Enable 100 low-income girls to complete graduation

Udayan Shalini Fellowship (USF), one of the unique programmes of Udayan Care that aims to promote and support higher education for girls from disadvantaged background to develop them into dignified independent young women. The fellowship ensures that the lives of the girls do not succumb to monetary hardships and they do not give away their most cherished dream to think big and make a mark for themselves. Howe ever, USF is not just envisaged as a monetary assistance programme but rather as a holistic programme of sustained mentoring support and association. The growth is fostered with continued association of mentoring, motivational workshops, and development of socially responsible behavior through awareness drives. The fellowship stands different because of its pyramidal mentoring.

The six months were filled with series of activities which included Quarterly Workshop, Small Group Workshop, Social Campaign, Inter Chapter Meet and Alumni Meet.  Quarterly workshops were conducted covering diverse themes incorporating, Domestic Violence Act” for children from economically weaker section of society. Small group workshops conducted on imbibing an understanding on exam preparedness techniques and indispensable life skills including self-esteem, Confidence & Communication. Induction ceremony marked another milestone with the new intake of fifty additions to the USF family. An Alumni Meet was also organized to bridge the gap between the passed out and existing Shalinis. 

Activities Undertaken During the Reporting Period

1) Workshops 

A) A Workshop on Self Esteem

Through the activities conduted druring the workshop, facilitator helped the fellows in identifying the factors affecting our self-esteem. One of the activities involved fellows to recall places, names, situations, etc. that helped in building their self-esteemand write them down while other activity involved fellows recalling their favorite actress and write their feeling if they looked like them.

In the end, the girls we asked to make a promise card to themselves as a commitment to action to build body confidence. 

B) A Workshop on Domestic VIiolence & Right To Education

We have organised a workshop with the objective to educate fellows about the Domestic Violence Act and the Right to Education so that they can imply and spread the learnings.

C) A Workshop on Building Confidence & Communication Skills

This workeshop was organised to develop better understanding of how they can enhance their confidence level by simply adapting few practices like not comparing, by staying calm, relaxing, loving themselves, etc. in their daily lives. This would in turn help in improving on their communication skills.

D) A Workshop on Exam Preparedness

It was workshop full of enjoyable activities to make the fellows realize the importance of memory games to increase the memory power. A sentence was initiated by the facilitator and the fellows had to repeat it adding one word at the end of the sentence. The game continued with each new person reciting the previous list before adding their choice of item. Fellows were also advised to solve puzzles like Sudoku to enhance memory power.

A well-structured plan for preparing for exams was described to them, wherein major focus was laid on staring the preparation at an early stage. Importance of making Flashcards was also explained amongst others.

OUTCOME

• Fellows will be able to adapt various techniques to increase memory power
• They will be confident enough to plan their studies in an effective and efficient manner.
• Also, they will study in groups to gain and share knowledge.

2. ALUMNAE MEET

Our ALUMNAE of the programme came togther with great zeal and enthusiasm on 31st January. It was a beautiful meet to rejoice and remember the spirit of being a Shalini. Besides the fellows themselves, the meet saw the presence of mentors, convenors and other esteemed guests. Reading the Udayan Shalini pledge was all that was needed to begin the program on the most emotional and optimistic note. Sharing of experiences made fellows go down the memory lane. From the managing trustee, to the mentors and the senior manager, all shared their experiences of their journey with USF. 

3. Our Sucess Strory

"Dream of Cardiology”

(B’cOZ  HeArt and its matters matter!! )

Born in the bharanta village in kangada valley amidst the green hills of palampur in himachal Pradesh, With hopes in heart and dreams in their eyes, Darshana’s (Name Changed) family in search of better life, better future and better livelihood opportunities migrated to Delhi. Darshana was in third standard at that time. Darshana has always been a brilliant student and is always the apple of her teacher’s eyes. Her father works in a stationary shop in Chandhi Chowk area of Delhi.  With his monthly income, he could hardly manage the expenses of his family, he being the only breadwinner in the family. 

Udayan fellowship came as a blessing in disguise in their lives. Darshana had her heart in Science subject but she was aware of her father's economic conditions and of the expenses that would be incurred for pursuing further education, financial help given by USF proved to be a great help. Deprived from education, her parents couldn’t guide her to the path of education, besides providing moral and emotional support. 

Cardiologist!! This is what she firmly opined she wants to become, her dreams and the dreams of her parents got wings. When she got selected for the fellowship, she said, “I am thankful to my teachers who informed me on this fellowship. I didn’t have much idea on the workshop part to enhance our overall personality which will provide us out of box of thinking.