“Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana;
Ma karmaphalahetur bhur, ma te sango’stvakarmani.”
You have the right to perform your duties, but not to the fruits of your actions.
Do not let the results be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.
-Bhagavad Gita
“Ye sab bade shehar ke bacchon ke liye hai.”
“Bade sapne dekhna chhod do.”
Have you heard these before?
For many young people in rural and peri-urban areas, these words are all too common. They shrink dreams, lower confidence, and create invisible boundaries.
But some refuse to let negativity define them especially when guided right. They stay focused, hold on to hope, and wait for the right opportunity. And when that opportunity arrives, they thrive.
At RuralShores Skills Academy (RSA), we’ve witnessed powerful transformations. Through initiatives like Vihaan, Mijwan, and the Pi Foundation, we’ve empowered many young people like school dropouts, vulnerable women, and those with minimal education to find their voice, earn with dignity, and shape their future — all through our unique, non-traditional approach to learning.
At RSA, we believe courage has no gender. Through Project Vihaan, we’ve seen vulnerable women — some once silenced or trafficked — step out, speak up, and reclaim their identity with courage and determination. Our ‘learning by doing’ approach empowers them to grow willingly, not under pressure.
Through Mijwan, we proved that even quiet, average-performing youth can achieve great things when they’re willing to learn and grow. With RSA’s life-skills training and a learner-centric approach, trainers act as facilitators and peer interaction sparks critical thinking — these individuals discover their potential and challenge their own limits.
A school dropout from a village near Jambusar, with support from the PI Foundation, transformed himself and is now employed at a reputed company — becoming a role model for others. RSA offers trust and opportunity, encouraging learners to go beyond reading slides & engage deeply with their projects, sparking discussion and building confidence.
These stories are just a glimpse of the many lives transformed at RSA. Many arrived with doubt and difficult pasts, but with consistent guidance and belief, they found the confidence to prove their worth to a world that once overlooked them. Through well-structured training and consistent support, they began to say:
“Main nahi kar sakta” → “Main kyu nahi kar sakta?”
Today, they don’t just support their families — they inspire others around them to dream bigger and move forward with pride.
The feeling of being a part of someone’s transformation? It’s powerful.
Have you had a similar experience — helping someone grow, or being helped yourself?
Because together, we can change more lives — one belief at a time.
by Vineeta Kushwaha
