After a childhood shaped by hardship and turmoil, young carer Pratheep has fought hard to achieve stability and security.

Growing up in Chennai, India, Pratheep used to study outside beneath a streetlight, while also working as a delivery boy to support himself and his mother, who was very unwell. As he juggled earning, studying, housework and caring responsibilities, hunger and exhaustion were constant companions.

Our Get Hired programme empowered Pratheep, 22, to break through the cycle of hardship and shape his own path. Drawing on the skills he gained, Pratheep has secured a professional job in a bank. After years of turbulence marked by hand-to-mouth struggle, he now has a stable monthly income.

‘Some days, the exhaustion felt unbearable,’ Pratheep recalls. ‘Today, when I look back, I don’t see struggle – I see strength, growth, and a future that I fought hard to reach.’

Struggle and chaos

Pratheep’s parents divorced when he was young, and his mother’s severe mental illness meant that his homelife was often unpredictable and chaotic. As a young carer and the sole earner, Pratheep had to balance his studies with working, cooking, caring and running the home, managing responsibilities that any adult would find daunting.

Once Pratheep finished school, his mother’s health declined further, and he joined the Get Hired programme at a moment of intense upheaval and crisis.

‘When everything felt like it was falling apart – no money, no direction, and no hope – I reached a point where I questioned whether life was worth continuing. The only thing that stopped me was the fear of leaving my mother alone,’ Pratheep explains. ‘That’s when I decided I needed support, guidance, and a chance to rebuild – and that led me to this programme.’

Building belief

The Get Hired programme, run in India by our partner Magic Bus, helped Pratheep develop the confidence, problem-solving and decision-making tools to step beyond the cycle of hardship and chaos, and shape his own path.

‘Get Hired gave me tools to rebuild myself from the challenges I faced,’ Pratheep recalls. ‘The skills I learned helped me take control of my life and my choices. Life skills like communication, confidence, and emotional management allowed me to face challenges without fear. Employability skills, workplace readiness, and digital literacy opened doors to professional opportunities. Together, these learnings helped me move away from negativity, rebuild my life and set a strong foundation for a stable and meaningful future.’

Stability, security and dignity

Drawing on his newfound self-belief and enhanced communication skills, Pratheep successfully interviewed for a role as a teller and assistant manager in a bank. Securing a professional job, with a regular monthly wage, has transformed his life.

After years of hardship and chaos, Pratheep has finally achieved financial security, for himself and his mother. Paying the electricity bill on time, for the first time ever, was a milestone moment.

 ‘That offer letter wasn’t just a job. It felt like my life finally exhaled after years of holding its breath,’ Pratheep explains. ‘I can now pay bills on time, manage my household, take care of my mother, and live with dignity. My job didn’t just change my life – it brought stability to my entire home.’