Meet Saiteja: A Young Man with an Intellectual Disability Who Didn’t Give Up

Meet Saiteja: A Young Man with an Intellectual Disability Who Didn’t Give Up

Meravath Saiteja, a 25-year-old from a small village, who always dreamed of standing on his own feet. Growing up, he watched his father, an auto driver, and his mother, who worked at NIMS Hospital, work hard every day to take care of the family. His younger brother had already found a job in Mumbai, and Saiteja wanted to do the same—be independent and support his parents.

But life wasn’t easy for him. Born with an intellectual disability, Saiteja faced struggles from a young age. School was difficult—he couldn’t keep up with other kids, and many of them made fun of him. Even in his village, people didn’t understand him. Over time, all the teasing made him very shy. He stopped speaking up because he was afraid of being laughed at.

Still, he didn’t give up. He finished his studies through open schooling and learned to speak Hindi, English, and Telugu. But when it came to finding a job, new challenges began.

No matter where he applied, companies kept rejecting him. Some didn’t want to hire a person with a disability. Even when he did get an interview, Saiteja didn’t know how to talk to employers or answer questions. He didn’t know what to say or how to act at work. All the rejections made him lose hope. Every day, he would travel a long distance to Hyderabad for training, but it felt like nothing was working.

That’s when Youth4Jobs stepped in. They believed in him when he couldn’t believe in himself. At Youth4Jobs, Saiteja learned how to speak with confidence, how to face interviews, and how to behave in a workplace. They helped him practice, build a resume, and, most importantly, believe in his own abilities. Slowly, Saiteja started opening up, speaking clearly, and showing confidence he didn’t know he had.

Finally, after all the hard work, Saiteja got a job at Cream Stone as a Team Member – Customer Support, close to his home. Today, he goes to work with a smile, proud to be independent and able to support his family—just like he always wanted.

For his parents, seeing him confident and working is the biggest happiness.

Saiteja, a young man with an intellectual disability, working at Cream Stone alongside his colleagues. He is dressed in a uniform and preparing ice cream, confidently handling his task in a busy kitchen environment.[/caption]

Saiteja says,
“Youth4Jobs and NIEPID didn’t just help me get a job; they gave me confidence to face life. Before, I was scared to talk to people. Now, I go to work and talk to customers without fear. I always say, ‘Live forever, Youth4Jobs,’ because they change lives, including mine.”

Saiteja’s journey shows that with the right support, anyone can succeed. All they need is someone to believe in them—and Youth4Jobs is doing just that, helping many young people like Saiteja find their way.