Job Skills
A Flower Vendor's Future
India
January 2012
The future is bright for Gopal, who currently holds a job at a bank and plans to pursue an MBA. Just a few years ago this life was just a dream.
At the age of 11, Gopal worked to support his family when his father, a flower vendor in the temple town of Yadgirigutta, became very ill. He learned to balance his family responsibility as well as continue with his education.
It was a very hard time for Gopal. He sold flowers; but his earnings didn’t support his family and also pay for his father’s medical expenses. He was left with no money to save for his future education.
His father passed away two years later. It was during this difficult time that his friend told him about Operation Blessing India’s SMILE Twin e-learning Program (STeP).
Started in 2009, STeP is a six months/six days a week course that has been designed and customized to empower young people from underprivileged backgrounds. It teaches Computer basics like MS Office, Advanced Internet Security; Accounting, Basic and Retail Management, Spoken English, Leadership Skills and Personality Development, Counselling and Career Guidance.
Gopal joined the tuition centre and completed his tent grade with excellent scores. He went on to attend college and continued with the classes at the Center. The classes at the STeP Center prepared him in every way to complete his graduation in Commerce and Computers.
He also experienced love and compassion at the Center and came to know about God’s amazing love for Him. It was then that he decided to accept Jesus as his personal Savior.
Being an excellent student, job opportunities also came his way; including his current job at a bank.
Gopal feels that CBN has transformed his life. He reminisces and says, “As a child I used to sell flowers on the streets; but today, because of CBN’s help, I am blessed with a great education and I have a good job. I am now able to take care of my family and most importantly, I learned about Jesus Christ through the teachers at the Center. I am grateful to everyone who made this possible for me!”
Your gift to CBN will enable young men like Gopal to have a bright future. Will you join us in becoming a partner today?
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