For 13 years, Arvind's family had lived in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, where his father worked as a motor mechanic. Life wasn't luxurious, but it was stable. Arvind went to school, his father earned a steady income, and the family had hope. Then tuberculosis struck his father.

The illness was relentless. Medical bills mounted. Work became impossible. After months of struggle, the family made the difficult decision to return to their native village in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. They left behind the life they had built in Maharashtra and returned to a place where opportunities were scarce and survival meant subsistence farming.

Back in the village, survival looked very different. Opportunities were scarce, and livelihoods depended largely on subsistence farming. Arvind completed his Grade 12, but then what?

“My village is surrounded by forests, making it difficult for young people to find employment,” he says.

With financial pressures mounting, Arvind knew he needed to start earning. Around him, many young men were migrating to cities in search of work. But Arvind hesitated. He had heard stories of exploitation, unstable incomes, and harsh working conditions. Without guidance and unsure of his path, he chose to stay back.

For nearly a year, he remained at home, trying to figure out what to do next. He had dreams of supporting his family and building a permanent house But lack of guidance made it difficult for him to see a way out of his situation.

“One day, a government teacher in my village told me about Pratham’s Skilling centre, which was offering free training in drywall and false ceiling installation,” Arvind recalls. “The teacher wanted his son to enroll, but he didn’t want to go alone. So I joined him.”

Launched in 2005, Pratham's Youth and Skilling program equips young people (18-35 years) from disadvantaged backgrounds with employable skills and provides them access to jobs, entrepreneurship, and further education.

Arvind knew nothing about drywall systems. He had never worked in construction. But something about the opportunity felt different. It was structured, professional, and most importantly, it was free. He immediately enrolled.

From the first day at the training center, Arvind realised this was unlike anything he had experienced. Yes, there was technical training—learning about drywall and false ceiling systems, understanding materials, mastering installation techniques. But the program went far beyond that.

“The course didn’t just equip me with technical skills, it also developed my leadership, communication, basic English, and computer skills, which helped me immensely,” he says.

After successfully completing the training, Arvind was offered a position as a Trainer at the same skilling centre. “The same place where I had come as a learner, I was now teaching others,” he says.

A few months later, he received an opportunity that would change his life. A multinational company offered him a role as a Supervisor at a project site in Mumbai. His income improved significantly, and within a year, his performance earned him a promotion to Senior Supervisor, where he managed over 250 workers and 7 supervisors.

Then came another test—one that would define his leadership.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, uncertainty spread rapidly among workers. Many wanted to return home. Fear and confusion were everywhere. Arvind chose to stay. He thought immediately of the workers under his supervision, especially the 32 Pratham-trained youth who were far from home. Drawing on the safety training he had received, he implemented strict COVID protocols at the site, ensuring that every worker understood how to protect themselves and others. The result was striking: zero COVID infections among the workers in his care.

When the second wave hit, the challenge intensified. Now responsible for over 120 workers, Arvind, with the help of Pratham and his organisation, created systems that ensured safety, food, and shelter for everyone.

His workers didn't just see him as a supervisor. They saw him as someone who genuinely cared because he remembered what it felt like to be vulnerable and uncertain.

With steady income and career growth, Arvind turned his attention to a long-held dream: building a permanent house for his family. “My parents were extremely happy when the construction of the house was completed. My house has now become a landmark in the village because of its modern construction,” he shares with pride.

Today, Arvind works as a Skill Development Professional with the same company. He supports training centres, facilitates placements for newly trained youth, and mentors young candidates entering the workforce.

“It makes me very happy to be able to train and guide young people. I feel proud of myself to have turned my dreams into reality,” he says.

Determined to continue growing, Arvind has also enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) with a specialisation in Human Resource Management.

“In my current role, we train and place youth at construction sites. The knowledge I gain through this course will help me guide them better,” he says.

Arvind’s journey is not just about an individual’s success. It reflects what becomes possible when the right opportunity reaches someone at the right time. With access to skills, guidance, and support, young people like Arvind are able to move from uncertainty to stability—and from stability to leadership.