Enable 100 low-income girls to complete graduation

Udayan Shalini Fellowship Programme (USF)

Through monetary and mentoring support, girls from weaker sections of society are able to continue higher education. Since its inception in 2002, USF has supported 2678 girls. Today, we are proud that our girls, whom we call Shalinis, are pursuing fields like Engineering, Medicine, CA, Computer Sc, among others. Some of the unique features of USF are mentoring and regular motivational workshops to create a force of sensitive, trained and enlightened citizens. To become socially aware as well as socially responsible, they fulfill 50 hours of mandatory social work. USF is currently present in 9 cities in India.

Udayan Shalini Fellowships is for girls from weak socio economic backgrounds. However the Eligibility Requirements are as follows:

Due to the economic and social background the beneficiaries are able to avail limited opportunities and barely manage to finish their schooling before being forced to drop out to get married. The girls however, are ambitious, and due to the exposure around them are aware of the prospects they may venture into if well educated. As daughters of clerks, watchmen, drivers, shopkeepers they have been subjected to various monetary strains of the family. The family income of most of the households is between Rs. 2000 to 8000 monthly and the fellows face numerous societal challenges to break away from the conventional custom of survival. Such monetary strains and orthodox thinking induces a girl to drop out and give up on her education.

BACKGROUND

The USF Residential Camp 2013 was held at the Udayan Ghar in Greater Noida.The camp saw the participation of 27 fellows comprising of a heterogeneous group of school and college going fellows. This year’s camp was centered on the theme of “LEADERSHIP & PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT”.

OBJECTIVES

• To provide meaningful exposure to the fellows to interact, participate and engage on a common platform for mutually beneficial learning and recreation.
• To promote direct personal experience of the fellows in both indoor and outdoor activities so as to exhibit their leadership skills and develop positive attitude
• To serve as exposure trip for exciting and enjoyable learning to enhance their adaptability to cope with the rapidly changing life events.

The theme of the workshop was chosen with the specific purpose of inculcating a sense of leadership amongst the Shalinis and providing them with the necessary exposure to develop themselves into strong personalities.

OUTCOME

• PARTICIPATORY LEARNING-. The workshops conducted under four major themes of Leadership, Team Building, Life Skills Education and Personal Hygiene were not only about theoretical sharing of inputs but about practical applicative learning with interactive exercises and activities.
• INTERACTIVE ENGAGEMENTS- Role plays, group activities, group games and presentations were the tools adopted to enhance the impact of their learning. Activities like Crossing the River (TEAM BUILDING), Know Yourself (SELF AWARENESS) and Role play (LEADERSHIP STYLES) and many others were conducted to engage the fellows and draw their direct participation.
• ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE-The fellows were engaged in the preparation of dinner on different days as part of their respective teams. The aim was to provide the fellows a real life space to work in teams to develop a sense of identification with one another as “Shalini Fellows” and work in a single direction.
• CULTURAL NIGHT- The residential camp could not have been complete without a cultural closing ceremony. The objective was to make the fellows exhibit their talent and perform as a group. It was also an occasion for the children of the home and fellows to interact with each other and enjoy together. The fellows gave spectacular performances in their respective teams where they enacted a skit, sang and danced.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCES-. For some of the fellows the camp was their first “move” outside their homes while for some it was an experience of overcoming their own fears. For every fellow the residential camp was nothing but 7 days of different experience of “self learning”. 

Outcomes:

• Insight into Leadership Styles-The fellows were able to develop understanding of the leadership styles and its practical applicability in real life situations. The choice of theme as "Leadership" achieved its purpose when the fellows understood about various aspects including the role of a leader, and qualities to be possessed by a leader.

• Learning By Doing-The camp achieved its real purpose with the active involvement of the fellows in every activity and exercise that was aimed for them whether it was understanding the importance of nonverbal communication or working in a team. The fellows who were reluctant to participate shed their inhibitions and displayed active participation by the end of the 7 day camp .The workshops like "Self Awareness" worked best on enhancing their own concept of self image and understanding each other as different personalities.

• The seven day residential camp can be best summarised in the experiences of the fellows. For some the camp was their first “move” outside their homes. For many like Dolly, a fellow of 10^th batch the camp provided a platform to shed her stage fright. 

Please let us know your feedback!  Please visit our website to know more about the programmes at www.udayancare.org. Please write to fundraising@udayancare.org if you have any question related to this projcet, Will be happy to answer them.