Case Studies & Testimonials

Case study 1

Name of student: Kannimozhi

Age:21

Course : Retail Sales

Batch : 8th batch (1.03.06 to 20.05.06)

Educational qualification: Second PUC

Presently employed in Team Delta Outsource Pvt Ltd

Personal constraints forced Kanimozhi to drop out after her second year in pre-university (12th class). She nurtured a dream of learning computers and speaking English. The idea of interacting with people appealed to her making her want to be employed in marketing related work. However, as she discontinued studies, the opportunities to learn and earn seemed bleak till a break came her way.

A cousin informed Kanimozhi about Unnati and as luck would have it, she attended the interviews for admission. Her potential came to light during the screening, and given her good communication skills and aspirations, she joined the Retail Sales course.

Kanimozhi was among the three girls studying in the class of eleven in Retail Sales . Though the girls were initially hesitant, they soon began to interact and learnt to enjoy the course as well.

Subsequent to the course, she got selected by Food World, a well equipped and frequented retail chain. Within a month of joining as a sales girl she got promoted as a cashier. She then joined work in a dental clinic where she was responsible for front office management including appointments.

Today, in Team Delta Courier Services, Kanimozhi speaks English confidently as she follows up with corporate executives at all levels on their ABN credit card statements. Her work requires diplomatic tact and a level headed temperament at all times as the disposition of the client varies from call to call.

She knows MS Excel, MS Word, PPT and can use the Internet, a far cry from the days when all she knew about computers was the monitor and the CPU.

She is paying the college fees of one of her two brothers reducing the outgoing for her father working in the Railways.

Case Study 2

Name of student: Radhimol

Age:23

Course : Retail Sales

Batch : 5th batch (1.03.05 to 14.05.05)

Educational qualification: SSLC at the time of joining Unnati. Finished her graduation through correspondence after joining work.

Presently employed in HDFC Bank as a Sales Officer

“I am very proud that I am from Unnati. It is a turning point in my life. I will never be able to forget Unnati.”

These are the words of Radhimol as she relates the struggles she faced since her father’s untimely death a few years ago.

His untimely demise made her discontinue studies as it would ease the pressure on her mother who had to feed the family and educate her elder brother as well. The spirit of wanting to earn on her own and study made her take up a job as a primary school teacher where she earned Rs.1000/- per month.

Radhimol’s brother’s friend informed her about Unnati and she found herself standing with other applicants on the last day of the interviews for admission to the 5th batch.

Radhimol’s first job after her course was as a faculty member in Unnati’s computer centre. “I taught all that I learnt.” she says. After a year, she joined Standard Chartered as a telecaller.

She got through HDFC a year and a half ago and is working as a Sales officer interacting most of the time with customers over the phone and in person.

“All that I had learnt in Unnati came into use. The role plays were especially useful; I often came across similar situations at work as a tele-caller and a sales person. “

Unnati’s life skills motivated her to overcome the initial problems at work. Earlier, rude replies by customers would make her cry. However, she introspected and realized that she needed to innovate a different technique instead of giving up. She was eventually successful as there is a drastic reduction in irate customer behavior even as she has learnt to insulate herself from ups and downs at work place. Her rising income level enables her to save more. “Girls should work and stand on their own feet”.

She recalls when she used to sit behind all in Unnati’s class, and would tremble to speak in class. Today, after she confidently speaks to various customers, she is astonished at herself. “Now I feel happy to talk to every body, I feel that I can do whatever I want”.

Testimonial 1

Name of student: Parimala

Age:

Course : Retail Sales

Batch : 5th batch

Educational qualification: Finished PUC Presently employed in Akshara Mane Trust

Parimala, having undergone the pangs of poverty, appreciates the value of Unnati’s completely free training course.

“I did not spend even one rupee. Even my expenses of food and transportation, purchase of books were taken care of”.
“Thanks to Unnati, I was able to get work and I learnt to speak English. Even my life-style has changed after here. I am feeling more confident and happy now.”

Parimala is the sole earning member in the family including her mother and younger sister.

Testimonial 2

Name of student: Manoj Kumar Sahoo

Age: 23

Course : BPO

Batch : 15th batch (June to August 2008)

Educational qualification: Finished PUC Presently employed as Data Processor in JP Morgan

“I was not able to speak In English and was not confident of myself. Unnati’s sessions on life skills, social values and public speaking motivated me and helped me in realizing my positive skills. These sessions are necessary as they make one confident and conduct oneself in a proper manner while interacting with others.”

Case Study 3

Name of student: Jyothi and Lakshmi (twins)

Age: 20 years

Course : Industrial Tailoring

Batch : 14th batch

Educational qualification: SSLC

Working in garments division of ITC at Banaswadi

“We feel free, we can speak freely. We have got more knowledge. We don’t need anybody’s support.” These are the words of twin sisters who spent considerable part of their growing years in an orphanage.

Jyothi and Lakshmi are twins with an elder sister and brother. As their parents died while they were still young, the twins grew up in an orphanage.

Both joined Unnati’s industrial tailoring course. They feel that it provided them not just with skills but with the guidance and counseling that they missed out on in life. Ever since they came for interview for admission and since the time they got placed in ITC’s garment unit, the twins feel that Unnati staff has been with them in every step of the way.

“If today, our skills have improved and we have got the courage to stand on our feet, then it is because of Unnati”, they say.

During the course, they learnt to attach cuffs and collars, get a clean finish while tailoring. They appreciate the support of the faculty who were always ready to counsel and clear doubts. The twins moved out from the orphanage. They pool their money to manage expenses and save Rs.1000/- every month.

Case study 4

Name of student: Murugesh

Age: 20 years

Course: BPO

Batch: 15th batch

Educational qualification: SSLC

Working in JP Morgan as a data entry operator since second week of September 2008.

Murugesh and his sister grew up in an orphanage managed by their aunt in Bangalore. He did not feel like continuing his education and was unsure of his plans for the future. It was during his time that his aunt told him about Unnati and he joined the BPO class without having too much of an idea about its content. His primary motivation was to get a job after doing a course from here.

At the time of joining, Murugesh had his share of apprehensions as he felt that he will have to ‘read and study’. He says, however, that the faculty made the learning process an enjoyable one and a ‘great experience’. Unnati, he feels, has been good not just from the career perspective but also in guiding youth like him on the fundamentals in life.

The sessions on life-skills, social values, art of living and personality development help youth like him to understand the importance of living a disciplined life. The faculty inculcates the importance of time and money management which relevant to their strata of income group.

The faculty was strict and yet courteous and friendly at the same time. “We all were scared of them in the beginning but slowly our anxiety gave way to enthusiasm. They never got angry at us.”

Murugesh has moved out of the orphanage and is staying in a paying guest accommodation paying Rs.3500/- as rent. He wishes to pursue his BBM (Bachelors in Business Management) in future. Unnati has been a turning point as it has transformed him from a lazy person, who was not interested in applying his mind or efforts at studies to a disciplined and enthusiastic worker. “It has given me a new life”, he says. He plans to share his experience with the youth from Unnati in future.