Saranya, hailing from Arigiam Melur, a tribal settlement nestled in the Sathyamangalam Reserve Forest, grew up harbouring a dream—to become a graduate. However, her journey was fraught with challenges. Her family’s economic struggles, compounded by the nature of their work in garment manufacturing for meagre wages, forced her to abandon her aspirations temporarily. Exhausted and feeling exploited, Saranya began to lose hope. In 2017, Saranya learned about the PARAN Centre, an initiative committed to supporting education for marginalized communities like hers. Determined to reclaim her dream, she reached out to the centre and enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at a college in Coimbatore. This marked the beginning of her transformation. After completing her degree, Saranya leveraged her tribal background and education to secure a role under the government’s “Education at Your Doorsteps” scheme. Today, she is a teacher for classes 2 to 4, earning ₹15,000 per month. This position has not only provided her with financial independence but also the dignity and stability she longed for. Saranya’s journey doesn’t end here. She has become a beacon of hope for her community, encouraging other girls in her locality to pursue education and build better lives for themselves.