Sapna, a 21-year-old from Sant Kabir Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, grew up in a modest family of four. Her father worked long hours at a factory, her mother managed the household, and her brothers pursued stable careers. In her home, education was seen as something meant primarily for boys. For girls, the expectations were simpler: stay close to home and prepare for domestic responsibilities.

But Sapna quietly imagined something different.

For her, education was more than schooling, it was a doorway to independence. When she was only 11 years old, Sapna would help repair small electrical appliances around the house. During Diwali, she enjoyed putting up the festive lights herself — carefully fixing wires, arranging the decorations, figuring out how things worked.

Growing up, however, opportunities were limited. In 2022, soon after completing Grade 12, her education came to a halt. While her brothers continued their studies, Sapna remained at home, where daily household responsibilities slowly replaced her textbooks. Three years passed.

Then, in 2025, a conversation with her cousin became the turning point of her life. Sapna learned about Pratham's Youth and Skilling Program, which offered a course in Photovoltaic (PV) Installation—the kind of hands-on electrical work she had always been drawn to. The program equips young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with practical, employable skills, opening pathways to jobs, entrepreneurship, and further learning. But the decision to pursue it was far from easy.

The course required joining a 45-day residential program—something her parents were deeply hesitant about. Conversations at home circled back to the same concern: electrical work was seen as a “man's field". Discouragement came more often than support, but Sapna was not ready to give up. She kept trying to convince her parents, and finally, they came around.

Adjusting to the residential training environment brought its own challenges. Living away from her family was an entirely new experience for Sapna, but she soon made friends and settled into the rhythm of the skilling centre. The classes were overwhelming at times, but with patient guidance from her trainers and her own quiet determination, she grew steadily more confident.

Alongside technical skills, she also received training in basic English, computer literacy, and life skills. But the most important thing the program gave her was the belief that she could do it.

With support from Pratham, Sapna was placed with a private company in Gurugram, Haryana. The girl who was once expected to stay close to home is now working on solar rooftop installations and contributing to her family's income.

“People say the gap between girls and boys is closing. It will truly close only when girls step forward and seize opportunities themselves," Sapna says. For her, that moment came and she did not let it pass.