Dear Supporters,

In the current climate of pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the priorities have to shift, and one has to make sure that students can have enough food and other essential resources. Any form of education is only a priority if basic human needs are fulfilled. Hence, all the funds will be diverted to support the students financially in any way possible (not only limited to educational sponsorship).

Many thanks for all the support.

Regards,
Mayank Shreshtha

Dear Supporters,

We started this campaign in January 2018 with the hope of supporting a few adolescent girls' education so that they can establish themselves in life. The dropout rate of teenage girls in India, particularly, among Musahars is staggeringly high. Prerna residential schools do not have enough facilities for girls who complete their matriculation. This issue forces them to leave the school and go back to their homes where the dangers of child marriage and sexual abuse is always looming. This happened with Asha, one of the recipients of the educational support last year. Asha’s wedding was canceled after the fortunate intervention of Sudha Ma’am.

We aim to provide the educational needs (tuition fee, stationaries, books) of interested students which is an extension of Sudha Ma’am’s initiative to the above-mentioned excluded groups. As mentioned in the previous updates, the success of Asha and Sanju has inspired others in their community. Last year, more students scored well in class 10th examination in various districts. It means more students are eligible for educational support, and we need your help again. Please feel free to read the previous updates, contribute as per your wish and spread the word.

Regards,
Mayank

Dear Supporters,

I have a piece of good news to share with all of you. Asha and Sanju, the first two students which we supported with the raised funds, have excelled in their Intermediate Examination (Grade 11 (GCSE) / Class 11 (CBSE)). Asha aced her Intermediate Examination (Science Stream)/ISc with first division, and Sanju achieved the same feat in Intermediate Examination (Arts Stream)/IA. It is an extraordinary achievement by them despite the adversity which both of them face every moment. Last year, there was full-fledged attempt to marry Asha by her family members, and it was cancelled after the intervention of Sudha Ma'am. She reminded the family members about the legal penalties of child marriage and saved Asha's life. Let us all hope, both, Asha and Sanju complete their education and change the fate of their family as well as the whole Musahar community.

Once again, I request you to read about privileges which we all enjoy because of our status, caste, class and acknowledge that the word "merit" is nothing but a result of privilege, resources and available opportunities. These girls have debunked the myth of meritocracy and again proved that once a level playing field is given, anyone is capable of achieving the results.

 Lastly, I would like to thank all of you again on behalf of Sudha Ma'am and appeal to you all rethink your notions of merit, acknowledge your caste privilege and destroy the stereotype, prejudices, unconscious biases relating caste and merit by reading more about these issues.

 I wish to open the portal again to accumulate funds for their future higher educational studies.

Mayank Shreshtha