When a young girl first stepped into our Jajpur Multi-Skill Development Centre, everything about her reflected hesitation. Her eyes stayed low, her voice barely audible. Coming from a remote tribal area, she had never experienced the structure of a classroom or the expectation to speak, participate, or lead.
In the early days, she avoided eye contact, remained silent during group activities, and questioned whether she even belonged there. The medical equipment intimidated her. The thought of giving a presentation seemed impossible. She doubted herself every step of the way — but she still showed up. Every single day.
And that consistency changed everything.
Through our health-based vocational training, soft skill sessions, and the encouragement of our trainers, we slowly saw her open up. She started answering questions. Then asking them. She volunteered during hands-on practice in the Skill lab which has real time medical equipment’s installed. She helped her classmates. And one day — the girl who once feared speaking — stood up in front of the entire class and explained a complex lab process with clarity and confidence.
There was a moment of silence after she finished. Not out of discomfort, but respect.
That day wasn’t just about a student giving a presentation. It was about a young woman discovering her voice, her confidence, and a future she never thought possible.
This is the essence of what we do at Astron Institute for Social Sciences (AISS). We don’t just train youth from underprivileged communities — we create space for them to believe in themselves, to grow, and to rise with dignity.
