Update on SHDF for Q3 2024

Sat Sri Akal!

On behalf of myself and the SHDF Board, I would like to express our deep gratitude for your steadfast and invaluable support. It is through your dedicated Sewa that SHDF continues to fulfill its mission of providing scholarships to highly motivated but financially disadvantaged young women and men to pursue higher education and help achieve their dreams. Here are some notable updates for the quarter: 

   1. Appointment of Harmeet Kaur as our new Program Director.

We are very excited to announce the appointment of Sdrn. Harmeet Kaur as SHDF’s new Program Director. Harmeet is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in project management, fundraising, and leadership in both the social and educational sectors. Over the past seven years, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to manage impactful projects, build strong stakeholder relationships especially among the Sikh community, and secure critical funding for initiatives driving positive change. Harmeet holds a Master’s degree in Commerce from Panjab University, where she graduated first in her college. With a commitment to empowering individuals through education, expanding opportunities, and driving sustainable impact, Harmeet brings a collaborative leadership style and an innovative approach that will be a great asset in the continuing pursuit of  our mandate.

   2. Completion of the Scholarships for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

The 2023-2024 academic year has been a remarkable milestone for SHDF, driven by the dedication of our team and the unwavering generosity of supporters like you. This year’s achievements underscore our commitment to empowering underprivileged students and promoting education as a transformative tool for change.

  Key Highlights of 2023-2024:

• 1,624 Scholarships have been Awarded; and another 115 are ready for awards. SHDF is proud to have awarded these scholarships reflecting nearly 20 percent increase from the previous year’s total of 1,460 scholarships. This growth demonstrates our expanding reach and ability, with your strong support, to fund  more students in need, as we strive to break down barriers to education. (The Govt. of India has recently enforced a restriction on the distribution of foreign funds—this decision is being appealed and assuming the restriction is removed soon, further distribution will then be made.). Since its inception, SHDF has awarded over thirteen thousand scholarships.
• Empowering Women: As in earlier years, almost 75% of the scholarship recipients this year are female students. This reflects SHDF’s commitment to addressing gender disparities in education by providing opportunities for young women to thrive academically and professionally. By supporting these women, we are helping to cultivate future leaders and contribute to gender equality.
• Supporting Rural Communities: Approximately 65% of the recipient’s are from rural areas, where access to quality education and financial support is often very limited. By focusing on these underserved regions, we are helping to uplift entire communities and provide students from these areas with the tools they need to succeed.
• Supporting Families with Limited Means: More than one-third of our scholarship recipients come from families with an annual income of less than Rs. 100,000 approximately $100 per month. These students often face significant financial challenges, and our scholarships provide crucial support, enabling them to pursue their education without the burden of financial stress. By easing this strain, we ensure that highly motivated students from the most economically disadvantaged backgrounds can focus on their studies and careers.  

    3. U.S.A. Scholarships

In addition to our efforts in India, SHDF remains dedicated to supporting deserving students within the United States through our small but impactful U.S. scholarship program. The pilot US SHDF Scholarship continues apace.  Under this program, we have recently awarded seven scholarships to eligible students—those doing well in their college studies and in  need and studying in the US. 

   4. Mentor-Mentee Platform 

We have continued to work on launching a mentor-mentee program, fostering deeper connections and guidance for our scholarship recipients. This will be an online mentor-mentee platform that will give additional  guidance on resume-writing, interview skills, career pathways, professional growth and other areas identified by the mentees, complementing the workshops.  This program will also help build an even closer community of scholarships recipients amongst themselves as well as between them and mentors. This will enhance further the significant impact of the scholarships.

   5. New SHDF Website 

Coming Soon! We’re also continuing to work  on a new SHDF website. The updated platform will offer improved navigation and a simplified user experience, making it easier to access information about our activities and invite participation from our donors and supporters. Stay tuned for its launch in the coming month! 

We humbly request for your continued generosity to support the SHDF mandate. Education is the gift that keeps on giving, and your contributions help empower young women and men with great potential but limited means to pursue higher education and transform their lives. 

We encourage you to share SHDF’s mission with your friends and family, enlisting their support in amplifying our efforts. Your Sewa and commitment to this cause make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of so many. 

With deep gratitude, 

Manmohan Singh Kumar,

Ph.D. (Cambridge) 

Chairman, SHDF