SWAPATH TRUST'S PROJECTS:
HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Under this programme, meritorious students at University level are supported both financially and through guidance and counselling. 61 students are studying various courses at 44 different colleges:
- 22 (36%) female, 39 (64%) male.
- 24 (39%) from a rural background, 37 (61%) from cities.
- 7 pursuing engineering courses, 11 studying social sciences, 3 medical students, 2 studying nursing, 1 pharmacy, 2 dentistry and1 homeopathy. The remaining students study in various branches of arts or sciences.
- 11% of these students are from very poor tribal districts of Gujarat representing Scheduled Tribes and 34% belong to the socially marginalised Scheduled Castes, i.e. 45% of the students are from socioeconomically marginalised categories. 7% are from minority communities and 34% come from Socially and Educationally Backward Castes (SEBCs).
These college students attend one to two self-development workshops in a year arranged especially for them. Typically, these are three-day residential workshops on topics that will motivate them to think holistically and positively rather than developing complacency after getting into a good college. Students receiving this support are required to volunteer for 100 hours at a voluntary organisation selected with mutual consent. This gives them a different view of life from the one they get from their education. For example, an engineer is placed with a social work organisation and a social work student is placed at a good restaurant. In some cases, these placements have opened up new windows for students.
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A SUCCESS STORY:
Dhiren is the elder son of a typical urban-poor family. His father is not well enough to not work and his mother (who recently passed away) could only work part time, cooking for families in the neighbourhood. From this she had to sustain a family of five.
Dhiren could barely manage to pay the fees of the neighbourhood school when we heard about his high scores in school examinations. He was rewarded with excellent scores in his Board exams but had no money to pay for his engineering course. He was financially supported throughout his engineering degree course by AWARE.
After his bachelor’s degree, he was offered a job with a small company on a modest salary. Owing to the family’s financial situation, he was ready to give up further studies and take up the job paying Rs. 5,000/- p.m.
He was advised by AWARE not to do so; instead it was suggested that he should take up a master’s degree course in a first-rate engineering institute in Gujarat. He followed the advice and received a grant which was 40% higher than the first salary offered to him. He was thankful to the organisation for this advice and a loan to purchase a computer. He finished his masters with flying colours and got a first job at Rs. 25,000/- p.m. in Chennai. His ambition inspired him to look for even better opportunities. From Chennai he has recently jumped to Baherain with a salary package close to Rs. 150,000/- p.m.
Apart from the timely and sustained (five years) financial support, Dhiren is thankful for the advice of not taking up a job instead of a master’s degree course. This he considers was a turning point that made all the difference to his life!