Mission: University

With so many students in the Mission: University program, this report will highlight a few at different stages of their academic careers. Thanks so much for your support and love. These stories would not be possible without you.

Shane, Bachelor of Hotel Management - Year 1 of 3

Sometimes it's easy to recognize when a degree is the right one for a student; when Shane told us which course he wanted to study it just made sense. For years now Shane has been cooking around our kitchens. Inspired and excited by the culinary world, a Bachelor of Hotel Management seemed like a perfect first step for this budding young chef.

“I definitely prefer the practical lessons in the kitchen over the theory in the classroom,” Shane shared about his college. “We’ve been learning about Spanish and French cuisine which is awesome!” Shane shared that during each practical lesson students dress in white chef uniforms and even don the traditional toque (chef hat) making them all feel like the next Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver. “My favorite thing to cook is definitely pasta. We had a competition in the kitchen and one of my dishes got 4^th place. I know it’s not that great,” Shane shared a little sheepishly, but 4^th place still makes us all proud.

Shane shared that the kitchens are huge, filled with all the pots and pans you would expect in a culinary school. “There are big ovens, stoves, fridges and grills – there is even a bar where we learn to make cocktails,” he shared, being sure to mention they made the far inferior “mocktails” there too.

When asked about the upcoming semester, Shane shared that there will be two new practical heavy subjects being taught: Housekeeping and Front Office—which is ok with him. “Even less time in the classroom,” Shane said with a smile.

Coreena, Bachelor of Hotel Management - Year 3 of 4

Coreena has just returned from a 6-month internship as a part of her college degree. She was posted in the coastal state of Kerala in south India, a different world compared to here, with a totally unique climate, language, culture and food. It was most certainly an eye-opening experience for her; the flavor of coconut in every dish a standout struggle. Breakfast was coconut, lunch was coconut and dinner was... you guessed it... coconut too!

Long hours at the hotel saw Coreena exhausted on her one day off each week - if she even got that much! "We had to plead, then only we would get the day off," she said. "They made us work very hard, especially because we were from north India." Coreena explained that she had worked for 2 weeks in the front office of the hotel, 6 weeks in housekeeping (mostly scrubbing toilets) and the rest in the restaurant both in front-of-house service and the kitchen. "Service in the restaurant was tough, I would work until 2:00am. I did 20 days in the kitchen mostly making salads, burgers, fresh juice and sandwiches... sometimes the guests would order unique things and I would have to make that. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, I was scrubbing toilets until way after midnight!" Coreena's internship really did seem like a lot of hard work, many lessons to be learned through backbreaking nights but we're proud of her for sticking through it.

As our last report of 2022 comes to an end, our 4^th batch of Mission: University students are settling into their schools. With more than 30 students studying in a variety of degree programs, we are happy to report some good news that is happening in the program right now.

Our girl Kelly is currently in year 2 of her 5 year degree program and is doing extremely well. In fact, she was recently inducted into The Law College of Dehradun Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre as a constituent member. This is no small thing. Only a handful of students are selected, but with Kelly’s near straight-A average, she was an easy choice. Great job, Kelly.

Our boy Clifford has completed his undergraduate degree in Biotechnology and is now studying at the University of Westminster in London, UK. He’s getting his Masters in Immunology and he sees himself becoming a professor one day. No doubt he can accomplish whatever he sets out to do.

Basanti is nearly finished with her Nursing degree at Swastik Nursing College. She’s currently at her internship, getting ready to graduate. And her sister Lisa has started her own nursing degree, making friends and learning lots.Kurena and Chandani are also working at hotel Internships in Keral.

The world is changing for these kids as internships and graduation open new doors and new possibities for their lives. We can not do any of this without all of your support so thanks for believing in this children. As we have seen and as we know in our hearts, they are worth our best efforts

We began the MIssion: Univeristy program three years ago with 8 students. 

Back then, it wasn't a program, really. It was just a few students who wanted to reach higher, and a few people who came together to help them get there. 

Today, Mission: University has inspired the creation of Teach Her, a nonprofit organization that offers college education to orphaned girls all over the world.. (www.teachher.org) Teach Her just enrolled its 50th student this past month! And Mission: University now has 25 students in top private universities. From humble beginnings, great things can grow!

Since the first MIssion:U students entered school, I have been unable to travel to India due to the pandemic worries and Visa restrictions, but recently, I braved the not-so-friendly skies and flew back. My plan was to visit some of our students, spend time wtih them on their campuses and see first hand how the MIssion: University program was working. 

All I can say is: You would all be very proud. 

These students are meeting the challenge of college head on. They are not only completing the work, they are getting involved in activities and making new friends. To see the change in action, click on this YouTube link and see a short feature on one of our students.

MEET ROSIE

Rosie was one of the students that impressed me the most. She's attending a top school and studying Honors English. But on campus, she was also a leader. There was a large festival taking place the day I arrived, and Rosie was part of the organizing committee, directing other staffers, checking in on details, saying hi to basically every professor and student she passed. It was inspiring for me to see. Great job, Rosie!

We also had the opportuntiy to gather many of the students for a roof-top celebration. It was a chance to connect about Mission: University expectations, listen to any concerns and just have some fun together. The feature image is a photo of that gathering. 

This year, Job, Jessia, Basanti, Kamal, Clifford and Sonia., 6 of our original 8, are graduating! Job is planning a six month trip to Canada, Basanit is beginning a nursing internship, Kamal is beginning his Masters in Physical Education, Clifford has a job offer in Delhi and is appying for Masters degree programs overseas, and Sonia & Jessica are currently interviewing looking for their first job. We all start somewhere.

Unfortunately, there are no graduation ceremonies yet like colleges abroad. Many schools wait one full year before passing out diplomas, which feels a bit anti-climactic to me. So no cap and gown pictures to share. 

And so a new year is beginning. 6 new students will be enrolling in August and we are honored to offer them this opportunity. Thanks to all of you, these kids are getting the chance we all deserve. The chance to reach your full potenital. Thanks for caring and for supporting this critical work. 

I will say: We still do have a few students who could use full sponsors, so if you're interested in have a more direct connection, please let me know at john@teachher.org

All the best,

John

Hey everyone,

It’s hard to believe but six of our original 8 students will be graduating this spring. Sonia, Job, Kamal, Clifford, Basanti and Jessica. Statistically, 50% of Indian college students drop out before completing their degree, but so far, with hard work and dedication, 100% of our students are on track to graduate. Great job, everyone.

Three years into this program, we have 18 students funded and enrolled in top private universities. And in the coming year, we’ll add 7 more, bringing our total to 25! In no particular order, here is next year’s class.

Pinky is an incredible artist who has an unlimited amount of potential. All the images in the photo above were created by her! Her goal is to study interior design or some type of design, allowing her to put her creativity to work. 

Lisa hopes to study nursing like her big sister Basanti. Basanti will graduate this October after an incredible program that had her doing rounds in a local hospital during the Covid crisis. The most amazing thing is: Basanti’s sponsor has decided to sponsor Lisa as well, so this girl is all set! With an estimated shortage of 4 million nurses in India, this is a smart path with a bright future.

For years, Shane has been interested in cooking, often helping out in the kitchen and preparing meals for the boys. Now he’s hoping to get his BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management) to advance his career. “Five years after graduation, I see myself in a well-known restaurant as the Executive Chef,” he says. Dream big, Shane. And watch those fingers.

Like many young women, Kushbu has the dream to become a flight attendant for an airline. This competitive field requires a Bachelor’s degree, so Kushbu is considering a BBA in Airport Management, allowing her to learn about the business of air travel and opening many more doors in the process. Spread your wings, Kushbu. It’s time to fly!

Sareena is another artist who plans to study graphic design in college. Her long-time sponsor has already offered to support this girl’s dream and so Sareena is now just looking for the best program to sharpen her already keen sense of style. Quit lying around, Sareena. It’s time to bounce into the future.

At the moment, Dhiraj is debating between earning a business degree or an educational degree. We can say, he’d make an excellent teacher or captain of industry, wherever he decides to apply himself. “I never thought of me being in college,” Dhiraj says, “so yes, this opportunity means a lot to me.” We believe in you, buddy!

Anthea is the kind of powerful young woman who can do whatever she puts her mind to. At the moment she is still undecided but interested in business and/or travel. Does everyone have their career path all mapped out before they turn 20? No doubt, in the end, she'll make us all proud. 

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

If you’d like to sponsor one of these students, please reach out to me at john@johnmarshall.com and I’ll give you all the details.

If you’d like to make an additional donation or a monthy donation, you can visit the Mission: University page right here on GlobalGiving. Thanks so much for your support of these kids. You are having an amazing impact and we'll let you know all about graduation soon. 

All the best,
John

For anyone wondering if this program will actually make a difference in the lives of these students, here’s our first graduate to help put things in perspective.

The year before Mission: University was founded, there was one student at the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission who dreamed of attending college. Her name is Eddu and she was hoping to study business.

Without much fanfare, following a low-key appeal, supporters were found, money was raised, applications were submitted and Eddu was enrolled in Graphic Era Hill University in Haldwani.

Now, three years later, after a lot of hard work, Eddu has completed her BA in Marketing with a Human Resources minor, graduating ranked #1 in her class! The Valedictorian is called the “topper” in India and it’s a big deal, not just for the student but for the university as well. All schools print and hang gigantic gaudy banners with the topper’s face blown up big, advertising their achievements to all prospective students who pass by. This is especially true when a graduate receives any large placement offers, as Eddu did.

As with all good schools, recruiters visited Eddu’s college campus and looked for new talent to hire. After making the rounds and completing her interviews, Eddu received three offers from top marketing firms, accepting the most lucrative one which came in at over 800,000 rupees/yr. or around $11,000.

To put this in perspective, half of India’s population lives on around $1000 per year or less than $3/day. The median household income in India is around $3100/year. Eddu’s entire three-year degree cost $7400, making it not only a good investment but a life-changing one too. We couldn't be more proud.

When I asked Eddu to make a comment for this post, she sent me long voice messages to fully express her feelings. Here is a piece of what she had to say.

“When I was in 12^th class, I thought of dropping our of my studies. I never thought I’d be going to such a big university. Maybe a smalll local one, but not this. My college experience was very beautiful. I really enjoyed every piece of my college. All the time that I spent, all the friends that I made, and all the memories that I have with me still. Most of all, I want to thank each and every person who has supported me. It really was a true blessing. Thank you.”

Not every student will be a topper like Eddu. But we hope her success is an inspiration to everyone in the Mission: University program and to all remaining students thinking about college in the future. We also hope it’s an inspiration to all of you and the first proof that your donations are money well spent. 

Mission: University is not about degrees or graduates. It’s about giving these kids an opportunity and seeing what they can do with it. With six more students set to graduate next year and seven new students ready to enroll, we’re excited to see what they come up with.

Here’s hoping for many more gaudy banners to come,. 

As a final suggestion, if anyone's interested in having a larger impact on this project, please consider becoming a montly donor. Regular giving is powerful and life-changing.  Click here to get started and thanks for your continued support.