SHDF Project Update

Dear Friend,

Sat Sri Akal! Hope you and your family are all well. 

I would like to begin by expressing my and the SHDF Board’s deep gratitude to you for your continuing strong support. It is your invaluable Sewa that has allowed SHDF to fulfill its mandate to provide scholarships to the neediest and most vulnerable but bright students in the ongoing challenging Covid situation in Punjab and neighboring areas.

In this Newsletter, I would like to share with you a number of developments over the past couple of months that would be of interest.

The applications for the academic year 2021/22 closed last Friday and I am pleased to note that there has been a record number of applicants this year. There are a total of 2200 new applications, and in addition 553 renewals. Given the strong demand, reflecting in part the ongoing challenging Covid situation, we expect to be able to award over a thousand scholarships in early 2022.

For your information, SHDF has so far granted more than 8,000 scholarships, and a large majority of recipients are gainfully employed.

As always, the application evaluation process that is now underway will be aiming to support as many students as possible in accordance with our very rigorous criteria relating to financial need and educational attainment and depending on funds raised. In this context I would like to note that there are a number of applicants who have tragically lost both their parents; and some of them are being provided care by their relatives. In these very sad circumstances, SHDF will be providing additional financial assistance to such students. This is so on moral grounds, but also practical considerations (since relatives may be reluctant to provide financial assistance). 

We have now held two well-attended virtual Workshops this year to help develop professional skills for the scholarship recipients.

Following the very successful Fundraiser in early August, we are reaching out for additional required funding. In the August event, our goal had been to raise funds for 450 scholarships—a goal that was surpassed substantially with your immense generosity. Given the significant increase in demand for scholarships as noted above, it is critical for us to mobilize substantial further funds before year-end.  

We are immensely grateful for your Sewa, and look forward to your continuing support. It is your Sewa that allows the dreams of higher education of many young women and men to be realized and helping transform their lives and those of their families.

May Guru Ji’s blessings be with you.

With warmest regards,
Manmohan Singh Kumar, Ph.D. (Cantab)
Chairman, SHDF