Passport to Success: Success Stories 

Nandini from Kolar Gold Fields, India

Nandini is a 14 year-old student who took part in the life skills program that BREADS implemented at her school in Kolar Gold Fields, India. After participating in the program, Nandini realized that the life skills lessons influenced many aspects of her personality and changed the way she hoped to lead her life.

Before enrolling in the life skills program, Nandini would sit alone on the last bench in her classroom and not mingle with her peer group. The life skills lessons taught her to communicate with her peers in a constructive way, and she has since made many new friends. The lessons also influenced the way that she perceives school. Nandini reflects, "Before, I was very lazy and not interested in my studies, but when I started attending these classes I became more responsible and got higher marks in my class 9 exams. I realized that it is important to have goals." Now, Nandini wants to become a doctor and travel to villages helping and healing people.

The life skills have also helped Nandini to address difficult family matters. She remarks, "My father has a second wife and I would see my parents fighting all the time. This image was always stuck in my head and would make me feel low and depressed. Life skills teach you that one has to tackle many problems in life. I now feel confident about facing any problem that comes my way." Nandini believes that the life skills that she was taught through the Passport to Success program should be implemented throughout India and become a core subject in every training course.

Krisztina from Lenti, Hungary

Krisztina, a 13th grader and a Passport to Success Life Skills Education (LSE) Program participant from 2008-2009 in Lámfalussy Vocational and High School in Lenti, Hungary, will soon graduate. Krisztina is an excellent student, and she knows how important school achievement is. In addition to studying, she has also been working as a waitress for years to earn money for her personal expenses. She hopes to earn more, so that she can help her mother, a widow in poor health who is heroically raising three children.

Krisztina is making good use of the skills acquired and practiced in the LSE Program in her personal life and on the job. She feels that the role-plays demonstrated in the LSE Program showed her how to apply the life skills in realistic circumstances. Krisztina's communication skills have developed significantly, and she has become a very open-minded person, which has helped her at work. Krisztina can talk to the guests in the restaurant more articulately, and in a more even-handed manner. All of her colleagues have noticed this improvement.

Krisztina's plan is to become a full-time waitress after graduation. She thinks that the LSE Program has given her an invaluable education that will help her to excel at work and throughout her life.

Ashwat from Bangalore, India

Ashwat participated in the Passport to Success program while taking a Retail and Sales Marketing course at Unnati in Bangalore. As a student, goal-setting and time management skills helped motivate Ashwat to make good marks in class, and he was ultimately able to finish his course and get a degree. He then interviewed for and was immediately hired for a job as a Data sales manager in a library. Ashwat credits the life skills training for teaching him confidence and skills that he was able to use during the interview.

Ashwat is constantly using life skills in his new job, and explains that it helps him a great deal while interacting with customers. He reflects, "Before I took the life skills course, I did not speak much, but now I have become more confident and can speak frankly and openly with my colleagues. I have also made many new friends."

Aswat's relationship with his family has also improved. He says, "In the past, I would avoid visiting my parents, but now I realize that it is important to take the time to build a relationship with my parents and sister." Ashwat's parents are proud and pleased that their son is able to speak articulately, has a good job, and is happy in his life. Ashwat hopes to continue working at his current place of employment for years to come.