Posted On: 2022-08-02 18:12:29
Education has become a necessity for today’s world. It is the essence of all the actions that we perform in society. For everything we do, we have learnt it in some or the other way. Education holds the power to cultivate, shape and secure one’s future. It changes people’s perspective to see situations and solve life problems.
In addition, education aids in skill development such as social, commercial, communicational, interpersonal, and others that are necessary in today's competitive world.
Your degree will help you land your dream career. As much as primary education contributes to building a strong base for a career, higher education is equally important that advances you towards your dream career. But today’s education comes with a price. Education costs are hiking with changing times especially because of the digital era. Educational infrastructure, dynamic ways of learning and multiple academic programs have made the process of learning costlier.
Education loans do help students pursue their degrees, but repayment of the principal amount and interest usually adds to the burden of students, right at the beginning of their careers.
Which is why students have been trying a new way to gather the funds required for their education. That is through crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is a method of raising money where a large number of individuals or groups of people/organizations donate to the same cause. Crowdfunding is recently gaining popularity in India. Though majorly used for expensive medical treatment and bills, crowdfunding is used for other causes like education and funding startups.
Crowdfunding Realizing Dreams
Indian students have been opting to crowdfund to pay educational expenses commonly now. One such instance is Sumit Samos Turuk from Koraput, Odisha. Sumit, an anti-caste activist and rapper who graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru University, has now been accepted to Oxford University to pursue an MSc in Modern South Asian Studies.
Sumit applied for MSc in Modern South Asian Studies in Oxford’s St. Antony College in November 2020 and got an offer letter in January the next year.
The course fee for the one-year programme is Rs 25 lakh, which does not include the Rs 15 lakh in living expenses. However, as a primary school teacher in the Narayanpatna block, Sumit's father could only raise between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh for the course.
Unable to gather the money, Sumit started a fundraiser on the crowdfunding platform Milaap. “My friends from India and Pakistan who have studied in Oxford helped me in the entire process. About 1,500 people from India, the United Kingdom and the United States donated Rs 37 lakh within four to five hours of opening the fundraiser on June 1,” Sumit said.
Within three hours, the fundraiser reached its goal and Sumit shut the campaign close. Sumit was able to gather his fee with the help of crowdfunding. Many such dreams have come true with the help of crowdfunding.
Education is one of the essentials to survive in today’s world. With advancing learning techniques, technology and many career options, affording today’s education can be demanding money.
India being a developing country, faces problems in many sectors. The higher unemployment rate has affected families who struggle to manage their daily expenses. Children do not have access to primary education in remote areas of the country.
Equal Education For All
Several non-profit organizations work tirelessly to improve the education scenario of the country. Organizations conduct drives and programs to provide education to underprivileged children as part of their corporate social responsibility projects.
With such constructive steps, more Indians can get access to education which will aid the overall development of the country.
More than 50% of Indian children aged 6 to 18 do not attend school, despite the country having a national policy that mandates elementary education for all children and a policy against child labour. The saying "Children are the future of the country" is no longer true! It does really sound like an ominous prophecy.
Supporting The Underprivileged
Supporting the underprivileged is what we can do to change this scenario. A few of these underprivileged children from Maharashtra are Shruti, Shrey, Ruchika and Aditya; who are passionate about studying and want to have successful careers. But financial constraints are preventing them from pursuing their dreams. A fundraising campaign on Filaantro is initiated to help them have access to education.
Shruti (12) and Shrey (10) from Ahmednagar are siblings studying at Rashtriya Sant Acharya Anandrushi English Medium School. Their single mother used to work as a tailor but is currently unemployed and the family has no source of income currently. These siblings wish to study further but are unable to pay their school fees.
Ruchika, a 14 year old school girl living in Goregaon, Mumbai, studies at Queen Mary High School. Ruchika’s father is an auto driver and his monthly income is Rs. 10,000. He is the only earning member of the family. Along with household expenses, he has to now arrange the pending school fees with the current year's school fees which is difficult right now for him.
Aditya, a 14 year old from Mumbai, lost his father during covid 19 lockdown. He was the sole breadwinner of the family. His mother cannot work as she is severely ill. The 14 year old wishes to study and earn for his mother but cannot continue as he can not afford the school fee.
These children deserve equal opportunities and quality education to build a better and secure future. At this young age, they are facing multiple life problems but do not wish to stop studying because they know education is an important step they cannot miss for a brighter future.
You can help these children build a strong education base and brighten their future. Donate to the cause and see lives bloom into a beautiful future.
Visit: https://filaantro.org/fundraiser/view/rural-children to learn more about the fundraiser and support the cause.
Author: Anjali Patel
Ready to Start a Fundraiser ?