Samita’s Story: Finding Her Technical Direction

Samita Patil is both nervous and excited. She is headed for a job interview with a group of other girls, all hoping to find employment as electricians—typically a man’s field.

Three months ago, Samita was living at home with her aunt, uncle and brother in Shahabaz. She had a twelfth-grade education but no clear direction in life, and she feared marriage might deter any further dreams of education. When a neighbor told her about the Pratham vocational training program in Panvel, Samita jumped at the chance.

She enrolled in a three-month electrical course at PACE (Pratham Arora Center for Education), which provided her with classroom instruction and hands-on learning in a growing industry. The 18-year-old admits to a life-long interest in all things technical: studying gadgets, working with her hands, fixing appliances at home. Having the proper training now gives her a chance for a career.

Samita is eager to prove herself in the male-dominated electrical field. She understands the inner workings of a light bulb. She can mend a solar street lamp. She is ready to support herself with a job, even if it means moving away from her family. Pratham’s innovative “place and track” network of coordinators will assist Samita in such a transition, whether it be finding her a place to live or helping her communicate with a new boss.

But first, she must get the job. Samita listens intently to last-minute tips from a PACE instructor then strides out the door, eager for her interview.

Between now and 2025, an estimated 130 million young adults will enter the Indian workforce, but the majority will not possess the skills necessary to get a job. A tax-deductible gift helps ensure that young people, like Samita,  are able to realize their potential. Donate now!