Support in providing education to underprivileged

“Help A Child to Study” is an organization of Somaiya Vidyavihar Trust, founded with the primary objective of supporting meritorious and deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds to pursue their higher education.

From a humble beginning in 2001, when we supported our first student, we have come a long way today wherein we have now provided scholarships for more than 6250 students and empowered them to achieve dreams that would otherwise seem impossible.  

We believe that education is the best way to end the cycle of poverty and ensure a better future for everyone. While they dream of becoming Doctors, Engineers and Teachers, without financial support their dreams would not become reality. Support us to reach out to even more students in need, transforming their lives through the gift of education!

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, from slums and villages, their parents may be laborers, weavers, watchmen or domestic servants. Some students are orphans or belong to single parent families, many work part time to help their families survive. Despite these insurmountable odds they have shown the ability and a will to succeed, as well as talent that should not be wasted simply because their family does not have the financial resources to help them continue.

We aim to reach out to those who need our help the most, to ensure that they do not have to give up their education simply because of a lack of funds. We believe that education is the best way to end the cycle of poverty, ensuring a better future for our beneficiaries.

Shweta Bantanal

Hers is an inspiring tale that comes from Mudhol, a small town in rural Karnataka, showcasing the talent and resilience in India’s rural youth.  She had to give up education after her father passed away.  Resilient and determined to study to enable a better life, she participated in every school competition and used the winnings to pay for her academic necessities.

Following her excellent academic performance in class X, she was noticed by Help A Child. With their support, Bantanal completed her XII, BE and secured a job in HP at Bangalore.  Education changed her life. She supported her family, and also paid for her sister's higher education.

In 2011, at 21 Shweta Bantanal, was invited to speak at the Harvard University conference on how education helped her break the vicious cycle of poverty.

Her story is not the only one – of talented, academically brilliant students, who got a chance in life with the supported of Help A Child

Shweta Sidderaj Kallur

Shweta Sidderaj Kallur who is a Bachelor of Science student. Shweta has been sponsored ever since the 11th standard and her story is a true testament to how it is possible to overcome adversity and excel. Her parents were nomadic drum artists and used to travel from place to place to perform and earn money, they used to make the young Shweta dance to the music. From an early age Shweta stayed in a hostel to complete her studies, but in the 7th standard her mother died and her father remarried. By then her father had become an alcoholic and all of the earnings from drumming went to support his addiction. He tried to force Shweta to leave her studies and continue dancing for him to earn more money, but Shweta knew that it would not be right for her to do so and refused. Shweta used to help her step-mother to clean houses to help the family earn a living and even though she scored 86% in her 10th standard, she would have had to leave her studies due to a lack of money, her father also wanted to force her into a marriage. Her teacher requested the college to give her a reduction in fees as she was such a bright student.

Despite all of the troubles confronting her, Shweta has excelled in both academics and cultural activities.  In the second year she was the top student in physics for the university.

Help A Child supported her for 7 years from 11th to M.Sc. and now she works as faculty in degree college teaching Physics

Take a look at Kavita, a resident of Lokapur village in Karnataka. Kavita is an orphan and lived a in a room provided by her relatives. She worked as a domestic help cleaning people’s houses every morning before school in order to make some money to support her education as well as to provide for her family. Being the eldest in her family, the responsibility of her siblings fell on her shoulders at a very tender age.

After getting a scholarship from HelpAChild, Kavita has completed her pre university course, graduation as well as her post graduation in B.Ed. As of now, she is preparing for competitive examinations and wants to pursue her M.A. after this. She is also teaching her neighbor’s children so as to encourage young children to focus on their education and to not drop out of school, however tough situations in life become.

Juggling between household chores and studies, has now emerged a bright and confident young lady, Kavita. She is now an independent woman who has risen above from the shackles of poverty and has educated herself to ensure that her family’s future is also secured.

'Help a Child' has supported students like these to achieve their dreams, many of whom are sponsored for more than one course. 

We always think of making our country, our world a better place to live. This is your chance to give back to our society. Help us reach out to even more students in need, transforming their lives through the gift of education. Come ahead and donate generously to our noble cause. Every little bit counts and will go a long way.

Regards

Somaiya Vidyavihar

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