By Pritesh Kamble, Program Manager, CYDA
Supported By – Intel
In today’s world, being accepted for who you are is still not easy. It takes real courage to live openly and honestly. Shyam’s story shows how confidence and hard work can turn struggles into strength. Even after facing rejection and many challenges, he built an independent and hopeful life – proving that everyone deserves to live with dignity and pride.
Shyam realized he was gay when he was 15 years old. As he reached the age when families usually start planning marriages, his relatives began to suspect his truth. Instead of accepting him, they started distancing themselves. For many LGBTQIA+ youth in India, this is a familiar experience – the National Human Rights Commission reported in 2019 that over half of queer youth face rejection from their own families.
Even while facing loneliness, Shyam found comfort in dance and makeup. These creative outlets gave him strength and a sense of identity. At 17, he left his studies and started working to support himself. But the outside world did not accept him. Teachers in his dance and makeup classes treated him unfairly, and students bullied him. Clients often assumed that since he lived alone, he didn’t need money. Without savings, he couldn’t invest in makeup products in advance, and this made it difficult to grow his business in a fast-changing industry.
Things began to change when Shyam came across CYDA’s Entrepreneurship Development Program through a WhatsApp group for the gay community. With guidance from Sandhya, a CYDA staff member in Kerala, he joined the program. The sessions were simple, practical, and offered him a safe and welcoming space to learn. He gained knowledge about managing finances, setting prices, understanding markets, and handling competition. CYDA also supported him with a grant of Rs. 10,000 to expand his business. Shyam used it to buy makeup products in bulk, which allowed him to take on more clients and work independently. He joined a chit fund valued at Rs. 50,000 annually, which provided him financial stability and confidence. During festivals and weddings, he now takes two to three makeup jobs each week.
Though the beauty industry keeps evolving and challenges remain, Shyam now faces them with confidence. Some people still judge him, but he no longer lets that stop him. The support and knowledge he gained from CYDA have given him both skills and self-belief. Reflecting on his journey, Shyam says, “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that we must define our own worth. I’ve shown my capabilities through hard work to those who once doubted me. Change begins with us, and when we rise, society starts to take notice. People now understand that our work and our lives are no different from others.”
