Shyambazar Youth Training Academy

Our academy is located on the second floor of a building on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Kolkata. It’s in Block C, and the stairs are a bit steep, which we always remind the students about when they first visit. Being right in the heart of the city means it’s always noisy outside with the trams and the honking, but we’ve gotten used to it. We focus on training young people, trying to give them some skills they can actually use to find work. The rooms aren't huge, but we make do with the space we have. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but we’re more concerned with the classes and the computers. I’m usually the one who opens up in the morning and makes sure the fans are working because Kolkata heat is no joke. We have a lot of paperwork to manage since we’re an academy, and my filing cabinet is basically bursting at the seams. Students come from all over the city, and sometimes from further out in the suburbs, so the schedule is always a bit flexible to accommodate the train timings. It’s a busy place with a lot of chatter in the hallways during break times. We don't have a fancy canteen, just a small corner where people can have their tea and biscuits. It’s just us trying to help out at 147, Mahatma Gandhi Road Blk - C, 2Nd Floor; Kolkata - 700007.