From skills to enterprise: Young WeSTEM trainees showcase leadership and innovation

Date: Tuesday, 28 April 2026

The photo shows a group of people standing at a display booth during an outdoor event. One person is offering small food samples on a plate to another person, while others stand nearby and observe. An information board is attached to the booth wall. The area has a red carpet, with trees and buildings visible in the background, suggesting a public exhibition or professional gathering.

When 18-year-old Kinjal Rathod (in white shirt) packed her homemade theplas and bajra wadis for a global tech event, she carried more than food. It was the proof of what young women can build. Photo: Head Held High Foundation/ Vaishali Pasari

At the ‘Spark the Future: A Celebration of Youth STE(A)M Innovation’ event organized by the Micron Foundation in Ahmedabad Science City, Gujarat in March 2026, 18-year-old Kinjal presented her homegrown food business to global leaders, including Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra (Chairman, President & CEO of Micron technology), Ms. April Arnzen (EVP and Chief People Officer, Micron Technology and President of the Micron Foundation) and Kok Sing Chen (SVP, Global Assembly & Test, Micron Technology).

Kinjal’s excitement was palpable. She beamed as she said: “They liked our food and encouraged me to pursue this path that could lead to a café someday!”

Her journey to that stall began at a vocational training centre in Gujarat.

Kinjal, from Kubernagar, Gujarat, was one of the 1,500+ graduates of WeSTEM’s General Entrepreneurship Training (GET), delivered at the Government Divisional Industrial Training Institute, a centre for vocational training. Enrolled in the Information & Communication Technology System Maintenance course, she signed up for the GET module, where students were trained in entrepreneurial skills such as business planning, pricing strategy, and practical execution with digital and AI tools.

A mobile phone screen showing the “Mom’s Magic Kitchen” page. Illustration: UN Women India

After completing the training, Kinjal started a home-based tiffin service called Mom’s Magic Kitchen with her mother. She used WhatsApp to connect with customers, advertise new dishes, and build networks with classmates. Operating from her home kitchen, the menu has since expanded to include traditional Gujarati and North Indian breakfast and lunch items. She began with a simple trial dish of vegetable pulao priced at INR 20, and received 22 orders on the first day

Operating from her home kitchen, the menu has since expanded to include traditional Gujarati and North Indian breakfast and lunch items. She began with a simple trial dish of vegetable pulao priced at INR 20 (USD 0.21) and received 22 orders on the first day.

The numbers reflected something deeper: a shift in confidence.

“I was unsure of myself and constantly questioned whether starting a business was the right path. I even considered taking up a job. The General Entrepreneurship Training caused a shift in my mindset; I am now determined to turn my passion and my mother’s dream into reality.”

With a growing customer base, Kinjal has since moved to WhatsApp Business to manage orders and customer relationships more efficiently, demonstrating her ability to leverage digital tools for growth.

Kinjal is not alone. Across Gujarat, WeSTEM is transforming how young women see themselves and what they dare to build.

The WeSTEM program, funded by Micron Foundation, has so far trained over 3,000 young women like Kinjal, equipping them with skills to pursue livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and careers in STEM. The programme is implemented in partnership with the Government of Gujarat and NGO Head Held High Foundation to support young women in STEM trades in Industrial Training Institutes.

Roshni Patni, 25, from Ahmedabad, was enrolled in the Computer Operator and Programming Assistant course at the Government ITI. She also participated in the WeSTEM training programme, where she learned to use AI tools effectively to support her work.

Roshni has since become a bridge for her entire family: she taught her mother to use ChatGPT, who now uses it to experiment with new recipes and build tailored diet plans for her diabetic husband. She also guides her younger brother on the use of AI and building agents that can support his education. Through the WeSTEM project, she learnt technical skills like prompt engineering and building chatbots and developed soft skills like public speaking and professional communication.

“Today, I do not just want to learn and work with technology — I want to build technology,” says Roshni.

Kinjal and Roshni are proof that contextualized programmes like WeSTEM can unlock women’s aspirations to build and lead. From kitchens to code, WeSTEM is enabling young women to turn their talents and skills into agency, into livelihoods, leadership, and futures they define on their own terms.