Shaping Brighter Futures: Inside the Abhilasha Scholarship Program

 India’s women’s literacy rate is just over 64%, which is quite low. Many young girls drop out of school at an early age in rural and urban areas for the lack of finances to pursue further education. There is no dearth of diverse talent in India, but the greatest challenge is uneven access to opportunities. At Debabrata Auro Foundation (DAF), we believe that this problem can and must be solved to let the young girls pursue their dreams without feeling stifled by financial hardships.

The Abhilasha Scholarship Program was created in partnership with M. Tarun Diamonds with this very purpose – to empower deserving students with finances, resources, support, and confidence to chase their academic dreams, earn a stable career, and emerge as leaders of tomorrow.

What is Abhilasha Scholarship Program?

The DAF Abhilasha Scholarship Project, in partnership with M. Tarun Diamonds, is an initiative to transform the lives of young women by empowering their educational journeys.

Abhilasha means ‘desire’, ’ambition,’ ‘wish,’ ‘want’ and that is exactly what DAF nurtures. For an intelligent young woman, higher education can be the desire, ambition, wish and want all rolled into one, i.e., Abhilasha.

The Abhilasha Scholarship Program is a merit-cum-means scholarship program designed to support underprivileged yet high-potential students. The program aims to help young academically gifted women who are not able to get further education because of economic constraints.

Abhilasha is not just a scholarship – it is a promise to help level the playing field and give every student an equal opportunity to excel in academics.

The Vision: Education is the only equalizer

At DAF, the top NGO in Mumbai, it is firmly believed that education is the only pathway to success for the underserved girls and women of the society. Through Abhilasha, DAF seeks to

• Bridge the opportunity gap by supporting students who need just a nudge to soar in academics
• Promote academic excellence by investing in talent early
• Enable upward social mobility through education
• Build a network of changemakers who also become the leaders for the communities in the future

The Abhilasha Scholarship Program provides one opportunity that can change everything.

Who is the program for?

The Abhilasha Scholarship Program is open to young girls from low-income backgrounds who have demonstrated high academic commitment and merit. These include all aspirants pursuing degrees in science, commerce, humanities, or professional streams and students with a consistent academic record and strong personal motivation with clear goals.

The selection process is transparent and inclusive. As one of the top tier NGOs in Mumbai, DAF is expanding its reach to partner with schools, community organizations and volunteers to identify the deserving candidates early and help them nurture their desire to learn and grow.

Today the Abhilasha Scholarship by DAF has helped seven young girls achieve their dreams to follow the education of their choice.

Beyond financial Aid: A holistic approach by DAF

As one of the best NGOs in India, DAF is working tirelessly to create an environment of comprehensive support with the Abhilasha program as being a part of it. DAF founders and volunteers work together to

• Provide financial support to help the girls cover the cost of their education
• Mentoring programs creating an open platform for girls to come forward and discuss their issues and roadblocks
• DAF is committing to track the academic progress of the students to ensure they are on the right track
• Life skills and capacity building through regular workshops and contact programs helping the girls with basic skills such as communication, digital literacy, time management, etc.

As one of the top NGOs in Mumbai, DAF collaborates with likeminded entities to expand outreach and scale its operations to bring it closer to its goal.

How can you support?

Here is how you can support the Abhilasha Scholarship Program and DAF:

• Sponsor a scholar or program
• Become a mentor
• Partner with us
• Spread the word

Conclusion: Breaking barriers and building a brighter future together

Debabrata Auro Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The Esthetic Centers International Private Limited. The Abhilasha Scholarship Program by DAF is more than a financial intervention; it is an investment to their better future. It bridges the opportunity for the talent. Top NGO in Mumbai, DAF is committed to equity and a movement towards a more than just educated society.