Engineers to Artists: How a Foundation Helped 3500+ Students Pursue Their Dream Career

"The act of giving back has nothing to do with how much you possess, it is about how much you care. I always wanted to make my contribution especially by educating a girl child, so I took this step."

By Ananya Barua

February 13, 2020

This article has been sponsored by the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives

“I would not have been where I am if not for my parents. And, they would not have been able to give me the best childhood and opportunities, if society had not helped them,” says 61-year-old Kalpana Mallya, recalling the chain of influences that led her to a path of social welfare.

She also shares that both her father and father-in-law were able to complete their education because of scholarships and help from philanthropists.

So years later, when she got the opportunity to pay it forward, she didn’t think twice.

“When my husband informed me of the amazing work done by the philanthropic foundation that the Shibulal family has started (officially known as the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives) I decided to be a part of their Vidyadhan initiative. Giving back has always been one of the most important lessons taught to me by my parents, and this was my chance to honour it,” adds the philanthropist who joined the foundation’s flagship higher education scholarship program, Vidyadhan in 2015 by sponsoring one child.

Today, she sponsors the education of a total of 5 children.

She is not alone. Like her, many more have joined this program, and 28-year-old Priyam Divgi is one of them.

“People often consider philanthropy an activity reserved for the rich, but the act of giving back has nothing to do with how much you possess, it is about how much you care. I always wanted to contribute—especially in the field of girls’ education—so when I came across their post on Twitter, I was interested. The fact that it is affordable for a salaried person, and the transparency they follow by sending the entire sum of money directly to the student’s account, were two of the most important aspects for me to join,” she says.

Part of the foundation’s ‘Each One Teach One mission’ which helps academically brilliant but financially weak students to achieve their dreams, Vidyadhan focuses on providing monetary assistance through sponsors to students after matriculation.

Starting with a sum of Rs 10-12,000 per year, you can secure a child’s education, guiding them through senior school and even graduation of their choice. While Kalpana is supporting students pursuing their education at varied stages, Priyam is helping a girl finish her 3-year degree course in Home science to be eligible for a career in the banking sector.

Through such initiatives, the foundation reaches out to people like them and you, to be real changemakers. Owing to their efforts, more than 3500 students, including 165+ doctors, 400+ engineers, 250+ students in professional courses (Nursing, Pharma, Agriculture, BCom, Arts etc.) have benefitted so far.

Firm believers of the idea that education is the cornerstone of all developmental progress in society and thus the bedrock of any prosperous nation, the foundation has a plethora of similar initiatives, like Vidyarakshak, Advaith Foundation, Ankur, etc. furthering literacy and beyond.

Educating India One Step At A Time

The foundation has pledged to increase the impact of the Each One, Teach One mission—from 13,000 scholarships in 10 States to 100,000 scholarships in all States in the next 5-7 years.

To this end, the foundation is organizing the second edition of the Amplio Speaker Series on February 14, 2020, at Taj West End, Bengaluru. According to the founders, the series is an attempt to inspire individuals and organizations to give back to society.

This year’s series will feature American philanthropist, Peggy Dulany, who co-founded the Synergos Global Philanthropists Circle along with her father, the late David Rockefeller.

Synergos is known for its active involvement with the United Nations, and its mission to work together with its partners to mobilize resources and bridge social and economic divides to reduce poverty and increase equity around the world.

Sharing her views about the series, Kumari Shibulal, the founder and chair of Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives, says, “We are excited to host Ms Dulany as part of our efforts to drive social change in India. We believe that the upcoming Speaker Series will play a crucial role in inspiring like-minded individuals and organizations to give back to society.”

With initiatives like this, Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives is driving a wave of positive change in the society, that you can be a part of. All you need is to care enough. To attend the event, you can register here.