path to success with

By Pritesh Kamble, Head – Inclusion Unit, CYDA The LGBTQIA+ community has long faced discrimination and denial of rights. Many people are not allowed to live openly as themselves. When they do, they often face rejection and harsh consequences. One such person is Moglaji Sayanna Jorgewar from Nanded, Maharashtra. He

By Mr. Nageshwar Rao, Joint Director – South India, CYDA For a community-level intervention to succeed, key factors such as awareness, sensitization, active local participation, strong leadership, and collaborative efforts must align. When even one of these elements is absent, well-designed programs can struggle to achieve sustainable impact. This was

Bhagyashree Waghmare, District Coordinator, YouthAid Foundation Entrepreneurship, when supported with training and resources, can create meaningful change at the grassroots level. Amruta Sawant from Mouje Vadgaon in Kolhapur turned her interest in spice-making into a small business with the help of the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP). Supported by Coforge and

Prites Kamble, Head Inclusion Unit, CYDA “For the first time in my life, I feel independent and respected,” says Chand, a young gay man who spent years facing rejection, loneliness, and poverty. His life was shaped by the triple challenge of being queer, orphaned, and poor. Like many LGBTQIA+ individuals

By Milind Patil, Project Coordinator, CYDA In the Indian economy, agriculture plays a pivotal role. To ensure food security and drive inclusive economic growth, it is essential that more people-especially the youth-actively engage in agriculture. However, recent surveys, including the 2024 State of Rural Youth Employment Report and the Economic