Udayan Shalini Fellowship Programme

About the Programme

By implementing the powerful combination of financial support and mentoring, the Udayan Shalini Fellowship (USF) arms underprivileged girls after their high school, with college degrees or vocational training, helping them blossom into confident and independent young women. Shalini is a Hindi word meaning a ‘dignified, empowered woman’.

At Udayan Care, we believe that a girl with a will to learn should not be constrained by lack of support. This idea sparked USF, which offers far more than financial support. It includes mentoring, capacity-building, resource workshops and inculcating a sense of giving back to society.

A Shalini is a motivated and meritorious girl backed by USF, who beats the odds imposed by financial and social constraints by demonstrating passion, dedication and a mind-set that never gives up.

Gender, poverty and disparities in Indian society are deeply entrenched. Therefore, when it comes to education, girls, more so from economically deprived backgrounds, often get short-changed. With USF, we redress this imbalance.

USF began in 2002 with the North Delhi chapter and 72 girls. Since 2002, we’ve generated dynamic change in the lives of about 6000 girls. At present, we have 4000 Fellows and 15 thriving chapters in 10 states.

Programme Objective

Encouraging Girls to Study through Financial Support

USF helps girls studying in government schools transcend the limits of their socio-economic background and realise their full potential, by providing the financial backing they need to continue studying post class X. Financial support allows our Shalinis to focus on their education and pursue their secondary education and college.

Holistic Development of Shalinis through Workshops

We equip our Shalinis to excel at life by giving them the necessary tools to grow and flourish. USF offers personality development training and exposure to viable career choices. Through academic guidance, career counselling and life skills training, USF broadens their horizons and trains them to think independently. Our Shalinis realize their immense potential and outshine the world at every opportunity.

Individual Guidance through Mentoring

A robust mentoring system anchors each Shalini on her voyage of self-discovery. At every stage of the Fellowship, a Shalini has a supportive mentor giving her individual attention and counselling—this ensures that they receive the right guidance at the right moment. The special guidance received by each Shalini makes her strong, stable and confident.

Youth that Give Back

Another primary aim of the programme is to inculcate a sense of social awareness and responsibility in the girls. As they thrive, they are encouraged to help younger Shalinis. By giving back to society, a Shalini changes from a ‘recipient’ to someone who ‘gives back’ to society.

What makes us different

Unique Admission Criteria

Our screening process is robust and well thought out. It is structured on the ‘NAT’ model (Need, Ambition and Talent). A four-step process is in place, comprised of application, written tests, interviews and home visits to assess the need for support. This ensures that only the most deserving and talented girls become Shalinis. Just making it as a Fellow isn’t good enough; Shalinis are expected to adhere to a high standard throughout. Academically and otherwise, they must show consistent progress and apply for re-admission annually during the Fellowship. Such measures contribute towards achieving USF’s retention rate of 95%.

Click here for admission form

Financial support

We back ambitious girls and young women who merit higher education but don’t have the means. From Class XI to graduation or vocational qualification, we support their education at some of the best educational and vocational institutions, removing socio-economic barriers to education. The financial scholarship amount varies from INR 9,000 to INR 30,000 per annum depending upon the class and course, for a period of five to six years.

Encourage a deserving girl to realise her dream to study. Click here to donate online or email us at usf@udayancare.org

Pyramidal Mentoring

Each Shalini is paired with a suitable Mentor. While interacting during group activities, Mentors assess newcomer Shalinis’ personal requirements, and plan suitable training and academic schedules.

Mentor Didis—senior or former Fellows with leadership qualities—provide guidance to younger Shalinis. They know the ropes of USF and junior Shalinis see them as role models to emulate.

Teams of 5 Mentor Didis and up to 25 Fellows are assigned to Senior Mentors who are volunteers from diverse fields. Senior Mentors function as everything from career-guides to psychological counsellors for their teams. Shalinis turn to them for varied advice; from the right college subjects or career to take up, to handling stress and family-related concerns.

Sign-up and become a Mentor today. Guide a Shalini on her journey towards success!

Career guidance and leadership training

We are with the Shalinis for the long haul. During 5 to 6 years, we expand their minds and polish each facet of their personalities, through leadership workshops, grooming sessions, educational tours, outdoor trips and annual camps.

Consistent capacity-building interventions of USF boost the educational and earning capability of Shalinis, giving them self-worth and dignity. The years of intensive effort generate heart-warming results. Shalinis grow up to be self-assured, poised and compassionate young women.

Volunteer your time, become a valuable learning resource for bright young minds

Giving Back

USF ensures that our Shalinis undertake 50 hours of mandatory social service yearly, to shape them into socially aware, sensitive and responsible citizens. Shalinis become robust and confident; they pursue their dreams and go on to achieve success on their own merit. One measure of true might is the willingness to help others—our Shalinis never shy away from lending a helping hand to others. We light up the path for thousands of Shalinis, steering them towards independence. As they progress, they shine a light for many others.

Interaction with families

We prefer to take the girls’ families along with us, on a journey towards progress. Occasional home visits keep us in touch with the families and their situations in life. The open channels of communication with the family coupled with counselling make a Shalini’s family feel they have a stake in her success. It gives her wings. Twice a year, workshops are conducted with parents.

Alumni Network

Once a Shalini, always a Shalini. USF creates lifelong connections for Shalinis, who continue to interact, engage and help each other long after they have graduated from the programme. USF remains an enduring pillar of strength in their lives.

Stories of success

Smita

Smita Verma

Smita joined USF in 2002, as one of the first Shalinis, coming like all others from economically weaker background. Under the guidance of her mentor and with the support of USF team, Smita turned every hurdle into a step up, extracting huge benefits from the Fellowship.

She took in her stride, the sudden switch in her medium of education from Hindi to English. Smita bucked the conservatism of her community and studied Engineering, followed by MBA from IIM-Indore. She went on to win the National Women Excellence Young Achiever Award, 2013 from Women’s International Network (WIN)!

Smita’s gratitude for the programme takes a wonderful form in her role as an alumna. Smita is a mentor and donor at USF Delhi and was one of the driving forces behind our Mumbai Chapter.

The financial scholarship given under USF gave Smita the power of choice, which her female ancestors didn’t have. She says, “To bring change, we have to start from ourselves and set an extraordinary example. The next step is to empower as many girls as possible, transforming them into agents of change. With the mentoring support of USF, I succeeded in academics. This has opened the doors of my siblings’ higher education, who have become a Chartered Accountant and Engineer. Now, their stories are inspiring our relatives and community”.