SIOLIM, Dec. 4 -- Stella Jacob is a teacher who has helped transform the lives of thousands of rural youth through education and technical skilling. Hers is a story of resilience, simplicity, and a lifelong commitment to making underprivileged and marginalised youngsters employable and self-sufficient.

Born to P C Abraham and Thresiamma Abraham, Stella's early years were shaped by the rhythms of her father's career in civil aviation, leading the family from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, to the bustling streets of Vile Parle, Mumbai. However, her education began in the rural tranquillity of Kottayam, where she spent her primary years in a Malayalam medium school, guided by her grandparents.

Life in the village was no walk in the park for young Ste...