By Puja Matre , Gender Expert , CYDA
Standing up for one’s rights and speaking out is essential in today’s world, especially for girls and women. While society is progressing and many liberal ideas are promoted, traditional expectations still hold a strong influence. From an early age, many girls are consciously or unconsciously shaped to follow what society considers “ideal.” These norms often limit their freedom, voice, and confidence. Personality and lack of exposure also play an important role in shaping their development. Girls who do not get opportunities for learning, guidance, or skill-building often struggle with communication, decision-making, and self-belief.
Studies show that soft skills and life skills training can change this by enhancing confidence, communication, and socio-emotional growth. For instance, a quasi-experimental study in Karnataka reported that life skills training led to a significant improvement in participants’ confidence, with the proportion of those feeling “very confident” in communication skills more than doubling after the sessions (Yadav et al., 2019). Evidence from programs targeting adolescent girls also highlights similar outcomes. A large-scale intervention by Magic Bus India Foundation found that life skills education improved self-efficacy, resilience, and aspirations, particularly benefiting girls in disadvantaged communities (Ghosh et al., 2024). These findings show that when girls are given exposure and skills training, they gain the confidence to speak up, make their own choices, and shape their future.
Vaishnavi Rajendra Shelke from Turkabad, Kharadi, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, shows how proper skill training, guidance, and mentoring can change the course of life.
From a young age, Vaishnavi had always been very shy and reserved. She avoided talking to people and never took part in school competitions or cultural programs. Even though she loved kabaddi, she never played because of fear. In class, she often knew the answers but kept silent. Her classmates rarely interacted with her, and her parents worried about her future.
Her father was especially concerned. Vaishnavi never expressed her feelings, but he wanted her to become confident and independent. While searching for help, he came across the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) and its programs for young women. Hoping to bring change in her life, he took her to CYDA’s office in Sambhaji Nagar.
Vaishnavi joined her first Soft Skills training there. To support her, her father even closed his shop and waited outside the training hall. For the first two days, she attended only because her father was there. The facilitators noticed this and gave her counselling, encouraging her to build courage and come alone. At first, Vaishnavi was full of fear. She kept asking, “What if I forget the way? What if I don’t get the bus? What if I feel unsafe?” The trainers patiently motivated her, and slowly, she gathered courage. Just after four days, she managed to travel alone from her home to Sambhaji Nagar, about 23 km away. That day, she felt a new sense of confidence.
As the sessions continued, Vaishnavi began to change. She started asking questions, joining discussions, and making new friends in school. Her classmates were surprised to see her transformation. The biggest moment came during the Soft Skills Certificate distribution program. Parents were invited, and students were asked to share their experiences. To everyone’s surprise, Vaishnavi walked up to the stage and gave a speech about her journey. She openly shared that earlier she was always scared, but after joining CYDA, she had learned to respect herself and gained confidence.
Her father had tears of joy in his eyes. It had been his dream to see his daughter speak in public like other children. When he proudly handed her the certificate, it was a moment of happiness and pride for both father and daughter. At home, he told her mother with excitement, “Our daughter gave a speech today in front of so many people. She has learned to speak!” For Vaishnavi, it was the beginning of a new life.
Encouraged by this success, Vaishnavi has joined CYDA’s Computer Language course. She now attends classes on her own, without fear. She has made good friends and shares her learning with her family every day. With courage and confidence, she is moving ahead to build a bright future for herself.
References
- Ghosh, R., Lassi, Z. S., Salam, R. A., & Das, J. K. (2024). The impact of life skills education on socio-emotional development and school-related outcomes among adolescents: Evidence from the C2L program in India. BMC Public Health, 24(21195). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21195-0
- Yadav, R. J., Shankar, R., & Singh, P. (2019). Quality of a life skills training program in Karnataka, India: A quasi-experimental study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 6836. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6836-8
