Since 1995, Nalamdana has been supporting students from economically challenged backgrounds, to help them complete their high school, under Nalamdana’s Youth Education and Leadership Program.
The funding for this Youth Education and Leadership Program comes from individual donors, as well as from foundations and corporate organizations. Asha for Education, U.S. Chapters, have supported students on this program continuously, from 1999 to 2009!
Deserving students are selected through a rigorous selection process, which includes interviews with the child as well as their families, screening of the student’s school performance records and a house visit to verify the facts. Students, who come from financially challenged backgrounds yet, show good interest in education and signs of good communication and leadership skills are selected.
Beyond providing monetary support, this program also strives to contribute to their holistic development as young adults. Different skill building workshops are conducted during their school holidays. These range from carpentry skills, arts and crafts, to spoken English and computer skills. The students are also taken on a field trip/camp every year. Career guidance is provided where possible.
These students are also encouraged to give back to their communities in some way while keeping their school grades up.
The Youth Education and Leadership Program has been running successfully for 15 years now, and many of the supported students have gone on to become professionals in their chosen field. Some of the students who are well placed have now come forward to support scholarship students.
Scholarship Recipients
Some of our Former Scholarship Recipients…
John Ebenezer received a full scholarship from a very reputable institute in Malaysia, and is now studying Marine Biology there. He has already been offered a job that he can take up as soon as he completes his course.
Selvarani is now a dentist.
Suchitra Mohan is now working at Livingston in the U.K. as a Business Systems Analyst with BSkyB.
R.R. Manojkumar is now studying at the University of New Mexico.
Most of them remain in contact with Nalamdana and are vocal about how the scholarship programme built them as individuals. Some actively give back to Nalamdana and society in one way or another.
Manikandan is now working in a very well reputed I.T. company, and earning well. However, he still keeps in touch with Nalamdana, and spends time talking to and inspiring the current scholarship students.
Ramaswamy, a former recipient of Nalamdana’s Scholarship, is now working as an Assistant Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services, Chennai, and gives back a part of his salary towards this program to support another student like himself! Ramaswamy’s letter to Nalamdana
Support and Endowments
Between 30 and 35 students are supported annually by Nalamdana under this program. The funding for this Youth Education and Leadership Program comes from individual donors, as well as from foundations and corporate organisations. Asha for Education, U.S. Chapters, have supported students on this program continuously, from 1999 to 2009!
Other than sponsoring a student on a yearly basis, there have been specific endowments established to ensure continued support for some students annually:
The Rani Chandran Memorial Fund, is an endowment set up by former students and colleagues, of the late Mrs.Rani Chandran, an extraordinary English teacher and an inspirational individual and mentor. The interest from this fund supports spoken and written English classes for all the scholarship students, every summer.
The Kaveri Mani Endowment, was set up by her family members, in her memory. The annual interest from this endowment supports one girl student studying in an English Medium School, from 8th through 12th grade. When that girl finishes her 12th grade, another deserving 8th grade girl, in an English Medium School is taken on by this endowment.
Nassim Manji Endowment and Vinod and Vasu Sanchania Endowment: The collective annual interest from these two endowments supports the high school education of two girl children each year.
The Sudha Jain Memorial Endowment was set up in 2010 by her family members, friends and former students in her memory. Sudha Jain dedicated much of her life to teaching. Improving the situation of the lesser privileged segment of society through educating girl children was particularly close to her heart. The annual interest from this endowment supports four students from financially challenged families, right from the time they are selected to the time they complete grade 12. When each of the four children finishes 12th grade, another deserving child is taken on by this endowment.
The Vinodh Srikanth Memorial Endowment was set up in 2010 by his family members and friends, in his loving memory. Vinodh’s zest for life, generosity of spirit, care for others and love for children will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The annual interest from this endowment supports one student from the time they are selected to the time they complete grade 12. When each child finishes 12th grade, another deserving child is taken on by this endowment.
Kalvi Trust and Nalamdana
From 2010, The Kalvi Trust, an independent NGO, (with 80G tax exemption), has been identified to run this program, in partnership with Nalamdana. This is through a special resolution passed by the Nalamdana Board.
If you are interested in supporting a student, setting up an endowment or supporting any aspect of the program, please contact us at info@nalamdana.org.
Please address your email to Mr. M.Sampath, Programme Coordinator, Nalamdana Youth Education and Leadership Program
Approximate Program Cost
The cost of supporting one student from standard 8 through standard 12 (continuation of funding for each student for all 5 years however, depends on the results of the yearly assessment conducted, of the student’s performance and need)
Rs.7000 ($152 USD) per student, per year, + 10% towards admin charges = Rs. 7,700 ($168 USD)
Rs.7,700 x 5 years = Rs.35,000 ($760 USD) for all 5 years
This covers the school fees, uniform and books cost for the student as well as other activities organized by Nalamdana for skills building.
Cost of setting up a Endowment to keep supporting one student every year (this is put in a fixed deposit, and the interest is used to support the student’s education)
Rs.1,00,000/- + 10% admin charges = Rs.1,10,000/- (approximately $2400 USD)
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