Our project, 21 Miles, aims to upskill underprivileged children with practical, 21st-century skills. Today, only 50% of Grade 5 students in rural India can read a Grade 2-level textbook (Annual Status of Education Report). Free education is a right, but so is quality education. Even today, the crowding in government schools is primarily for the midday meals, teachers lack training, the curriculum is outdated, rigid and fails to inspire or prepare students for real life challenges. 21 Miles aims to do what conventional schools don’t, spark genuine interest in learning. We’re starting with students in Grades 5–12: middle schoolers who deserve to know why they study what they do, and high schoolers beginning to explore career choices. Our first step is a baseline needs assessment in slum communities and government schools through informal interviews and activity-based evaluations. Then, under the Millennium Fellowship (Aug–Dec), we’ll run monthly learning modules on communication, digital and legal literacy, personal finance, and career awareness. Our sessions will use storytelling and real-life examples to connect with students’ lived experiences. Each month would end with a student showcase and peer mentorship handover.