KATHMANDU, July 14: “I failed my first unit exam because I could not understand English,” recounted Suraj Parajuli, a former fellow at Samaanta Foundation from Sindhupalchowk. Today, he is pursuing a master’s degree in Kathmandu.
The Samaanta Foundation hosted a welcome program for their 14th and largest cohort yet, with nineteen eager new fellows chattering excitedly about the possibilities their new lives held. The fellows were surrounded by proud parents and their new Samaanta family.
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Since its inception in 2012, the foundation has been dedicated to “providing comprehensive higher education fellowships to students who demonstrate leadership qualities and academic potential but face financial constraints,” explained Shirijunga Hang Rai, a director at Samaanta.
The foundation selects students based on merit and need, offering them a two-year fellowship that allows them to study in private colleges in Kathmandu. The fellowship also includes extracurricular support and workshops, monthly stipends for basic expenses, English language classes, and mentorship throughout and after high school.
Samaanta’s mission is grounded in the philosophy of ‘paying it forward’. “We are not just a scholarship,” clarified Yukta Poudel, the strategy and partnership officer of the organisation. “All of our fellows go back to their communities each year on a service project to give back to their communities.” And this commitment to ‘giving back’ was elucidated by the presence of alumni from as far back as the 4th cohort, who volunteered and cheered on the newest members of their Samaanta family.
“The welcome program is the most important event of the academic year,” claimed Poudel. Rai echoed this sentiment and added that it was important for both parents and the new fellows because “the parents are, in some ways, entrusting their children to our foundation. They have the right to understand how our institution works, and we would like to give them that transparency. And for new fellows, it may be inspiring to see alumni, and can give them some clarity on future prospects.”
When asked to give the new fellows a few words of advice, Parajuli had much to say, but his core message was clear: “Remember why you have come here. Keep in mind your parents' dreams, your own dreams, and always be prepared to support not only yourself but also those around you.”
