Tiala
B.A. in Sociology Honors 2021
Diploma in Computer Applications 2022
Graduated with a Tiyara scholarship and laptop. Was given an additional scholarship in 2022 for Computer Applications Certification after which she became employed.
Class of 2021
Graduated & Employed!
Class of 2022
Roja
Diploma in Nursing
Roja’s father died young, leaving her barely educated mother to raise Roja and her younger brother. Having experienced her father’s illness, Roja dreams of becoming a nurse and caring for the sick. Undaunted by adversity, Roja loves to sing and dance.
Jaison
Radiography & Imaging Tech.
Jaisan is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiography and Imaging technology. Neither of his parents graduated High School and the family is financially unstable. Jaisan says his goal is to earn his degree and serve others like him. Jaisan enjoys volleyball to keep him fit.
Okthem
B.A. in Hotel Management
Vasuki
Diploma in Nursing
“In my family, my mother is everything”, says Vasuki. After all, this is the mother, who single handedly raised four girls as a daily wage earner, after their father abandoned them. A student of Nursing, Vasuki says, “ After getting a job, I want to help my mother and sisters.”
Arpana
Bachelor’s in Theology
Arpana is a senior in College. Both her parents tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021. 3 days later, her father developed an incessant cough. The first hospital he was taken to had no oxygen. So, his wife and relatives took him to another hospital, 40 miles away, but it was too late. Arpana learned of her father’s passing only when her mother came home from the hospital the following day.
Ragul
Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering
“My passion is to become an entreprenur and provide jobs for fellow engineers in the future. I also want to create a mini robot,” says Ragul. His father was murdered by Ragul’s uncle over ownership of a well. Ragul’s mother has raised her son and daughter on her meager salary working as a tailor. Ragul says that when life feels hard, he beats it by listening to music.
Leela
Diploma in Nursing
Leela and her three siblings come from a single parent home. Their father walked away when Leela was three. Her mother works hard as a manual laborer, barely making ends meet. Leela enjoys volleyball and dreams of becoming a “good nurse”.
Eswari
Bachelors in Bio-Technology
Eswari’s mother is a street vendor selling t-shirts and undergarments to support her son and daughter. Eswari’s father was murdered by a neighbor. Eswari says, “I want to get a government job. I want to earn money and help my family to live happily. I am preparing for competitive exams.”
Naro
B.A. in Economics with Honors
“I graduated with a B.A. in Economics with Honors. I am the second of 5 siblings from a broken family. With the Tiyara scholarship, I am preparing to enter into civil service. I want to contribute toward addressing the needs of the people and the state, to help bring about desired developments and changes in society, and by modeling integrity.
Samuel
Bachelor of Arts
A Senior in College, Samuel has 3 older sisters and a mother who has sadly been widowed by COVID-19. As the family emerged from deep depression caused by the father’s passing, they also did not have a way to pay for Samuel to complete his college education.
Prabhu
Diploma in Medical Lab Technology
Prabhu is the son of a special needs father who murdered his mother. This tragic event has not stopped him from following his dreams of becoming a Lab Technician and he is enrolled in a Medical Laboratory Technology program. He is a bright young student who enjoys agriculture and medicine but he needs financial assistance to achieve his dreams.
Enjal
Bachelor’s in Nursing
Enjal’s mother was taken away from them without warning as a result of COVID-19. Not only did this create an emotional vacuum in her lives but also an economic one. Enjal’s goal is “to become one of the best nurses”.
Kanishkar
Bachelor’s in Commerce
Kanishkar’s grandmother, a daily wager, has been caring for Kanishkar and his sister, ever since their father stabbed their mother to death and was subsequently imprisoned. Kanishkar’s goal is to become the first college graduate in his family, gain stable government employment and change his family’s fortune.
Esther
Diploma in Nursing
Esther’s mother died when she was young. Esther’s alcoholic father and her older brother both work as day laborers. Esther comes recommended by the head of her nursing school, as a strong and deserving student.
Kathiravan
Diploma in Health Inspection
Kathiravan is studying to become a Food Security Officer. He has remained focused in his goals despite a difficult childhood, while his father served a 14-year prison term. Even after the father was released from prison finding employment was a challenge. The father works for daily wages, while Kathiravan’s mother works in a small juice shop. Kathirivan has one sister.
Rachel
India Union Public Service Commission Exam
“With the Tiyara scholarship, I aspire to become a civil servant and use my knowledge and skill for the betterment of society and help economically struggling students. One day I would like to meet Barack Obama over a cup of tea, I don’t mind dinner as well!’
Rachel has faced a lot of hardships, hopping from one place to another seeking support from relatives. Her father passed away, Rachel has struggled to support her four siblings, her step mother and herself.
Madhubala
Bachelors in Computer Science
When Madhubala was a young girl, her father was murdered by a group of drunken brawlers at a temple festival. Despite severe health problems, her mother has continued to work as a day laborer to provide for her daughter and two sons. Madhubala is seeking a degree in Computer Science and wants to become a teacher.
Sosang
Master’s in Commerce
“As both of my parents are daily wage earners, sustaining our family of 6 each day, they cannot afford to pay for my studies. With the Tiyara scholarship, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Commerce, which will provide me with a sustainable pathway to success. I am optimistic and love learning new things.”
Tholkappian
Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
“I am pursuing higher education to get a stable job and improve my livelihood”, says Thoikappian. For almost all his life, his father has been in prison, having been incriminated in mob riots. Despite the stigma attached to his circumstances, Thoikappian enjoys the support of good friends, and a mother who has struggled to raise her two sons.
Vasanthi
Diploma in Nursing
Vasanthi’s father died of a heart attack, leaving his 42 year old widow to raise Vasanthi and her 2 brothers on her meager income as a daily wage earner. A diligent student and a prize winning chess player, Vasanthi is a student of Nursing.
Narmadhi
Bachelors in Commerce
Narmadha wants to become a banker and take care of her mother. It pains her that her father was murdered by her uncle when she was just 3 years old, leaving her to grow up fatherless. Yet, she says, “I love to sing”!
Amei
India Union Public Service Commission Exam
“With a Tiyara scholarship, I have been coached to appear in competitive exams and succeed in securing employment with the government. My parents are uneducated and work with their hands to fend for our family of four. My education and subsequent employment will be my fuel to bring a change to the community and also help my family.”
Asen
M.A. in Horticulture
“I have successfully completed an Intermediate Training Program in Mushroom Cultivation, Beekeeping, Fruit and Vegetable Preservation. With a Tiyara scholarship, I am now pursuing an M.A. in Horticulture in order to gain employment. I am one of four siblings. I come from a caring family, but my mother is the sole breadwinner as my father is no more. I would like to complete my course with flying colors and use my skills and knowledge for the upliftment of our society.”
Mohana
B.S. in Nursing
Mohana is a strong student of nursing in a prestigious institution in southern India. Her parents’ education did not go beyond 9th grade, but Mohana’s dreams endure. She says her friends joke about her compulsive closet cleaning habits!
Karthika
Bachelors in Commerce
Karthika’s life was changed forever when her alcoholic father murdered her grandmother and tried to murder her mother. Once he was sent to jail, Karthika’s mother became the sole provider for her and her younger sister. Her mother is a day laborer with little job security. Karthika has dreams of pursuing a degree in Commerce, and getting a stable job to help provide for her family.
Kamali
B.S. in Nursing
Kamali’s father died in a road accident. Her widowed mother works as a maid to provide for the family. Kamali is pursuing her nursing degree and wants to get a job so she can take care of her mother. Despite their challenges, Kamali describes her family as “living by faith.” She exemplifies perseverance.
Sivasankari
B.S. in Medical Lab Technology
Sivasankari’s father died when she was a baby. Her mother works as an agricultural laborer to support her four daughters. Sivasankari has a heart to serve the needy. She enjoys craft making and playing an Indian sport called kabadi.
CLass of 2023
Uma
B.S. in Nursing
A badminton star, Uma says her dream is “to study well and take care of my mother”. Abandoned by her husband, Uma’s mother works as a housemaid to care for her daughter and son. A strong student, Uma is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Vinisha
B.S. in Nursing
Vinisha’s father died when she was young, leaving her widowed mother to raise three children on her own. Her mother works as a day laborer making a meager income and the family is very financially unstable. Vinisha has persevered and is pursuing her degree in nursing. She dreams of pursuing an upper-level nursing degree and getting a job as a research nurse.
Silviya
B.S. Physician Assistant
Silviya is a multi-talented young lady, having participated in science and dramatic competitions, and winning a district level prize in drawing. Her mother married very young, and went into a deep depression after Silviya’s father abandoned the family. Silviya has one sister.
Aruna
Diploma in Nursing
Aruna’s father has a heart disease and she and her four siblings are dependent on their mother who works as a maid to provide for the family. Aruna is working towards her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and dreams of completing her schooling so she can better her life and become successful.
Jenitha
Diploma in Nursing
Jenitha says she comes from a loving family of five. Neither of her parents graduated high school and they work as daily wagers, struggling to support the family. Jenitha desires to help others in the future, and she enjoys singing and drawing.
Iswarya
Bachelors in Commerce
An academician, sportswoman and dancer, Iswarya says, “I want to become a Police officer. I want to support those who are facing challenges like me.” Iswariya’s father landed in prison after committing group murder in a misguided attempt to help a neighbor. Iswarya is now a senior in college. She says her mother, a daily wager has been the “backbone of our family” for her and her brother.
Amos
Training to be an Electrician
Amos is training to be an electrician. Both his parents tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021. 3 days later, his father developed an incessant cough. The first hospital he was taken to had no oxygen. So, his wife and relatives took him to another hospital, 40 miles away, but it was too late. Amos learned of his father’s passing only when his mother came home from the hospital the following day.
Sagariya
B.S. in Medical Lab Technology
Sagariya comes from a single-parent household, abandoned by his father. His mother, who did not graduate High School, works as a daily wager to support Sagariya and his brother. Sagariya is a strong student, and enjoys playing soccer.
Jeyanthi
Bachelors in Commerce
Jeyanthi’s mother is a convict and her father is blind, making it very difficult for her to pay for her education. Her father is an unskilled laborer and does his best but struggles to provide for the family. Jeyanthi is seeking a Bachelor of Commerce degree and enjoys singing and dancing.
Shalini
B.S. in Nursing
Shalini’s father has medical problems and is unable to work regularly. This leaves her mother, a day laborer, to provide for all four family members. Rather than let these struggles hold her back, Shalini is pursuing a degree in nursing and her goal is to be able to finish school successfully.
Gokuladharshini
Bachelors in History
Gokuladharshini’s father was murdered after he questioned fellow workers for stealing construction material. As her mother grows older, she struggles to support her four daughters' basic needs through manual labor. Gokuladharshini is seeking a degree in History, and she dreams of getting a good job so she can take care of her family. She enjoys dancing and growing plants. She is the younger sister of another Tiyara candidate, Dharani.
Madhushri
Bachelor’s in Commerce
Madhushri is seeking a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Her father is in prison for committing murder. Madhushri’s mother tries to make a living through tailoring, despite health challenges. The household includes Madhushri’s grandfather and two uncles suffering from severe medical conditions. Madhushri dreams of securing a stable job to provide for her “loving and caring family.” She is smart, gets good grades, and loves spending time with her mother.
Vaishnavi
B.S. in Nursing
Vaishnavi’s father left when she was young, and her mother works as a daily wager. Vaishnavi has a deep desire to educate herself and her two younger sisters. Her childhood dream was to work in the medical field. She is a dancer, and enjoys the Indian sport of kabadi.
Tamilmani
Bachelor’s in Nursing
Tamilmani enjoys reading and public speaking. She longs to complete a Nursing degree and help ease her mother’s burden. Tamilmani’s father is an alcoholic, so her mother single handedly supports their family of 5, on her meager daily wages whenever she can find work. It wasn't long ago that Tamilmani’s Dalit community used to be labeled as the “lowest caste” in India and across South Asia. Worse still they were stigmatized as “untouchables” and excluded from social equality for centuries, in some places, Throughout history they have been regularly targeted, oppressed, and attacked.
Rajarajeswari
Bachelors in Textile Design
Rajarajeswari is the first in her family to graduate High School, and pursue further studies. “ I want to be a Saree designer, buy a house and I want my father and mother to live together,” she says. Her father had an extra-marital affair with a woman he ended up murdering, and he is now in prison. Rajarajeswari’s mother raised two daughters and a son on daily wages. Rajarajesweri also expresses her creativity through traditional Indian art forms.
CLass of 2024
Divya
B.S. in Nursing
Divya’s parents are both daily wagers, barely making enough to support the family. Divya says that after she gets her nursing degree, she wants to take care of her parents and build a house for them. Divya finds a way to stay positive through her love of singing and dancing.
Velu
Bachelor’s in Mathematics
Velu’s father was tragically murdered by his mother, leaving his grandmother to raise him and his two siblings. His grandmother does her best to provide for the needs of the family, but it is difficult for her to pay his school fees. Velu is pursuing a Math degree and wants to take the bank exam. He has dreams of becoming a bank manager and building his own home.
Lakshmi
Bachelor’s in Nursing
Pursuing a Bachelors in Nursing, Lakshmi scored at the top of her class in high school and enjoys reading. But coming from a community known as Dalits, a word which means “oppressed”, breaking the cycle of social injustice and its consequences are an uphill battle. Lakshmi comes from a family of five. Her father is a daily wager and her mother is a housemaid.
Preethi
B.S. in Nursing
Preethi is an avaricious reader and a bright young student. But her father who works labor-intensive farming jobs does not have the means to support Preethi’s academic aspirations. Preethi is pursuing a nursing degree.
Abhinaya
B.S. in Nursing
Abhinaya, a talented painter and singer, dreams of completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing- a dream interrupted by financial hardships. Abhinaya comes from a loving family of six, but higher education is often a losing financial battle with her father’s meager daily wage earnings. Abhinaya has not let this hold her and says she “wants to serve the sick people” upon finishing her nursing degree.
Monika
Bachelor’s in Nursing
Monika enjoys listening to songs, playing carom board, painting and participating in quizzes. The oldest of four, Monika aspires to complete her degree in Nursing to care for the sick and her own family. Ever since her father abandoned them, Monika’s mother has been working as a day laborer, a struggle since the outbreak of COVID-19. Despite constitutional protections, Monika and the 160 million people known as Dalits or “oppressed” are denied equal access to education, financial resources, places of worship and housing among other rights because of their caste.
Pushparani
Bachelor’s in Nursing
Pushparani comes from a single parent household of 4. Surviving on no more than $68 per month, Pushparani belongs to a community categorized as “most backward class” by the Indian government, on the basis of 11 criteria, including economic, social and educational categories. Her family has struggled to put Pushparani through her first year of Nursing. But now, without help, Pushparani is in danger of losing her dream.
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Watch a Short Thank You Video From The Named-Scholars
