By Pritesh Kamble, Head – Inclusion Unit, CYDA Nikhil Babarrao Jondhale resides in Nanded and is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. His journey is one of resilience, survival, and self-belief. From a young age, Nikhil saw his mother sell vegetables by the roadside. What looked like a small stall

By Pritesh Kamble, Head – Inclusion Unit, CYDA Abdul Moin Bagwan, a young bisexual entrepreneur from Nanded, is carrying forward his family’s tradition of fruit vending with dignity and determination. He started his business with a small stall. Today, his business is more stable because of his hard work, dedication,

By Manisha Bhalerao, Program Officer, YAF Prajakta Kapile grew up in a modest family of five in Sinnar, Nashik. Like many young people from small towns, she chose a secure career path. With a B.Sc. and a diploma in medical lab technology, she secured a lab technician’s job and earned

By Pritesh Kamble, Head of Inclusion Unit, CYDA Maroti Babarav Dikale, a bisexual man, lives in Loha block, Nanded. Since childhood, he has faced rejection because of his identity. People teased him for his looks and mannerisms, and children refused to play with him. As he grew older, the mocking

By Manisha Bhalerao, Block Coordinator, YouthAid Foundation Rukmini Dalbhagat lives in Devle village, Nashik, with her husband and son. Her husband earned around ₹10,000 a month, but it was never enough to cover food, school fees, and daily needs. “I always wanted to support my family, but I didn’t know

By Pritesh Kamble, Head of Inclusion Unit, CYDA Prashant Bhokare, a young bisexual entrepreneur from Nanded, Maharashtra, grew up in a farming family. Along with his wife, son, and daughter, he depended on a small piece of farmland where he cultivated vegetables. To supplement his earnings he also ran a