Imagine reaching an interview 4 hours late because your family is not supportive of your career!

This is the life of Suman Mourya, a life dictated within 4 walls of her home by an orthodox father who discontinued her education post clearing her 7th grade exams. For him, being literate was a full stop and objected to Suman venturing out alone for even using a community toilet where she had to be escorted by her mother. After her friends introduced her to Bright Future’s job readiness programs she stepped into a new world. BF’s focus is clear – typically young girls and boys from underprivileged backgrounds wanting to carve a better life out of their circumstances and learn how to confidently step into the world of work. After convincing her father to join this course, he maintained that she would not be allowed to take up a job. The BF interactive sessions were an eye opener for Suman. It is here that she turned her life around, learnt the art of conversation, which boosted her confidence, imbibed presentation and dressing skills. 

BF rolls out entry level job opportunities for their students, and for her first interview it took a lot of persuasion finally he reluctantly agreed on the condition that he would pick and drop her. It was for this interview that she set out like a spirited soul from her home neither knowing clear directions nor the train schedules. She reached her first interview 4 hours late in a complete disheveled state having walked, run and turned teary eyed on the streets. She was immediately on boarded with a salary of 5,200. . The struggle had only begun, she worked during the day, cooked in the morning for her family, did tailoring on Sundays, gave tuitions to children, all this to complete her studies by correspondence. Today she is earning more than 3 lakhs per annum and helps her brother with his studies and her father for his business. Her once orthodox father now encourages other men to educate their daughters and support them in their independent careers. 

This entire struggle seems completely worthwhile when Suman says that now her family allows her to relax and unwind after a hard day of work and appreciates her wholeheartedly for her achievements.

Today Suman is working with Future Generali and earning a salary of around 4 lakh in the sales department. 

A 19 year old girl resides in Vikhroli Parksite , she has completed her Graduation  from Ramanand Arya Dav College Bhandup, In her family there are a total 4  members: father , mother , 1 brother . In her family her father works as a driver and takes care of the family.She got to know about HDFC Bright Future through her friend’s reference. She got to learn about sales and different things related to sales, how to work with  people in the hospitality sector;  and about customer service. Communication IT skills  and self grooming skills . 

After the completion of the course, Netra got a job at ICICI Lombard house , and she is earning INR 21,704 /- per month. This way she is able to help with finances at home. She is now financially independent and contributes to the financial well being of the family.

It is but true that discipline has a lot to do with self-improvement and living a life more fulfilling as well as least troublesome for others around you. Once you focus on what you need to change in order to become a better version of yourself, put discipline into the frame and the difference in the process would become noticeable. One such instance can be well illustrated through the story of Tariq Usmani.
Tariq is a 19 years old boy who is from Shivaji Nagar. He used to spend most of his time loitering around with his friends, lacked a sense of self-discipline and could not extend words of conviction towards his family. He admits that he didn’t have any idea about his career and was not even bothered about his future. But once he joined Bright Future, this changed.

Initially, his lack of direction affected his interest and diverted his attention from making the most out of the sessions at the center. However, once he figured out what career suited him and was something he could do well, he began paying more heed to what was being taught and started putting in evident efforts. “I want to make a change in my community, but before that I want to make myself more independent and excel in my career,” he shares. 

Tariq focused on attaining good qualities reflecting professionalism and learning communication skills expected from an employee. The facilitators also showed him how to groom himself properly and they helped him in improving his communication with his family. He learned to manage his time and become a better person in every aspect he could.

Now, Tariq shall be commencing his employment at Reliance Smart from the first week of April, 2021.

Living in a family of four wherein her parents mostly aren’t able to work because of health issues, her older brother took up the responsibility of looking after the family’s needs. 

This is the journey of Supriya aged 22, who is from Khar, Maharashtra. Sharing household responsibilities, studying despite several roots of disturbances and having realized what an impact financial strain can have very early, Reshma strived to change the course of her family’s life by joining Bright Future.

Initially a shy student who kept her views and thoughts to herself, Reshma found herself stepping out of her shell and imbibing confidence incrementally with the mentors’ support. “I always knew that I have to work hard to make it big in my life but had no clue how to do that. Bright future helped me and pushed me in every way and supported me every day even if I failed,” she shared. Her transition into a person who didn’t fear judgement and could take up the role of a leader surprised her upon introspection. 

As she takes steps towards a work life at Reliance, she feels excited and glad that she has achieved qualities which shall guide her in doing her best for herself as well as her loved ones. 

The progress made by 23 year old Reshma Raut is an exemplary one. She lives in Jogeshwari where her mother is a house helper and her father is a painter. Since a very young age, due to her mother’s occupation, Reshma had to take care of household chores, balance her studies and often deal with issues from the neighbours. Within this time, she also identified that she would get frustrated easily and was afraid she’d become argumentative. But looking at the circumstances, she was indeed a child with burdensome responsibilities. “My life revolves around my family and study. Managing both was difficult and I failed in exams. But I made sure to not give up ever in life. Every day I wished to get a good job so that my mother can get a break from her work as she is working nonstop,” shares Reshma.

After joining Bright Future and interacting with different people, her gratitude towards her family increased a lot, there was self-realization in terms of her own mental, physical and emotional state, and she learned to calm her anger down in the face of difficulties. 

Now, as Reshma prepares to work at Reliance, she accepts that difficulties and failures are a part of life, but what’s more important is trying again and making it happen. She iterates, “Life is uncertain, don’t question it, struggles are going to be there but face it with a smile and positivity.”

With a family to support, Suraj was on a lookout for a job.His uncle informed him of the Bright Future training initiative. Suraj had an experience of working in the unorganized sector and wasn’t able to willingly continue the job opportunities he independently obtained.

He learned about the training programme that helped the disadvantaged youth from the communities who dropped out of education or were unable to find employment due to gaps in skill development.

Thus after being convinced to enroll for the training program he joined Bright Future. He learnt about career avenues and got access to people who directed him to lookout for opportunities suitable for securing a livelihood considering his interest areas. 

Suraj completed his training at Bright Future and has been working as a Café Executive. As he talked about his six-month work experience, the delight of working in a role that played to his skills was evident.

Kailash Prajapat was born and raised in Sipur (Rajasthan). He is pursuing B.A. from Hadarani University (Udaipur). His aspiration is to start his own business in the future as he is learning and developing skills by doing a job of a Customer Service Associate. His mother is a house wife from Kheda, and his father is a tea stall owner in Vile Parle- East, running his business for the last 40 years. Kailash is the youngest among the siblings.

Kailash completed the ITEs (Information Technology Enabled Service) course by Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) and Bright Future. He is a shy village boy who always showed interest in new learnings and is open to participation in various activities. Kailash, whenever asked to do some task at the SMART center, is always welcoming and displays leadership qualities. He completes his work diligently, while also helping his father at the tea stall. He is also using and developing his skills as a Customer Service Associate at Reliance Mart.

Kailash came to know about the course through his father as the tea stall is near the center. Belonging to a small village from Rajasthan, he never thought that the course at the center would also lead him to a job. Now, Kailash is motivated and excited to start his first job in the city of dreams. As compared to his siblings he found a better job, which he is proud of. He will be supporting his family financially and also pursuing distance education.

Before working through this course, Kailash was low in confidence and found it difficult to make friends and understand the Mumbai culture. Socially, he felt alone and left out. Bright Future and TMF assisted him in learning english communication, inculcating computer skills, and cost-free ITEs certification which helped in getting a job of his interest.
Eventually, he wishes to help expand his father’s business and his project supervisors say that Kailash is like waves that start their journey from Rajasthan to Mumbai and don’t wish to stop for anything or anyone. He is here to win and grow.

Kailash’s job is a big financial support to the family as due to corona, his father’s business has gone down. His family is proud and overwhelmed by their son’s opportunity to work and gain financial freedom.
Kailash is someone who does not like to wait, but rather strives and thrives for more to achieve bigger goals. Kailash is now more confident and clear about his wish to complete his education along with a job.