Building agency in rural youth to redefine aspirations & pursue their career of choice
In rural and small-town India, the aspirations of young people are limited to what they see around them. Other barriers like financial vulnerability, poor infrastructure and community norms further prevent these youth from securing the agency to make free decisions and pursue sustainable livelihoods. India and Bharat Together (IABT) is an applied research non-profit working towards empowering young people in rural and small town areas with the agency to redefine their aspirations and pursue sustainable livelihoods. Through a combination of direct interventions including livelihood support programs and youth mentoring by role models, as well as timely research studies to inform policy and practice, IABT works towards a country where geography no longer determines the future of our youth.
Following a masters in Development Studies from IIT-Madras, Aadya gained early grassroots experience in rural development with CHIRAG, Alaap and WWF-India. Before founding IABT, she was a founding team member at Leap Skills, an impact-focussed social enterprise. At IABT, she is focussed on building a strong applied research organisation through experimental pilots and thematic research studies. In her spare time, she enjoys forest walks, music, photography and writing.
