The Udayan Shalini Fellowship ignites a spark in young women to pursue higher education and develop employability skills, thereby strengthening their families.
The Fellowship, established in 2002, aims to empower girls with a passion for learning and education. The fellowship focuses on providing financial assistance, personalized mentoring, life skills training, employability skills development, and instilling social responsibility. Collaborating with dedicated individuals, the program relies on voluntary chapter convenors to unlock funding and mentoring opportunities for the girls, known as Shalinis.
The Program addresses bright and talented adolescent girls from resource-poor backgrounds. Girls from Government or Government-aided schools with a minimum score of 60% in their X Std and an annual family income of below INR 250,000 ($3,000) can apply for the fellowship.
Based on the ‘NAT’ model (Need, Ambition, and Talent), our rigorous screening process involves a four-step evaluation: application, written tests, interviews, and home visits. This ensures that only the most deserving and talented girls become Shalinis. Adhering to high standards is essential, and Shalinis are expected to demonstrate consistent academic and overall progress. Annual re-admission applications contribute to our 95% retention rate.
The final list of selected candidates is inducted into the program in a formal ceremony attended by the girls and their parents. During this ceremony, the girls take the “Shalini Pledge” to complete their education and uphold moral and ethical values, thereby becoming responsible citizens. The selected girls are called Shalinis (Dignified Women) or Fellows and are supported for 5-6 years, from the XI standard until they graduate or complete specialised courses.
The five pillars of the USF program:
Financial constraints are the most significant reason girls drop out of formal education. Therefore, every girl receives a predetermined annual scholarship to help cover expenses related to higher education.
The program is designed to equip them to excel by giving them the necessary tools to grow and flourish. USF offers personality development training and exposure to viable career choices. Through life skills and employability training, USF broadens their horizons and trains them to think independently. The program team actively seeks Internship opportunities for the girls to reinforce employability and career-mindedness. There is a placement cell that also facilitates internships and jobs for graduate Shalinis..
A robust mentoring system anchors each Shalini on her voyage of self-discovery. At every stage of the Fellowship, a Shalini has a supportive mentor who gives her attention and counsel, focusing on academic guidance, career counselling, and personal coaching. The program follows a pyramid structure of mentoring, with senior (college-going) Shalinis mentoring junior (school-going) Shalinis.
Another aim of the program is to inculcate a sense of social awareness and sensitivity in the girls. To teach this, girls are expected to spend 50 hours of social work annually, volunteering for a cause of their choice. This builds their self-esteem as they overcome their ‘recipient’ mindset and develop the confidence to ‘pay it forward’.
The program relies on chapter convenors, who are long-term volunteers. The convenor collaborates with individuals and local organizations to unlock funding and mentoring opportunities for their chapters. The convenor establishes a core committee as an advisory body, comprising passionate, like-minded, resourceful, and influential volunteers.
The Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program has completed 21 years of its path-breaking work in building agency for adolescent girls through access to higher education, generating some amazing stories of transformation and impact.
Today, the fellowship is a thriving program with 37 chapters across 15 states in India, providing pathways to education, agency, and leadership for unstoppable girls. More than 16,000 fellows and alumnae, who are mostly first-generation learners, have scripted new stories for themselves while shaping the design and trajectory of USF.
Our Shalinis (Dignified, Empowered Women) pursue fields such as engineering, Medical Studies, Chartered Accountancy, Company Secretaryship, Vocational Training, Nursing, and Computer Science.
The program has an active alumnae program. Our alumnae include Ph.D. graduates, Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Engineers, and teachers. Many of our alumni continue to mentor younger Shalinis, provide references and recommendations for higher studies and scholarships, refer job or internship opportunities, and raise awareness and funds for USF
