History

Phagwara is a small city in Punjab state, located between the two big cities of Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The male literacy rate is 80.44% and female literacy rate is 70.73% in Punjab. With a population little over 100,000, it has sufficient number of schools and colleges to cater to the needs of the local population. However, Growing up in families of struggling famers, laborers and truck drivers, education beyond 10^th  grade seemed like nothing more than a dream for girls from socially and economically backward section.

To help education of such girls, Udayan Shalini Fellowship chapter in Phagwara was established in November, 2012 with the financial support arranged by iPartner India from one of their prominent donors, Pakhar Singh Foundation. With inducting 50 Shalinis in the first year, The number of girls now being supported is 170. This was made possible due to the consistent support of Mr Kuldeep K Sardana, Joint Managing & Executive Director, Sukhjit Starch & Chemical Ltd, and many others, including Ms Neelam Pasricha, Principal, Arya Model Sr Sec School, , Mr. Sushil Sharma, a Government teacher, Ms. Jitender Kaur, Principal, Ramgariah Sr. Sec. School and Ms. Kanchan Gilhotra, Principal, S D Putri Pathshala Sr Sec School.

The Board of Arya Model Senior Secondary School supports USF by sharing their school premises with us for all our programmes, workshops, and meetings.

Currently, USF is supporting 159 Shalinis at the Phagwara Chapter.