Gaytri's College Dream
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Our friend from Dharamsala, India is a true, life-long inspiration for anyone she meets. A self-made woman and pioneer for women's rights in her family and community, Gaytri fought societal pressure to marry and become a house-wife in her small village. She instead led her family through her father's death, found jobs to support them, finished high school despite her family's disapproval, became a program leader at an NGO working for women's rights, and eventually obtained a B.A. in Social Work from Indira Gandhi National Open University. She is now serving as a W.J. Clinton Fellow for Service in India. After spending years teaching herself English and learning from those around her, another dream of hers is about to come true.
Gaytri was recently offered admission into Azim Premji University's Master of Arts in Development Studies. It's a 2-year program that prepares professionals to lead in the development sector. For Gaytri, it's a step closer towards achieving her dream of one day starting an NGO for widowed women and their children.
In her own words:
"Now I am learning, but I can't read or write much. My schooling and childhood was not like that:that's why I didn't get the habit to read and write. I want to learn from other students, students from different backgrounds, learn from teachers and professors, and see myself in a different place, in a different world:I believe that education is the most, most, most important thing in our lives. Education is the main tool to move forward, to open the door to what you want to do. Whatever my dreams are, I will be able to make my dreams succeed. Whatever valuable education I will get, I will help other students and kids with that education, because whatever I suffered, I don't want them to suffer the same thing."
In order to help Gaytri continue to make an impact, we're asking for your help in ensuring that finances don't prevent her from obtaining her Master's degree. Any contribution you make will go directly towards Gaytri's tuition, living expenses, and English tutoring for the next 2 years. She has already received a 50% scholarship from the university, and we're aiming to raise $4000 to help cover the remaining costs. We're extremely grateful for your help in ensuring that this amazing friend reaches her full potential.
To learn more about Gaytri, please read the article below, from which we've sourced her quote above.
Gaytri Sharma: Pioneer for Women in India
Thank you,
Sarah, Aarti, & Bhumi
P.S. Photo Credit: Sarah Connette above, Liv Dowling below
Gaytri was recently offered admission into Azim Premji University's Master of Arts in Development Studies. It's a 2-year program that prepares professionals to lead in the development sector. For Gaytri, it's a step closer towards achieving her dream of one day starting an NGO for widowed women and their children.
In her own words:
"Now I am learning, but I can't read or write much. My schooling and childhood was not like that:that's why I didn't get the habit to read and write. I want to learn from other students, students from different backgrounds, learn from teachers and professors, and see myself in a different place, in a different world:I believe that education is the most, most, most important thing in our lives. Education is the main tool to move forward, to open the door to what you want to do. Whatever my dreams are, I will be able to make my dreams succeed. Whatever valuable education I will get, I will help other students and kids with that education, because whatever I suffered, I don't want them to suffer the same thing."
In order to help Gaytri continue to make an impact, we're asking for your help in ensuring that finances don't prevent her from obtaining her Master's degree. Any contribution you make will go directly towards Gaytri's tuition, living expenses, and English tutoring for the next 2 years. She has already received a 50% scholarship from the university, and we're aiming to raise $4000 to help cover the remaining costs. We're extremely grateful for your help in ensuring that this amazing friend reaches her full potential.
To learn more about Gaytri, please read the article below, from which we've sourced her quote above.
Gaytri Sharma: Pioneer for Women in India
Thank you,
Sarah, Aarti, & Bhumi
P.S. Photo Credit: Sarah Connette above, Liv Dowling below
Organizer
Bhumi Purohit
Organizer