Your support is crucial to our mission.

We are happy to share information about two new milestones in SHDF’s goal of expanding the accessibility of our scholarships to bright but deserving students in Punjab and neighboring states, to attain higher education.

First, a tenth center for SHDF scholarships is now operational and serving students. It is located in Karnal, Haryana. In addition to this location, we have seven centers in Punjab: Amritsar, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Bathinda, Moga, Jalandhar, and Patiala, as well as one in Chandigarh, and one in New Delhi. SHDF has steadily expanded the number of centers that are manned by local volunteers who have firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the students in their communities and are highly motivated. Each center that is opened widens the geographical reach in awareness among students, many in remote, underserved villages. More centers where applications can be submitted and written exams and interviews of applicants are conducted, reducing the burden of travel costs for students, large numbers of whom have a family income below $100 a month. Centers also provide guidance for successful applicants and are a valuable source of continuing support.

Second, SHDF is providing a new record of scholarships this year -- to nearly 1450 students. This is a notable increase from the 1256 scholarships given last year. With your generous support, SHDF has granted over 10,000 scholarships since its inception in 2001.

We are greatly heartened by this achievement. However, we see that the needs remain enormous. A large number of the youth in Punjab continue to have the desire to obtain college education; they have the ability to do so; but unfortunately, many do not have the financial means, given their family’s economic condition. Due to their lack of educational and professional qualifications, they remain mired in low-paying jobs, often under exploitative conditions, resulting in frustration and despair.

Your support is crucial to our mission of helping create local self-sustaining and thriving communities through the transformative effects of education. Please visit us at shdf.org and join hands with us by volunteering and donating.

With immense gratitude,

The SHDF team