From Village Dreams to Mushroom Success: The Inspiring Journey of Priyanka Mohanta

Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj (Odisha):
In the quiet village of Handiphuta, surrounded by green fields and forest paths, lives 21-year-old Priyanka Mohanta — a young woman who turned her dreams into reality with the help of Don Bosco Tech Thakurmunda Centre.

Priyanka grew up in a small family of four — her father, a hardworking farmer with a love for gardening, her caring mother, and a younger sister. Like most families in the village, they depended on farming and forest produce for their daily needs.

After completing her matriculation, Priyanka wanted to continue her studies. But her family’s limited income made higher education impossible. She decided to step back from her studies to support her sister’s dream — yet she never gave up on her own.

One day, she heard about Don Bosco Tech’s skill training program at Thakurmunda through local mobilizers. Curious and hopeful, she visited the centre and discovered a course in Mushroom Cultivation. Something about it caught her heart — it was close to nature and full of possibilities.

Without wasting time, Priyanka enrolled in the training program. At the centre, she learned everything from mushroom biology to practical cultivation techniques. She attended every session with excitement, determined to master her new skill.

Through hands-on learning and the patient guidance of her trainers, Priyanka not only gained technical skills but also the confidence to dream big. What began as curiosity turned into a passion.

“I never thought I could earn on my own,” says Priyanka with a smile. “Now I am confident and ready to start my own mushroom unit in my backyard.”

After completing her training, she started preparing for her own small mushroom farm — a first step toward independence and entrepreneurship.

Today, Priyanka stands as a shining example of how skill training can change lives, especially for rural women. She feels proud, independent, and thankful to Don Bosco Tech Society for helping her discover a future she once thought was impossible.

“This training changed my life,” Priyanka says. “I am grateful to Don Bosco Tech for showing me a path where I can grow — both as a person and as an entrepreneur.”

Her journey from the fields of Handiphuta to becoming a skilled mushroom grower shows how opportunity and determination can bloom even in the smallest corners of rural India.

A Story of Change, A Message of Hope

As Don Bosco Tech celebrates 20 years of empowering India’s youth, stories like Priyanka’s remind us how one opportunity can transform not just a person — but a whole community.