In many marginalised households, young individuals often endure the absence of a robust support system. However, in the village of Varthi, in Bhandara district, Samiksha Chetan Gadhave found herself blessed with the invaluable support of both her family and the guiding hand of Magic Bus India Foundation.

Despite her supportive family background, she faced moments of self-doubt after her marriage and subsequent move to the remote village of Sarpevada. Holding an M.A in Sociology and having worked in Pune for several years, she found her new role as a homemaker unsatisfying and yearned to return to professional life. During this challenging period, the self-assurance fostered by the Magic Bus India Foundation proved instrumental in her journey.

Read on to discover how securing a teaching position after marriage at a local school in Sarpevada, a core jungle area, marked a turning point in her life. Faced with high student absenteeism, she introduced a behavior management system and founded a "chillar bank" to enhance financial literacy. These initiatives significantly improved student retention at her school.

How it all Began

Varthi is a prosperous village in Bhandara, thanks to the presence of the Sunflag company, where Samiksha’s father is employed on a daily wage basis. Samiksha resides with her mother, sister, and brother; three siblings were dependent on this sole income source. Due to financial constraints, she was sent to live with her maternal uncle in Gondia, where she spent her childhood and completed her schooling up to grade 12 in a village school. Later, she moved to Bhandara to pursue higher education.

Despite various challenges, Samiksha’s parents did not compromise on their children's education. They have ensured equal opportunities for all their children, regardless of gender. Today, Samiksha has achieved both her B.A and M.A (Sociology) degrees. Aman, her elder brother, is pursuing a government job after finishing his education, while her younger sister, Pranali, is enrolled in an agriculture diploma programme.

In 2015, the Magic Bus India Foundation initiated the UDAAN project in Varthi, with the aim of engaging adolescents and youths and equipping them for the demands of the 21st-century workforce. For a few years, Samiksha observed the sessions tailored for adolescents but was unable to participate because she was 19. The Adolescent programme specifically caters to those aged 12 to 18 years. Looking at her curiosity, the Magic Bus’ youth mentor informed her about a Livelihood Programme aimed at equipping young adults aged 18-25 with transferable life and employability skills. In 2019, Samiksha enrolled herself in the programme and successfully completed three months of training.

Thriving Through Transitions

During the training, Samiksha underwent classes on life skills along with basic computer knowledge, basic english, and personality development. Samiksha immersed herself in the training, though she had skills, she was very hesitant to speak up. Through these sessions, she strengthened herself significantly and began to show signs of gradual transformation. Eventually, she mustered the courage to face life head-on, and her first interview turned out to be successful. She secured her first job as a Machine Operator at Tata Company in Nagpur.

Her father said, "No girl from my family or village had gone to a metro city for a job. We are not prepared to send her for a job outside the city." This is where Magic Bus community engagements make a difference.

The Magic Bus team visited Samiksha's home, guiding her parents through a video call on the safety measures, working procedures, and accommodation facilities provided by the company in Nagpur. They even arranged a call with a company employee to reassure them of its reputation. With growing confidence in the company, Samiksha's parents consented to her relocation. Borrowing money from acquaintances, they sent her to Nagpur, where she diligently and happily worked for two years and six months.

During her employment, Samiksha considered advancing her education, influenced by her Bachelor of Arts degree and training from Magic Bus. She pursued a Master of Arts in Sociology and, upon completing her degree, she got married and settled in Sarpevada, a village with limited resources. Her husband, Chetan Kamlakar Gadhave, works as a clerk at Bhojrajji Bhondekar Physiotherapy College in Sirsi village, Bhandara.

Feeling unfulfilled as a homemaker while her husband worked away from the village, Samiksha sought employment. She found a teaching vacancy at the local school through the Gram Panchayat, applied, and was hired, leveraging the skills she developed in the Magic Bus programme.

Impact & Influence

Now serving as a teacher at Zilla Parishad Upper Primary school, she is driven by her conviction that education is a universal right and implements innovative educational programmes. Situated in a core zone within a jungle, her village often faced high student absenteeism. Viewing this challenge as an opportunity to engage more deeply with community dynamics, she introduced a behaviour management system at her school. She also initiated a "chillar bank" to foster financial literacy among students, empowering them to manage and maintain it independently. These innovative efforts have notably enhanced student retention at her school.

What drove Samiksha's resilience during tough times? Her self-agency, along with skills in basic computer operations, personality development, English, and interview etiquette—nurtured by the Magic Bus India Foundation—served as her lifeline.

Through her influence, countless other girls will be empowered and attain economic independence. This exemplifies how Magic Bus perpetuates generational empowerment.