Growing up in rural Karnataka, Anjali Devi’s educational journey began in Gauribidanur village, where she completed her schooling. She later pursued engineering at a government-aided college in Bengaluru.

Her father, an auto driver, and her mother, a homemaker, have always been her pillars of strength, even though the family came from a humble background. The family’s monthly income barely touched Rs 6,000 — a meagre amount to cover their needs, let alone Anjali’s education.

“But a generous sponsor from our village recognised my academic excellence and helped me navigate our financial challenges. His help got me admission to the college. I was trying my best to perform well in academics. I would top all exams,” she shares.

However, upon graduating, Anjali faced a major setback — there were no campus placements available.

“I was in the final year of my college, and I was looking forward to getting a job so that I could support my family. This left me heartbroken and devastated,” she adds.

The prospect of unemployment loomed large over Anjali. This put a heavy burden on her, as she was the eldest daughter in her family of five. Desperate to help her family, she took up the role of a lecturer at a diploma college, where she honed her skills and found joy in imparting knowledge to her students — all the while yearning for a role that aligned more closely with her career aspirations.

Soon, Anjali learnt about a training opportunity provided by the Bengaluru-based Unnati Foundation, which was crucial in developing her professional abilities, including spoken English, life skills, and workplace etiquette.

“This one-month training played a significant role in improving areas where I was lacking, especially in communication and confidence.........

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