Real Life Stories

40 Stories for 40 Years

To celebrate our more than 40 years of service, we are sharing 40 of our beneficiaries’ powerful stories with you — stories of hope, compassion, and determination. We hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire us.

Patel and His Family Rise Above Adversity

Patel Kuldeep Jashubhai, from Mehsana, finished his secondary course of study with high grades, and through Educate 2 Graduate funding administered through the Higher Education Support Trust (HEST), he was able to successfully complete his education in Information and Communication Technology. Read more

Single Scholarship Empowers Varsha’s Entire Family

As a child, Varsha Baraiya loved music, painting, henna art, and cooking. She was a fantastic student, and she loved helping her siblings study and succeed in school, too. She aspired to become a doctor, and her hard work in school paid off, earning her a place in the K.J. Mehta General Hospital and College of Medical Sciences in Gujarat. Read more

Upasi Learns How to Increase Farm Yields and Boost Income

Upasi Devi, currently living in the Singhpur village of Uttar Pradesh, wanted to attend school when she was younger. However, due to family circumstances, she was unable to and was married at 12 years old to Akhileshwar Mahto. She worked with Akhileshwar in agriculture, but after they had four children, their financial situation became strained. Read more

Juguntara Becomes Self-Sufficient and Achieves Her Dreams

Juguntara is the eldest of three children in her family living in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Her father left when she was in 10th grade. With the help of her uncles, she was able to complete her intermediate studies, but since it was her responsibility to manage the household expenses, there was no hope for schooling beyond that. Read more

Neelu Receives Holistic Support to Assist Her Family

Neelu Prajapati is the eldest daughter in a family of six living in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Her family farms on a small plot of land in the Mijwan village. When COVID-19 struck, her father, who worked in construction in Dubai stopped earning money, and at the same time, her mother was diagnosed with a serious illness, requiring costly tests and an urgent operation. Read more