Meet Pragathi

Pragathi by her desk at Celegence

Abandoned as a baby and left on the steps of an NGO, Pragathi grew up considering it her home until the government shut it down due to serious allegations. Then, along with 17 other girls, she was sent to the Government State Home in Nimboliadda, Hyderabad, by the Women and Child Welfare Department, leaving her feeling abandoned for a second time and her future uncertain once again.

But everything changed in 2017 when C2C stepped in, providing Pragathi with access to education, mentorship, and ultimately a career opportunity that would secure her future. Relocated to a C2C partnership school in Hyderabad, Centre for Social Services, she found stability, care, and a renewed sense of family. Encouraged by the teachers and team on site, she began to envision a brighter future and embraced every opportunity to thrive, academically, personally, and professionally.

Pragathi excelled in her studies. At CSS NAM Girls High School, she achieved an impressive 8.5 GPA on her 10th-grade Board Exams. This success ignited her passion for science, motivating her to enroll in intermediate studies, where she continued to excel in her core subjects. Her dream of working in pharmacy, a field that would allow her to help others, began to take shape.

With continued guidance and support, Pragathi succeeded in the EAMCET exam, earning admission to the prestigious Sri Indu Institute of Pharmacy. During her college years, Pragathi’s research on CNS diseases earned her special recognition at a pharmaceutical exhibition, marking her as a rising talent in the field. Each milestone reinforced her belief that she could create meaningful change in the world.

As Pragathi approached graduation, C2C’s influence became even more critical. Understanding the importance of career placement, C2C leveraged its network to identify Celegence, a company interested in building an internship and employment pipeline for C2C graduates. Initially considered for an internship, Pragathi’s dedication and capabilities made such an impression that Celegence offered her a full-time position.

More than a job offer, this was the start of a brighter future. C2C continued to support Pragathi by sponsoring her travel to the new city and accommodation for six months, providing her with a stable foundation to begin her professional career.

“I am deeply grateful to both CSS and C2C for their support in helping me turn my dreams into reality.”

— Pragathi

From her difficult beginnings to her success as a pharmaceutical professional, Pragathi’s journey exemplifies the profound power of education and opportunity. She represents the very reason C2C remains committed to creating sustainable pathways that empower young women to rise, thrive, and give back.

Building Websites, Building Futures: A C2C Success Story

Radhika, FFLV Student

At C2C, we believe that education is a powerful tool to change lives. Our web development program, part of the STEBLab curriculum and introduced in 2022 at the Food for Life Vrindavan (FFLV) center, has helped students apply their technical skills in meaningful ways. One of the brightest examples of this is Radhika, an 11th-grade student who used her newly acquired web development skills to make a significant impact on her family’s livelihood.

Radhika’s Personal Journey

“Hi, I’m Radhika, and I’m a student at the FFLV center. My father works as a cab driver, and for a long time, he manually handled the logistics of his business. Managing bookings, pricing, and customer details was stressful, so I decided to use the web development skills I learned through C2C to help him streamline his cab service.

Inspired by my father’s hard work, I set out to create a website that would not only organize his business but also reach new customers online. Building the website was a challenge—I had to ensure the design was simple, easy to use, and mobile-friendly, as most customers would book rides through their phones.

One of the most difficult parts was creating a fare calculator that factored in distance and time, but I kept testing and refining it until it worked perfectly. Thanks to the training I received through C2C, I was able to overcome these challenges and build a site that improved my father’s business operations significantly. Now, he can receive bookings online, and we’ve seen new customers come in because it’s so much easier to book a ride.”

The C2C Impact

Radhika’s story is a perfect example of how our programs at C2C empower young women to support their families and communities. In her case, the web development classes allowed her to develop a website that not only organized her father’s cab business but also opened new opportunities through digital presence.

With a step-by-step approach, Radhika built the website using HTML for the structure, CSS for styling, and JavaScript for key features like booking forms and fare calculation. She also ensured that the website was mobile-responsive, making it accessible to users on all devices. Additionally, she explored search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to increase visibility, helping her father’s cab service reach a wider audience.

Looking Ahead

Radhika’s journey doesn’t end here. She plans to improve the site further by adding online payment options and a customer review section to build trust and expand her father’s client base. Her experience has not only helped her father’s business but also boosted her own confidence, inspiring her to continue learning and growing.

Advice to Other Students

Radhika encourages other students to trust in their abilities and take on projects, no matter how challenging they seem at first. “Completing this website has been an incredible journey for me. It’s helped my family in ways I hadn’t imagined—my father is more relaxed, and the business is running smoother. Personally, it means a lot to be able to apply what I’ve learned to help my family.”

Through her determination and the skills she gained, Radhika exemplifies how education can create real, lasting change. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to supporting even more students as they apply their knowledge to uplift themselves and their communities.

The website Radhika created can be viewed here.

Leveling Up C2C’s STEM Lab

C2C girls in Bangladesh

At C2C, we’re thrilled to announce new upgrades to our STEM lab! These cutting-edge technologies will empower our students to create and innovate while strengthening their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

STEM skills and knowledge lead directly to future jobs, and by encouraging girls to pursue STEM education, we aim to help them break the cycle of poverty and take control of their futures. We’re proud to see our students seizing these opportunities. Just last month, one of our own secured a job in cybersecurity—a testament to the impact of STEM education on our students’ futures.

This success story is one of many and underscores the importance of our work at C2C. Through our upgraded STEM lab and dedication to empowering students, we’re helping to give girls the power of choice in their lives.

Here’s a sneak peek of how our enhanced STEM labs will support our mission.

C2C girls will explore and experiment with innovative technologies:

• With robotics kits featuring sensors, motors, and controllers, they’ll undertake hands-on projects to design and build their own robots.

• Utilizing software platforms like Next Education’s robotics programming interface, they’ll learn the coding skills required to control their robotic creations.

• They’ll engage with dynamic learning tools like interactive displays, augmented reality (AR) resources, and simulation software that makes abstract concepts come to life.

These technologies perfectly complement C2C’s mission of equipping girls for success:

• Next Education’s robotics technology blends key STEM fields like programming, electronics, and mechanical engineering.

• The robotics solutions have intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and a curriculum that aligns seamlessly with C2C’s educational goals.

• The interactive tools cater to different learning styles and encourage students’ active participation.

In addition to empowering our students, the new upgrades also provide valuable benefits to C2C teachers:

• Comprehensive training sessions led by Next Education experts will ensure teachers are well-equipped to maximize the potential of the upgraded STEM resources.

• Ongoing support, including workshops, webinars, and access to instructional materials, will give teachers the assistance they need to integrate new technologies into their classrooms.

• Mentoring programs and opportunities for peer collaboration will foster a culture of knowledge sharing and professional growth among our teaching staff.

Additionally, the girls will explore experiential projects and activities such as:

• Robotics Challenges: Students will participate in robotics competitions in which they design and program robots to complete specific challenges, such as maze navigation or object retrieval.

• Interdisciplinary Projects: Students will apply their robotics expertise to solve pressing real-world problems. Projects may range from crafting assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities to creating eco-friendly solutions for sustainability.

With these exciting new technologies, C2C and our partners anticipate the following outcomes for our students:

• Increased engagement and motivation, leading to greater academic achievement across STEM disciplines. Cultivation of C2C’s “Four Cs”—confidence, creativity, communication, and critical thinking—through immersive, project-based learning.

• Development of problem-solving and collaboration skills with team activities.

• Enhanced career readiness, with practical skills and knowledge applicable to fields such as robotics, engineering, and computer science.

C2C’s STEM labs have always aimed to provide girls with the tools and resources needed for their futures, and by implementing these cutting-edge technologies, we are taking that commitment to the next level. “These upgrades will not only enrich our curriculum,” says Ms. Trupti Shinde, Senior Tutor at C2C, “but also empower our students to become innovators and leaders in the fields of science and technology.