#help poor students

As a child, every time somebody asked you, “What do you want to become when you grow up?”, was your answer the same or did it keep changing with every growing phase? Even as adults, don’t we always aspire to achieve more and hence work towards moving up the career ladder? Well, the simple underlined meaning in both the situations is that - we all have dreams, we all have aspirations, and they are not bound by age, time or situations.

 Such is the story of Yathish, a boy from a village near Tumkur, Karnataka. Yathish aspired to be an engineer and he was determined to achieve it. He worked hard and successfully completed his SSLC exam and a diploma course. His father was the only breadwinner of the family, but due to health concerns, eventually the family had to depend on the pension money he was getting from the Karnataka State Government. This posed a hurdle in Yathish’s further progress in education. It is then that he received support from Vidya Chetana, one of the reputed NGOs working for education that helps underprivileged students to complete their higher studies by connecting them to generous donors who sponsor for education. This enabled Yathish to continue his studies in mechanical engineering. He graduated from R.V. College, a top-ranking engineering college in Bangalore with 6.8 GPA and got a placement in DXA Technology.

 Role of NGOs in education

 NGOs are like bridges that connect the needy with benevolent donors and supporters. These organisations act as mediums through which we can channelise our efforts to uplift the society. Before we understand the role of education NGOs that help poor students, let’s quickly take a look at some facts.

-        Among the 42 listed categories of NGOs and VOs (Voluntary Organisations) in Darpan, the NGO portal of NITI Aayog, education is the most concentrated category.

-        Out of the total 1,52,979 NGOs and VOs listed in Darpan, the education sector has 88,516 NGOs & VOs, the highest among all categories.

While the mentioned numbers reflect the importance of education, it also shows the focus it is receiving as a cause. Though the core goal of all NGOs working for education is to make education accessible and available to all, they can be further divided into four categories based on their different roles, such as:

-        The kind of services they provide, i.e., infrastructure, teaching, advocacy, and resource development.

-        The gender they focus on, i.e., education for girls only, or for both girls and boys.

-        The category of education they support such as primary, secondary, degree, vocational courses etc.

-        The type of support they provide such as approaching donors to sponsor for education, free education, education with hostel facilities, etc.

 Vidya Chetana’s role as an education NGO

 Vidya Chetana is dedicated to support higher studies of underprivileged students. They provide scholarships to help poor students pursue PUC (10+2), Degree, Engineering, and Medical studies. By far, this NGO has supported the education of more than 5,000 aspiring students from socio-economically weaker sections.

 Apart from the Scholarship Programme, Vidya Chetana also has various programmes aimed at providing overall development of their beneficiaries. These programmes include:

●      Career counselling

●      Mentorship programmes

●      Life skill sessions

●      21st-century skills sessions

●      Employability Readiness Programme

 So, when a donor chooses to sponsor for education through Vidya Chetana, they actually entitle the beneficiary student to all these programmes. This allows the student to develop skills required in the real world.

 Would you like to wave your magic wand?

 It is a universally accepted fact that education is a potential solution for several socio-economic issues. Reason being this, various efforts are made at local, national, and global level to ensure education for all. Yet, fundraising is among the top five challenges faced by NGOs working for education. Lack of funds block these NGOs from making expansions to newer regions and age-groups. This is where your involvement and contribution can make a huge difference in changing the education landscape of India. So, do give it a thought, because your one action can practically lead a number of dreams to fruition by bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement.

  Author Profile: 

As a child, every time somebody asked you, “What do you want to become when you grow up?”, was your answer the same or did it keep changing with every growing phase? Even as adults, don’t we always aspire to achieve more and hence work towards moving up the career ladder? Well, the simple underlined meaning in both the situations is that - we all have dreams, we all have aspirations, and they are not bound by age, time or situations.

 Such is the story of Yathish, a boy from a village near Tumkur, Karnataka. Yathish aspired to be an engineer and he was determined to achieve it. He worked hard and successfully completed his SSLC exam and a diploma course. His father was the only breadwinner of the family, but due to health concerns, eventually the family had to depend on the pension money he was getting from the Karnataka State Government. This posed a hurdle in Yathish’s further progress in education. It is then that he received support from Vidya Chetana, one of the reputed NGOs working for education that helps underprivileged students to complete their higher studies by connecting them to generous donors who sponsor for education. This enabled Yathish to continue his studies in mechanical engineering. He graduated from R.V. College, a top-ranking engineering college in Bangalore with 6.8 GPA and got a placement in DXA Technology.

 Role of NGOs in education

 NGOs are like bridges that connect the needy with benevolent donors and supporters. These organisations act as mediums through which we can channelise our efforts to uplift the society. Before we understand the role of education NGOs that help poor students, let’s quickly take a look at some facts.

-        Among the 42 listed categories of NGOs and VOs (Voluntary Organisations) in Darpan, the NGO portal of NITI Aayog, education is the most concentrated category.

-        Out of the total 1,52,979 NGOs and VOs listed in Darpan, the education sector has 88,516 NGOs & VOs, the highest among all categories.

While the mentioned numbers reflect the importance of education, it also shows the focus it is receiving as a cause. Though the core goal of all NGOs working for education is to make education accessible and available to all, they can be further divided into four categories based on their different roles, such as:

-        The kind of services they provide, i.e., infrastructure, teaching, advocacy, and resource development.

-        The gender they focus on, i.e., education for girls only, or for both girls and boys.

-        The category of education they support such as primary, secondary, degree, vocational courses etc.

-        The type of support they provide such as approaching donors to sponsor for education, free education, education with hostel facilities, etc.

 Vidya Chetana’s role as an education NGO

 Vidya Chetana is dedicated to support higher studies of underprivileged students. They provide scholarships to help poor students pursue PUC (10+2), Degree, Engineering, and Medical studies. By far, this NGO has supported the education of more than 5,000 aspiring students from socio-economically weaker sections.

 Apart from the Scholarship Programme, Vidya Chetana also has various programmes aimed at providing overall development of their beneficiaries. These programmes include:

●      Career counselling

●      Mentorship programmes

●      Life skill sessions

●      21st-century skills sessions

●      Employability Readiness Programme

 So, when a donor chooses to sponsor for education through Vidya Chetana, they actually entitle the beneficiary student to all these programmes. This allows the student to develop skills required in the real world.

 Would you like to wave your magic wand?

 It is a universally accepted fact that education is a potential solution for several socio-economic issues. Reason being this, various efforts are made at local, national, and global level to ensure education for all. Yet, fundraising is among the top five challenges faced by NGOs working for education. Lack of funds block these NGOs from making expansions to newer regions and age-groups. This is where your involvement and contribution can make a huge difference in changing the education landscape of India. So, do give it a thought, because your one action can practically lead a number of dreams to fruition by bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement.

  Author Profile: 

Diwali celebration is a 3-day long festival of lights celebrated in harmony and togetherness all over the country. Diwali symbolises the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. Every time a diya is lit on these 3 days, it eradicates all dark and ignorant thoughts to establish wise and positive thoughts in all. Well, education serves the same purpose too. It diminishes all immature thoughts, only to be replaced with wisdom and knowledge that aids a student to achieve the greatest heights of success and empowerment.

 Diwali celebration is a period of spreading goodwill among communities and sharing good times with dear and loved ones. India being a diverse nation celebrates this festival in various ways. One such way is sharing the festive joys with the underprivileged to brighten their homes. This light can have different symbolizations for everyone, for some it may be food and shelter, for some it may be education, and for some it may be good health. Identifying which light one needs, is our social responsibility and Diwali is the ideal time to do so. Once identified, selecting the right source to be shared through is essential. This is where NGOs come in. If one chooses to give the light of education, then NGO working for education would be the right source.

 Selecting the right NGO

Supporting education is a noble deed. Being the fundamental stepping stone to all further stages in life, it is also a basic right for all in the country. However, many don't receive this education for various reasons, mainly due to financial constraints. This is where NGO working for education step in to provide the aid that students require. A nation with over 3 million NGOs, it is truly a tricky task to select the right one. Not to worry when Vidya Chetana, a registered NGO working for education is there. Vidya Chetana provides scholarships to meritorious, but socio-economically underprivileged students for the completion of their higher education, which includes PUC (10+2), Degree, Engineering, and Medical studies. The steps involved in a student receiving this scholarship are:

Selection - The NGOs team of     on-ground volunteers conducts a need-based assessment to identify eligible     students for the scholarship.

Scholarship Disbursement-     Selected students are categorised stream-wise and granted funds accordingly.    

Engagement with selected     students - Selected students also benefit from their career counselling,     21st-century skills session, employability readiness program & more.

Once the scholarship is granted and the student pays the academic fees of their selected course, Vidya Chetana provides the following benefits to the donors as well. This is done as an act of gratitude for providing funds to help poor students.

●      Regular report cards of the supported student are shared.

●      One-on-one communication with the student post approval from the NGO.

●      Complete financial transparency which informs the donor of the entire cost breakup of the amount donated.

Keeping the above pointers in mind, Vidya Chetana is one of the best NGOs to partner with this Diwali to help poor students achieve their dreams of becoming engineers, doctors, or changemakers in this country. So when you donate, students are able to complete their higher education and move on to achieve empowerment, freedom, and knowledge with gratitude for the donor in their hearts.

 This Diwali celebration, partner with Vidya Chetana to light up the path to success for underprivileged students. You can either choose to donate individually or opt to multiply the impact of your support by conducting a fundraising campaign. Help poor students complete their higher education and transform into independent, wise, and empowered citizens of the nation. Be the light for this nation. Donate today!

 Author Profile: 

Passion, a feeling that drives half of humanity to continue living their lives in their mundane schedules. This is what fuels an individual with purpose and one such example is of Shamath. Shamath is a first-year PU student with a PCMB major at Siddaganga College, where he also received a 95.3% in his 10th grade. He aspires to join IIT after passing the JEE and eventually work as a software engineer for a private company. Shamath's father is a farmer, his mother is a homemaker, and he has an elder sister. Fulfilling the dreams of these meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds is what Vidya Chetana, an NGO working for education is engaged in.

For students, dreams are their most valuable treasure. These dreams drive them to achieve bigger and better things in the future. And when powered by the right support and mentorship it yields impactful results. It is also the source of their academic success. However, most students from low-income families do not have the opportunity to pursue their aspirations because for them education itself is a distant dream. They face numerous challenges in completing their education such as:

●      Lack of funds

●      Societal pressures to earn faster

●      Distance to educational institutes

Vidya Chetana’s intervention

Education is one of the most promising and long-term solutions to illiteracy and poverty. Education not only empowers the student, but it also affects the entire family, and the society at large.

Established in 2009, Vidya Chetana is a registered NGO working for education. This NGO strives to help poor students to complete their education and become self-sufficient individuals. Vidya Chetana offers financial assistance in the form of scholarships to students pursuing PUC (10+2), Degree, Engineering, and Medical studies. Through their scholarship programme, so far, they have assisted over 5,775 students from across 10 states of India. 

In its efforts to help poor students inch towards their dreams, Vidya Chetana also supports students with its ‘Beyond Scholarship Programmes’ that includes:

●      Admission guidance for college and course selection

●      Career guidance sessions

●      21st century skills training

●      Mentorship programmes

●      Employability Readiness Programme for final year students

Join Vidya Chetana to fulfil dreams

As a donor, when you donate to educate poor students through this NGO, you not only enable students to complete their higher education, but also impact their families as well as the whole nation. 

This year, Vidya Chetana has 2,500 students waiting to receive support. You can be the catalyst and help poor students in three ways:

●      Donate: Make a direct donation to assist underprivileged and meritorious students in completing their higher education.

●      Be a CSR Partner: Join forces with Vidya Chetana to fulfil your social responsibility.

●      Plan a Fundraiser: Conduct a fundraising campaign and double your impact by encouraging others to donate to educate.

You can be rest assured of Vidya Chetana’s transparency regarding utilisation of your donated amount.

90% of your donation is directed     towards sponsoring academic fees for students and 10% is utilised to meet     administration costs.

They send regular updates of the academic     progress of the student you have supported.

They arrange virtual or physical     meetings with the student.

They also facilitate communication     with the sponsored student.

Vidya Chetana provides donation     receipt and 80G tax exemption certificate (applicable for contributions of     ₹500 and above) for your donated amount.

Conclusion

It is one's social responsibility to give back to society, and the best way to do so is to be an agent of change by donating to the noble cause of educating young minds. Partner with this NGO working for education to help meritorious students from less privileged backgrounds to realise their dreams. Take action to create a generation of empowered, responsible, and independent citizens.

 Author Profile:

“The scholarship I received from Vidya Chetana helped me to complete my final year BTech,

following which I also secured a placement in IBM. I am extremely grateful to Vidya Chetana for helping me achieve my goal.” says Sahana, a BTech Graduate from Presidency University, Bengaluru.

 This testimonial is a reflection of the vital role Vidya Chetana, an education NGO has been playing in ensuring accessibility of higher education for students from socio-economically weaker sections. So far, Vidya Chetana has supported education of more than five thousand students from across 10 states in India. And not just that, this NGO has also been supporting skills development among its beneficiaries to prepare them for a seamless transition to the employment sector after completion of their studies.

 Overview of Vidya Chetana

-        In 2009, Vidya Chetana began its journey as one of the NGOs helping poor students.

-        It supports higher education of underprivileged students by sponsoring scholarships.

-        The beneficiaries of Vidya Chetana are students from socio-economically challenging backgrounds, specially-abled students, and those who lost their parent/s during COVID-19 pandemic.

-        The scholarships are provided to support higher studies in PUC/Intermediate, Degree, Engineering, and Medical courses.

-        Vidya Chetana creates a platform where supporters can see the need and choose to sponsor for education of students pursuing or wanting to pursue the aforementioned field of studies.

The role of Vidya Chetana in fulfilling dreams 

Vidya Chetana is cognisant of the gap that needs to be addressed in order to facilitate a smooth transition for graduates into the employment world. So, it does not limit its role to just being an education NGO, rather goes the extra mile to support the beneficiaries in attaining their goals and aspirations with the following programmes:

Admission guidance for college and     course selection based on the interest and ambitions of students.

Career guidance sessions to enable     students to take the right path in fulfilling their goals.

Training on 21st century     skills along with soft skills workshops.

Mentorship programmes that include     residential camps, value inculcating workshops etc. to mould students into     responsible citizens.

Employability Readiness Programme     for final year students to make them job ready.

Step in to fulfil dreams with Vidya Chetna

By supporting the efforts of NGOs helping poor students, you can bring a tangible and sustainable change in the socio-economic landscape of the country. You will actively participate in creating the foundation for an empowered generation. In fact, by engaging with Vidya Chetana as an individual or as an organisation,

-        You can immediately support meritorious students and create an impact at a community level.

-        You can align with and create a global impact by directly contributing towards the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, i.e., SDG 1 - No Poverty, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 5 - Gender Equality, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities.

You can choose to support this education NGO in multiple ways such as:

●      Contribute an instant online donation.

●      Join as a CSR partner.

●      Organise a fundraising campaign.

 By doing so, you will not only empower the students, but also receive the following benefits:

●      Regular updates on the progress of the student you have supported.

●      A chance to meet and interact with the student as well as send and receive messages from the student (through Vidya Chetana).

●      Donation receipt and Tax Exemption Certificate on all contributions of ₹500 and above as per Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

 Be the catalyst

Your contribution can potentially transform lives of underprivileged students, making them self-dependent, skilful, competent individuals. This year, 2,500 students are waiting in anticipation to receive support. And your partnership with Vidya Chetana can prove to be instrumental in supporting education of these students. Sponsor for education of poor students and enable them to break free from their current hardships by attaining their dreams and goals. Take action now!

 Author Profile:

Education being the key to knowledge, character and development, it is imperative to make it available to all children without any discrimination whatsoever. Hence, quality education should not be limited to only the privileged class but must be made available and accessible even for educating underprivileged students too. Education being a struggle for underprivileged rural children, the e1e1 Foundation steps in to provide them with the opportunity of receiving quality, values-based education. An NGO working for education, the e1e1 Foundation nurtures an education system that incorporates the regular academic curriculum, sports and other extra-curricular activities, along with inculcation of the universal human values of love, brotherhood, empathy, unity and gratitude. 

About e1e1 Foundation and their ideology 

Established in 2017, the e1e1 Foundation is an NGO working for the education of rural, underprivileged children. It provides free of cost, holistic education to children from the higher primary level all the way to the university. 

●      Vision: To realise a world where every child has access to quality, values-based and holistic education.

●      Mission: To serve as a global platform for like-minded individuals and institutions to participate in giving every child access to quality values-based and holistic education.

●      Impact: In the last 5 years, the e1e1 foundation has cumulatively supported the education of over 13,500 children. In the current academic year, the Foundation is supporting the education of 3,000 children in 27 campuses across 20 districts of 3 states. 

Below is a quick overview of the e1e1 Foundation: 

●      Values-based, quality education from higher primary level to the university

●      Well-established, safe and secure campuses

●      Nutritious, wholesome food

●      End-to-end, complete care for children

●      Separate residential campuses for boys and girls

●      Personality development programmes - soft skills, communication skills, life skills, and internship

●      Value of ‘giving back to society’ by Paying it Forward to the next generation

 In order to address various interconnected factors while educating underprivileged students, e1e1 Foundation implements two Edu-care Programmes at the school level and one Edu-care program at the university level. All admissions are done from the 6th grade. Based on need, each student is absorbed under the respective programs and when somebody takes a step to donate for education under a particular Edu-care program, a student under that particular program is allowed to benefit from it. 

●      Each One Educate One - Under this program, the beneficiary children get the opportunity to access high quality education, free of cost. They also get a conducive community-life environment within the premises of well-secured campuses.  

●      Each One Embrace One - This program focuses on caring for children hailing from extremely destitute backgrounds. Hence, under this program, the Foundation not only provides free education, but also takes care of other expenses towards food, clothing, basic essentials, and the like.

●      Each One Higher Educate One - This program provides an opportunity for students to pursue their university graduation followed by a paid internship and post-graduation. The internship allows them to imbibe real world job skills and graduate as resourceful individuals.

 The education system at e1e1 Foundation

All the beneficiaries of the e1e1 Foundation benefit from the curriculum of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Schools and the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence - an autonomous private university. A modern-day Gurukula system of education is followed across all levels of the academic journey, from the higher primary level all the way to Graduation, Post-graduation and even PhD. Apart from the regular higher studies courses in sciences, mathematics, computer science, arts & literature, history and economics, the SSSUHE is the only university also offering courses in Vedic studies, and Performing Arts which include Music – Carnatic & Hindustani and Indian Classical Dance – Bharatanatyam.

 E1E1 is not an NGO working for education at just the primary or secondary school level, it is much more than that. It represents a model of education where children are honed to be self-sufficient and resourceful in the real world with academic excellence, sports, extra-curricular activities and self-development programmes for human excellence. Thus, for e1e1 Foundation, educating underprivileged students is an endeavour to make education a life-enriching, winning game for all!

 Your support is crucial

The e1e1 Foundation believes that their vision is attainable only through a collective collaboration between the Society (Samaja), the Government (Sarkara) and the Institution (Samstha). To create a harmonious coherence between the three, this NGO working for education maintains complete financial transparency, allowing benefactors to understand how their investment is being put to optimal use. 

In addition, when you donate for education, you enter the Foundation’s ‘circle of generosity’ i.e., when you educate a child, that child grows up imbibing the value of giving back to the society by supporting the education of another needy child, so on and so forth. Donate for education with the e1e1 Foundation and witness the change you have always wished to see!

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