A young wife, daughter of an agricultural laborer, was able to buy a two-wheeler for her husband! Pooja Nagarkoti was able to achieve this with the help of the skills training she obtained. It was her ambition and determination that drove her to overcome several challenges in obtaining the skills.

Pooja, now 19 years old, was married about 2 years ago, to a pantry boy in Gurgaon. Having completed her education till class 12, she was still a minor. Finding it difficult to subsist in a large city on just her husband’s monthly income of Rs 10,000, Pooja was anxious to contribute. However, being a minor, she was unable to get a respectable job.  A relative, who came to know about the SNSF Foundation’s skill development program through the Foundation’s community mobilization team advised Pooja to gainfully utilize her time in obtaining vocational skills till she turned 18. On exploring the Foundation’s courses being offered in Gurgaon Pooja zeroed in on the two-wheeler auto mechanic maintenance training course. Two months short of 18 at the time, she enrolled herself in the course, completing it in July 2016.

As soon as she completed her training, she was selected by Yume Honda, a Honda dealer in Gurugram.  Her monthly salary of Rs 7800 as a service advisor gave a big boost to their household income. Just two months later, her impressive performance led to her promotion as a sales executive, with her remuneration being increased to Rs 8500 per month. Encouraged by this promotion, she bought a a Honda Activa Scooter for her husband.

After 6 months, Pooja’s MAST trainer advised her to undergo the one-month engine repair training course, technically supported by Federal Mogul; this the trainer said would give a further boost to her career. Going through the course in the early morning batch, she was able to keep her job while enhancing her skills. Soon came a new job offer, from Ganpati Honda, a Honda dealer at Gurugram, at a salary of Rs 12000, and additional monthly incentives of Rs 5000 to 6000.

Today, she is a proud partner to her husband …besides gaining personal enrichment, self confidence and fulfillment.