By Yogesh Nerpagar, Assistant Director, CYDA, Nashik
CYDA’s Skill Centre in Nashik, through the Skill4Change initiative, is creating new opportunities for youth, especially young women who have faced social, cultural, and economic barriers for many years. The program supports women in gaining practical skills, building confidence, earning an income independently, and taking on leadership roles within their families and communities. It is a journey from dependence to independence.
Non-Traditional Livelihoods: Creating opportunities
One of the strongest features of Skill4Change is its focus on Non-Traditional Livelihoods (NTL). In many communities, women are confined to a narrow set of roles, such as tailoring, household work, or farm labour. NTL challenges this pattern. It creates access to fields where women were previously rarely seen. Women in the program are learning digital skills, exploring entrepreneurship, and taking up trades like media and enterprise management. They challenge old stereotypes, build respect, and show that women can succeed in every space.
The effect spreads outward. When one woman begins a non-traditional livelihood, others take notice. Neighbours, friends, and young girls in the village start to see new possibilities. NTL becomes a pathway to freedom and social change. It gives women dignity and the power to claim spaces once denied to them.
The Advisory Committee: Guidance for Change
To guide and strengthen this mission, CYDA has formed the Skill4Change Advisory Committee. Members are from government, finance, law, health, environment, media, and social activism. Each brings valuable knowledge, networks, and ideas that help the initiative grow.
The Committee is more than a formal group. It is a platform for collaboration and innovation. It supports existing programs, designs new livelihood options, and ensures that Skill4Change keeps its focus on women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
The strength of this model lies in its balance. Experienced leaders share strategies and open doors to resources. Young women trainees bring energy, fresh ideas, and creativity. Together, they form a strong partnership that drives meaningful change.
During the event, while acknowledging the initiative, a trainee expressed her feelings in her own words: “We are not just learning skills here; we are learning to believe in ourselves. That is true independence.”
This spirit was echoed by speakers at the launch of the Advisory Committee. One of them said: “When experience, vision, and the energy of youth come together, real change becomes possible.” That idea captures the essence of Skill4Change.
From Skills to Empowerment
Skill4Change is not limited to employability. It is about transformation. Women gain skills that help them earn. They build confidence to dream bigger. They also gain the courage to lead and the support to sustain their growth.
Development: Women secure income and stability for their families.
Emancipation: They move beyond stereotypes and restrictions.
Empowerment: They become role models and decision-makers.
Skill4Change is creating new futures for women in Nashik and beyond. By combining skill training, non-traditional livelihoods, and the guidance of an Advisory Committee, it offers both economic and social transformation.
Every woman who joins the Centre is doing more than learning a trade. She is rewriting her story. She is proving that barriers can be broken, stereotypes can be challenged, and independence can be achieved. Skill4Change is a pathway to dignity, strength, and leadership. It demonstrates how women, when provided with the right tools and support, can overcome limitations and create a future founded on hope and equality.
