Ritinjali
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Second Chance School Programme
Enabling wholistic development and career growth through personalised education and livelihood pathways
The Second Chance School (SCS) is our flagship education-to-livelihood initiative for young adults aged 18–24 from disadvantaged backgrounds who have dropped out of formal schooling due to poverty, migration, family responsibilities, or lack of guidance.
These learners often face multiple overlapping barriers: disrupted education, unstable living conditions, limited career exposure, and low confidence, which make conventional education and skilling pathways inaccessible. They represent the ‘missing middle’: too old to re-enter the formal school system, yet under-qualified for mainstream skilling opportunities. In a post-pandemic context, many are pushed into insecure, low-paying work with limited growth.
The programme is unique for integrating education and skilling simultaneously within a single pathway, rather than treating them as separate or sequential steps. Each learner progresses through an Individual Education and Livelihood Plan, shaped by assessments and mentoring to align learning and career pathways with aptitude and aspirations. This personalised approach ensures that students move forward at a pace that is both realistic and sustainable, enabling consistent progress despite varied starting points.
Delivery Models
We offer two school models designed to meet learners where they are.
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Second Chance Residential School
For young men from rural communities in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Northeast India.
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Second Chance Day School
For young women and men from urban communities across Delhi and NCR.
While both models follow a 12 to 18-month curriculum, the pace and delivery are adapted to learners’ backgrounds and starting points, recognising that urban day scholars and rural residential students progress at different rates and require tailored support.
Second Chance Residential School
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The Residential School in Mahipalpur, Delhi, supports young men from rural and underserved regions across India who need a stable, immersive environment to resume their educational journey. Through a structured residential model, learners live and learn together in a safe, supportive space that fosters independence, peer learning, and community.
Over 12–18 months, the programme integrates academics, work and life readiness, alongside mentorship, industry exposure, and experiential learning. By building confidence, practical competencies, and aspirations, the programme enables learners to transition into employment, higher education, or entrepreneurship with stronger foundations for the future.
Second Chance Day School
The Day School operates in Delhi and Jhalawar, Rajasthan, providing support to young women and men from nearby communities who need structured academic and career guidance while living with their families.
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Second Chance Day School, Delhi
The Day School in Delhi supports first-generation learners whose education has been disrupted due to financial hardship, caregiving responsibilities, or limited access to quality educational resources.
Through a well-organised day programme, learners strengthen their academic skills while also building essential life skills and career readiness. In addition to offering open schooling, the school helps students develop competencies in digital literacy, financial literacy, communication, and workplace skills.
Mentorship, counselling, exposure visits, and interactions with professionals help learners rebuild their confidence, navigate challenges, and explore their aspirations. By helping students remain connected to their families and communities, the program supports them in accessing a path toward sustainable livelihoods and long-term independence.
Second Chance Day School, Jhalawar, Rajasthan
The Computer Education Programme at the Day School in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, equips students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with essential digital skills.
Conducted after school hours, the programme equips learners with practical digital skills, including computer operations, typing, internet navigation, and the use of educational software. Implemented in partnership with Pallavan School, it leverages existing infrastructure and teacher support to enhance learning outcomes. The programme has opened new opportunities for students, with several alumni using these skills to secure employment and contribute to their families' livelihoods.
The Student Journey
1
2
Entry & Onboarding
Supporting learners as they transition back into structured learning
Foundation & Exposure
Building academic basics, self-belief, and awareness of opportunities
3
4
Skills & Technical Training
Developing vocational, digital, and workplace competencies
Internships & Employment
Enabling real-world experience and transition into livelihoods
The Entrepreneurship Programme
The Entrepreneurship Programme supports Second Chance School alumni in building and growing their own businesses. Drawing on the education, skills, and workplace exposure gained through Ritinjali’s curriculum, participants are encouraged to transform local opportunities into sustainable enterprises.
Delivered through a hybrid model, the programme combines weekend training with personalised mentorship. Participants develop skills in business ideation, financial literacy, marketing, legal compliance, and business planning, culminating in a pitch presentation to a jury. Selected participants receive seed funding to launch their ventures.
The programme is supported by our Chairperson and donors, whose mentors guide participants in refining business ideas and pitches. Alumni have gone on to pursue enterprises in areas such as retail, electrical repair, handcrafted fashion, and community services, demonstrating resilience, creativity, and enterprise.
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The Student Journey
1
2
Ideation & Entrepreneurial Training
Participants attend 12 weekend sessions to develop business ideas and foundational entrepreneurial skills.
Mentorship & Business Planning
Participants receive 45 days of mentorship in financial planning, market research, and business development
3
4
Pitch Fest &
Seed Funding
Shortlisted participants pitch their ideas to a jury, with selected ventures receiving ₹2–4.5 lakhs in seed funding.
Business Development
Winning participants launch locally rooted businesses, translating their ideas into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Impact Since Inception
Impact Since Inception
Enrolment
1,005+
Students enrolled
530+
Residential School, Delhi
100
Day School, Delhi
375
Day School, Jhalawar, Rajasthan
15
States represented
Education, Skills & Livelihoods
2,580+
students completed academic and vocational training
95%
Placed in internships and jobs
₹18,500/
Average monthly salary
9×–15×
Increase in earning potential
Entrepreneurship Programme
51
Alumni enrolled
42
Ideas developed through guided mentoring
19
Shortlisted for jury presentations
10
Ventures received seed funding
₹26.5 lakhs
Awarded in seed funding
6
States represented
Stories of Transformation
Ratnesh Kumar Finds His Calling in Pediatric Physiotherapy
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Ratnesh Kumar Finds His Calling in Pediatric Physiotherapy
Ratnesh, from Darbhanga, Bihar, joined the programme after a break in his education, seeking a way to continue learning and build a stable future. During his time at Ritinjali, he developed an interest in healthcare and trained as a Pediatric Physiotherapist through a combination of classroom learning and practical exposure. He now works at a rehabilitation centre in Gurugram, supporting patients through therapy and recovery, reflecting how the right training can lead to meaningful, service-oriented work.
Sushil Ventures into Emerging Sectors
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Sushil Ventures into Emerging Sectors
Raised in a farming household in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, Sushil had limited exposure to career pathways. The programme enabled him to explore opportunities beyond his immediate environment. Through structured training and mentoring, he completed courses in Data Science and Digital Marketing, building skills relevant to emerging sectors. He is currently employed in a technology firm, applying his learning in professional settings and shaping a new direction for his future.
Abhishek Builds Himself a Stable Livelihood
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Abhishek Builds Himself a Stable Livelihood
Ritinjali provided Abhishek Kumar from Madhubani, Bihar, with a supportive environment to return to education after previous setbacks. With guidance and support, he pursued a course in Electrical Engineering at ITI, gaining hands-on technical experience. He now works in a private company, applying his skills in electrical systems and maintenance, demonstrating how vocational training can lead to stable livelihoods.
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Ritinjali's mission?
A second chance can change an entire future. Help children, youth, and communities access education, opportunity, and the support they need to thrive.