Mission: University

For many years, one of the ways we have cared for our university students has been by placing them in university hostels - safe environments that include security, meals, laundry, and much of the structure young adults need as they begin life away from home. It has served our students well.

This year, however, we were hit with a sudden and unexpected increase in hostel fees at Graphic Era University in Dehradun. The change came without warning and forced us to make some difficult decisions. After much discussion, prayer, and planning, we chose a new path.

Instead of hostel accommodation, five of our young women - Debbie, Roshni, Seeya, Jyotika, and Rina - have now moved into a rented home just a short walk from college.

Financially, it makes sense. Their shared home costs approximately 22,000 per month in rent, around 10,000 for food, and roughly 5,000 for electricity. But what excites us most is not simply the financial stewardship - it’s the educational opportunity hidden inside this challenge.

At GSAM, we have always believed that education is about far more than classrooms, exams, and degrees. Real life also teaches. For the first time, these young women are learning how to manage a household, budget for groceries, pay bills, care for shared spaces, make group decisions, and live with the kind of responsibility that cannot be taught in a lecture hall.

If we’re honest, this step has stretched us as much as it has stretched them.

These girls are now adults - each in their second or third year of university - and that is the only reason we felt ready to even consider this. Still, handing over this level of independence came with natural fears. Safety, distractions, and simply the unknown weighed heavily on us. But after visiting their neighborhood, meeting the community, seeing children playing in the streets, neighbors with visible CCTV security, and a warm, family atmosphere (plus a few neighborhood cats that quickly won the girls over!), we felt a growing peace.

Their first night in the house felt like the beginning of something special. Pinky and Kelly stayed with them for the first night, helping them settle in. Clifton and Priscilla made the long drive from Banbasa to help them shift from the hostel to the new house; bringing with them kitchen supplies and a few treats. The next day happened to be Anthea’s birthday so Gordon, who is also staying nearby, also joined the big group, and together they celebrated with pizza, laughter, and the kind of memories that turn a house into a home.

It’s a big move for us, and if we are honest, a step into unknown territory. But sometimes growth requires exactly that - new challenges, greater trust, and the courage to let young people step into adulthood.

This new chapter has only been possible because of those who continue to stand with our students through Mission University. As hostel fees rose by nearly 30% this year, your support gave us the flexibility to adapt, to think differently, and to keep moving forward.

We are excited to see where this journey leads - not just academically, but in the life skills, confidence, and independence these young women will carry with them long after graduation. Thank you for making stories like this possible.