Enabling Rural Youth to Lead Change
What happens when young people feel they have no future in their own hometowns?
They leave!
Across Uttarakhand’s villages, young people face a tough choice: stay back with limited opportunities or migrate to cities in search of work.
At Margshala, we believe that rural youth should have the power to shape their futures where they are. We work alongside them to create meaningful local livelihoods, turning ambition into action through entrepreneurship, skill-building, and mentorship.
Our approach fosters clarity for informed choices, builds confidence in action, and cultivates motivation rooted in purpose, enabling youth to lead change right where they are. Over the years, we've seen young people transform not just their own lives, but also their communities, proving that change doesn’t have to mean leaving home.
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Building Clarity
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Confidence in Action
Driven by Purpose
What is
Swarozgar Fellowship?
The Swarozgar Fellowship is a 6-month learning journey for motivated rural entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 years. Fellows build and strengthen their own sustainable local enterprise models in agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, or digital livelihoods.
The fellowship also offers performance-based monetary rewards to support enterprise growth. Now in its fifth year, the program has supported 212 fellows across its first five cohorts.
What is Khojshala?
A 6-week career exploration program for young people aged 17 to 25 in the Himalayan region, designed to bridge the information and opportunity gap many rural youth face.
Through a blend of knowledge-sharing, hands-on activities, self-discovery, and exposure to local role models, participants explore a range of livelihood possibilities around them. The program helps them understand their own interests, strengths, and values, and equips them to make well-informed and confident career decisions.
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Livelihoods Generated
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Youth Impacted
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Businesses Supported
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First-Gen Entrepreneurs
Impact
Our Fellow Stories
Reviving Apple Orchards in Kumaon
Neeraj Singh Bisht, a horticulture scholar, has successfully reintroduced apple farming in Kumaon by establishing a thriving organic orchard with 1,500 trees, using sustainable farming techniques. Despite climate challenges, his efforts have rekindled interest in apple farming in the region, showing that it can still thrive in the Mukteshwar-Ramgarh belt.
Preserving Kumaoni Culture Through Art
Aparna Paneru, a postgraduate Fine Arts graduate from Uttarakhand, is reviving Kumaoni culture through her unique artworks blending Aipan art, traditional Kumaoni themes, and Lord Shiva imagery. She recently participated in Project Public Art of India, organized by the Lalit Kala Akademi, and continues to inspire others through her workshops and art.
Hiking up the Mountains
Ganesh Singh Bisht, founder of Hike to Mountains, registered his eco-tourism business and, through the Swarozgar Fellowship, gained vital skills in GST, business planning, and digital marketing. His improved confidence, networking abilities, and elevator pitches have helped him secure high-value collaborations and clients.
These are just a few of the changemakers rewriting their futures. Their success is shaping entire communities
For too long, rural youth have had to leave their homes in search of opportunity. We envision a future where they no longer have to choose between aspirations and belonging. By equipping young people with the skills, networks, and resources to build livelihoods where they are, we are addressing distress migration at its core. Our vision is to create thriving local economies where youth can lead change, support their communities, and drive sustainable development from the ground up.
At Margshala, we strive to create opportunities aligning with global goals for a more just and sustainable future.
These goals reflect the future we’re building, alongside young changemakers driving change in their own communities.
Our Partners
