Should we measure progress, not just success?
October 7, 2026
This question is always in my mind as we work with the young adults in AFEC’s Launchpad for Adulthood Program.
A Future for Every Child (AFEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports young people in India as they transition from institutional care at age 18 to adulthood. We help them build a path to education, employment and, ultimately, financial independence. But we don’t believe there is one path to getting there.
The youth in our program (AFEC Achievers) have faced some of life’s hardest beginnings – becoming orphans, being abandoned, children separated from families with no way to find their way back, others fleeing dangerous homes or forced marriages, and many having lived on the streets without any schooling.
So what does it mean to be an independent adult?
Is it a six-figure income, a house, a family – all by a certain age? That’s a daunting bar even for those who have grown up with every advantage. For our AFEC Achievers, it can feel entirely out of reach.
Maybe for our youth, measuring progress as the distance you have traveled from where you began is the more meaningful measure.
A Story of How Far One Can Go
We were thrilled to have photographer and artist Vicky Roy join us at AFEC’s highly successful annual gala, Big Little Dreams, a few weeks ago. Vicky shared about his early life on the streets near a railway station, before being rescued and finding a home and education through Salaam Baalak Trust. When he turned 18, he faced the difficult transition from institutional care to adulthood. Academics were not his strength, but photography was. A mentor recognized his interest and talent and encouraged him to pursue it.
Today, Vicky is an accomplished photographer whose work has taken him around the world. His story is so powerful not simply because of where he is today but also how far he has come from where he started. His path was not defined by conventional expectations. His strengths were recognized, his interest in photography was encouraged, and he was given the opportunity to build a future around what he could do well.
A Way of Measuring Progress
Vicky has reached professional heights that were unimaginable to him as a child. At the gala, we shared similar stories of young adults in our program who have also achieved dreams that once seemed impossible to them. Vinayak feared never seeing his two younger siblings again after they were orphaned and separated. Today, all three are living together, learning vocational skills, and building a path toward financial independence. Together, they have made remarkable progress with AFEC’s support.
Pooja ran away from home to avoid being forced into marriage. With AFEC’s support, she completed her education, became a financial trainer, and now lives independently. Pooja has made remarkable progress toward building the life she wants.
Vicky’s, Vinayak’s, and Pooja’s stories are powerful reminders that progress does not always look the way we expect. It can take many forms. At AFEC, we understand this deeply—and it shapes how we design our programs and guide each young person toward their own path forward. I believe this is what sets AFEC apart.
We don’t believe every young person’s path to employability follows the same track. We start where they are, understand their individual strengths, circumstances and aspirations, and help them take the next step toward financial independence. We try to understand the difficult journey they have been through—and recognize the grit it takes to keep moving forward.
In India, young people who grow up in institutional care often face a sudden transition at 18. The structure and support they have known can end just as they are expected to make decisions about education, employment, finances and independent living.
AFEC steps in at this crucial time—not with a one-size-fits-all solution, but by understanding each young person’s starting point and helping them move forward.
We consider their interests, skills, education, earning potential and the realities of the job market. Some pursue college; others choose vocational training. Some need to strengthen their English, financial literacy or other life skills, while many need consistent, non-judgmental support as they navigate the trauma and challenges they have experienced.
Our Launchpad for Adulthood program stays with them through this journey—from education and training to their first job and for two years after they begin working—responding to what they need along the way, whether that is support with employment, health, emotional wellbeing, life skills or simply having someone they can turn to.
Our goal is not simply to help a young person get a job. It is to help them build the confidence, skills and stability to become financially independent and successfully navigate adulthood. We measure progress from where each young person starts—from their own frame of reference. This allows us to set realistic goals, recognize meaningful progress, help each young person move forward, and celebrate their successes.
The Ripple Effect
Since 2019, AFEC has enrolled 2,340 young people—1,051 men and 1,289 women—across 9 states in India. Of these, 858 are in training and 1,098 have been employed after training, with an 81% placement rate and a 5% dropout rate.
These numbers show our reach and results. But behind every number is an individual journey—and every life changed has a ripple effect. When one young person becomes
confident and independent, the impact reaches their family, community and the people around them. And that impact can continue from one generation to the next.
The stories of Vicky and the others remind us that we cannot always know at 18 where a young person’s journey will take them. What we can do is make sure they don’t have to make that journey alone—and that they have the right support along the way. When we get that right, the progress can follow.
Here is a short video about AFEC’s program.
Join us to learn more about Vicky Roy’s journey, AFEC’s Launchpad for Adulthood program, and how we support young people as they progress toward adulthood.
Sun Nov 15 11-Noon PST (or 2-3pm East Coast)
About the Author
Anusuya Rao is AFEC’s Executive Director. Originally from Mangalore and raised in Chennai, India, Anusuya has called the Bay Area home for the past two decades. A mother of two adopted children from Pune, India, she is passionate about helping vulnerable youth build independent futures and is dedicated to expanding AFEC’s reach and impact. Outside of AFEC, Anusuya enjoys good food, music, travel, outdoor adventures, and creating cherished moments with family and friends.
You can reach her at anusuya@afec.org
