Empower Young Rural Girls through Scholarships

Anamika (name changed), a 19-year-old girl from Varanasi (eastern Uttar Pradesh, India), is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in mass communication and aspires to become a journalist. However, pursuing this dream seemed nearly impossible a year ago. As the eldest of three children in a family of five, Anamika faced mounting pressure to contribute to the household income after her father suffered a paralytic attack in June 2024, leaving him bedridden and unable to work. With the family's primary source of income gone, the responsibility of supporting the household, managing her husband's medical treatment, and educating three children fell entirely on her mother, a tailor. The family struggled to meet its basic needs, making higher education appear out of reach for Anamika after completing Class 12. As financial pressures grew, she faced the very real possibility of giving up her education. 

Anamika's story is not unique. Across rural India, and particularly in regions such as Varanasi, young women are forced to set aside their aspirations due to poverty, entrenched gender norms, and limited access to opportunities. When families face financial hardship, a girl's education is often the first sacrifice. Many young women are expected to prioritise caregiving responsibilities, contribute to household income, or marry early, leaving their educational and professional ambitions unrealised. As a result, they remain excluded from opportunities that could enable economic independence, greater agency, and improved quality of life. Aiming to break that cycle, Sampark has launched this scholarship programme

Through this project, during the reporting period of March to June 2026, 6 daughters (details are given at the end of the report) of women associated with Sampark's self-help groups received scholarships that enabled them to continue their higher education.

All 6 scholars are currently pursuing the second or third year of their degree programmes, demonstrating that the support is not only creating access to higher education but also ensuring continuity and preventing dropouts at a critical stage. The impact extends beyond financial assistance. By remaining in higher education, these young women are building confidence, expanding their aspirations, developing employability skills, and strengthening their ability to make informed decisions about their futures. Research shows that higher education significantly increases a woman’s prospects of accessing dignified employment, achieving financial independence, and exercising greater voice and agency within their families and communities.

For Anamika, the scholarship has kept alive her dream of becoming a journalist. It has created a pathway towards opportunity, independence, and self-reliance. More broadly, it reflects Sampark's commitment to creating intergenerational change, supporting mothers through livelihoods, leadership, and social empowerment, while ensuring that their daughters have the opportunity to pursue an education and a future that previous generations of women were often denied.

We sincerely thank our donors for making this programme possible.

Your support has enabled young women like Anamika to continue their education, pursue their aspirations, and build pathways towards independence and opportunity. We look forward to your continued partnership in helping more young women like Anamika access higher education and create brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

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Details of girls provided scholarships through this programme:

1. Anamika (name changed), 19 years old, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communications from Mahadev College in Varanasi, India
2. Kumari (named changed), 19 years old, currently pursuing a B.A. from Mahadev College in Varanasi, India
3. Kiran (name changed), 19 years old, currently pursuing a B.A. from Mahadev College in Varanasi, India
4. Asha (name changed), 21 years old, currently pursuing a Bachelor in Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from Mahadev College in Varanasi, India
5. Arya (name changed), 19 years old, currently pursuing a B.A. from Mahadev College in Varanasi, India
6. Anu (name changed), 19 years old, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Law (L.L.B.) from R.S.Banaras Law College in Varanasi, India

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