Bachelor’s in Special Needs Education

Simran is passionate about her work with autistic children in Dehra Dun in northern India. From a broken family including 5 siblings, Simran was the recipient of the 2024 Dolly Samuel Scholarship Award. 

Master’s in Business Administration

A Tiyara scholarship allows Jakjemkala’s dreams to become a reality and lessen the financial burden on her parental family of five, whom she describes as loving and caring. She enjoys making jewelry and accessories in her free time. After graduating, she wants to work in the corporate sector to gain the necessary experience to eventually start her own business.

Master’s in Business Administration

A scholarship from Tiyara allows Lothu to fully focus on his studies without financial constraints. Raised by a single parent, Lothu’s mother is supporting three kids, and is unable to support his educational dreams. Upon graduation, Lothu dreams of starting a real estate company. In his free time, Lothu enjoys playing badminton, for which he won several awards when he was in school.

Master’s in Business Administration

Ngoun comes from a supportive and hardworking family of eight. Upon graduating, she dreams of obtaining a good job so she can support herself and help her family.

Master’s in Business Administration

Railu comes from a hard-working family of four. They struggle to support his dream of achieving his master's in business administration. He dreams of owning his own business one day. In his free time, he enjoys playing games outside and listening to music.

Master’s in Business Administration

Elvish has completed her degree in economics and is determined to become financially independent. These dreams have inspired her to pursue a Master's in Business Administration. Her family is made up of three siblings, her parents and grandmother.

Master’s in Business Administration

Limathung comes from a small middle-class family of five. They are a supportive and happy family but cannot financially support his educational dreams. Upon graduating, Limathung dreams of owning a business.

Master’s in Business Administration

Jacob has dreams of being an Entrepeneur and helping people. He comes from a family of seven. In his free time, he enjoys reading.

Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce

Hena says, “your support shaped my future. I am now married and pursuing a Master’s Degree in Commerce with my husband’s support.”

Hena is a first-generation graduate and earned her Bachelor’s on a Tiyara scholarship.

Engineering Degree

Abhishek’s father is a driver and his mother works for daily wages. He grew up on the edge of a forest in Uttarakhand. Abhishek is a first-generation university graduate.

Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery

Born an orphan and raised in an orphanage, Mercy overcame early hardship and has earned a Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery with her husband's support, and a Tiyara scholarship, while parenting two young children. Inspired by the kindness she received growing up, Mercy hopes to give back by serving the needy through her nursing career. Her resilience, purpose-driven motivation, and skill set make her an excellent nurse.

Bachelor’s in Physician Assistant

Employed at a Heart and Lung Transplant Unit after graduating on a Tiyara scholarship, not only does Joshua now have his dream job, he has also increased over five and a half times, the income of his family bereaved of their father by Covid-19

Certification in Aviation and Flight Hospitality

“Being a displaced family in a hopeless situation, this opportunity from Tiyara donors came as a gift from God.” Merina completed her certification in Aviation and is now living her dream. Her family was impacted by communal conflict in her home state of Manipur, India when Tiyara supporters stepped in. Now Merina is able to help the family finances with a steady income source. 

Bachelor’s in Nursing

A talented painter and singer, Abhinaya says she has especially enjoyed community and field exposure in her Nursing program. Abhinaya comes from a loving family of six, and higher education is often a losing financial battle with her father’s meager daily wage earnings. The Tiyara scholarship has winged her dreams, and Abhinaya says she wants to serve as “a good professional nurse and help the needy.”

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Divya’s parents are both daily wagers, barely making enough to support the family. Divya says that after she gets her nursing degree, she wants to take care of her parents and build a house for them. Divya finds a way to stay positive through her love of singing, dancing and choreography. She has also learned to communicate in multiple southern Indian languages to make herself accessible to patients.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

During her Nursing program rotations, Lakshmi speaks of being particularly impacted by “the real-life experiences of psychiatric patients, and exposure to cancer patients.” From a community known as Dalits, a word which means “oppressed”, breaking the cycle of social injustice and its consequences are an uphill battle for Lakshmi. Her father is a daily wager, her mother is a housemaid, and they are a family of five.”

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Tamilmani enjoys reading and public speaking. She is grateful for her recent opportunity for a posting in an ICU Pediatrics Unit. Empowered by a Tiyara Board Scholarship, Tamilmani longs to help ease her mother’s burden. Tamilmani’s father is an alcoholic, so her mother single-handedly supports their family of 5, on her meager daily wages whenever she can find work. The family belongs to the Dalit community, socially labeled as the “lowest caste” in India and South Asia.

Bachelor’s in Commerce

Jemima was pursuing a Commerce degree on track to realizing her dream of becoming a Bank Manager when her dreams were shattered when their father succumbed to COVID-19, and the economic impact of that tragedy meant that they could no longer afford the fees to continue her education.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Mukti is among 4 siblings who lost her under-40-year-old mother to COVID-19. “When my mother was infected with the corona virus, we struggled a lot to get her admitted in the hospital. We live in Madhya Pradesh in Central India, among the Bhil Adivasi (indigenous) people, whom my parents have served together. We took my mother to the city of Dahod for treatment but there were no hospital beds available. Then we took her to Vadodara city, where she got admitted but she only survived for 3 days. If we could have admitted her early, we could have saved her life. If any organization comes forward to open a hospital, it would be a great service for our Bhil Adivasi people.”

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Pushparani comes from a single parent household of 4 after her father died. Surviving on no more than $85 per month, Pushparani belongs to a community categorized as the “most backward class” by the Indian government, based on 11 criteria, including economic, social, and educational categories. Without a Tiyara scholarship, Pushparani would be in danger of losing her dream.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Preethi is an avaricious reader and a bright and ambitious young student. She won a prize in her nursing program, making a pillow of garlic peels! She has also developed a disinfectant with lemon rind. Preethi’s father who works labor-intensive farming jobs does not have the means to support his daughter’s academic aspirations. The Tiyara scholarship has made all the difference.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Monika enjoys listening to songs, playing carom board, painting and participating in quizzes. The oldest of four, Monika aspires to complete her degree in Nursing on a Tiyara Board Scholarship to care for the sick and her own family. Ever since her father abandoned them, Monika’s mother has been striving to support the family as a day laborer. Despite constitutional protections, Monika and the 160 million people known as Dalits or “oppressed” are denied equal access to education, financial resources, places of worship and housing among other rights because of their caste.

Bachelor's in education 

Roshni is employed as a primary school teacher. Now married, and the mother of a 2-year-old, Roshni grew up in a humble mud hut on the edge of a forest, close to a tiger reserve in northern India. She belongs to the extremely marginalized Tharu community.

Bachelors in Textile Design

Rajarajeswari is the first in her family to graduate High School, and pursue further studies. “ I want to be a Saree designer, buy a house and I want my father and mother to live together,” she says. Her father had an extra-marital affair with a woman he ended up murdering, and he is now in prison. Rajarajeswari’s mother raised two daughters and a son on daily wages. Rajarajesweri also expresses her creativity through traditional Indian art forms.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Vaishnavi’s childhood dream was to work in the medical field. She is grateful for the opportunities she has had to give health and hygiene classes in the gynecology ward and to help in the emergency ward and the Operation Theatre. Vaishnavi’s father left when she was young, and her mother works as a daily wager. Vaishnavi has a deep desire to educate herself and her two younger sisters. She is a dancer and enjoys the Indian sport of kabaddi.

Hospitality and Aviation certification 

Now working at a prestigious location in Mumbai, Shaning is overjoyed that he more than tripled his parental family’s income, and that his parents now have health insurance and better access to medical care because of his employment. Shaning is from the Inpui (also known as Kabui )tribe in Manipur and continues to work towards even bigger dreams. 

Diploma in Nursing

Aruna’s father has a heart disease and she and her four siblings are dependent on their mother who works as a maid to provide for the family. Aruna completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and dreams of becoming a nurse so she can better her life and become successful.

Masters in Horticulture

“I have successfully completed an Intermediate Training Program in Mushroom Cultivation, Beekeeping, Fruit and Vegetable Preservation. With a Tiyara scholarship, I am now pursuing an M.A. in Horticulture in order to gain employment. I am one of four siblings. I come from a caring family, but my mother is the sole breadwinner as my father is no more. I would like to complete my course with flying colors and use my skills and knowledge for the upliftment of our society.”

Bachelor’s in History

Gokuladharshini’s father was murdered after he questioned fellow workers for stealing construction material. As her mother grows older, she struggles to support her four daughters' basic needs through manual labor. Gokuladharshini completed a degree in History, and she dreams of getting a good job so she can take care of her family. She enjoys dancing and growing plants. She is the younger sister of another Tiyara candidate, Dharani.

Bachelor’s in Commerce

An academician, sportswoman and dancer, Iswarya says, “I want to become a Police officer. I want to support those who are facing challenges like me.” Iswariya’s father landed in prison after committing group murder in a misguided attempt to help a neighbor. She says her mother, a daily wager has been the “backbone of our family” for her and her brother.

Diploma in Nursing

Jenitha comes from a loving family of five. Neither of her parents graduated high school and they work as daily wagers, struggling to support the family. Jenitha desires to help others in the future, and she enjoys singing and drawing.

Bachelor’s in Communication

Jeyanthi’s mother is a convict and her father is blind, which made it very difficult for her to pay for her education. Her father is an unskilled laborer and does his best but struggles to provide for the family. Jeyanthi completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree and enjoys singing and dancing.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Kamali’s father died in a road accident. Her widowed mother works as a maid to provide for the family. Kamali is pursuing her nursing degree and wants to get a job so she can take care of her mother. Despite their challenges, Kamali describes her family as “living by faith.” She exemplifies perseverance.

Bachelor’s in Commerce

Karthika’s life was changed forever when her alcoholic father murdered her grandmother and tried to murder her mother. Once he was sent to jail, Karthika’s mother became the sole provider for her and her younger sister. Her mother is a day laborer with little job security. Karthika completed a degree in Commerce, and is getting a stable job to help provide for her family.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Mohana is a strong student of nursing in a prestigious institution in southern India. Her parents’ education did not go beyond 9th grade, but Mohana’s dreams endure. She says her friends joke about her compulsive closet cleaning habits!

Bachelor’s in Commerce

Madhushri’s father is in prison for committing murder. Madhushri’s mother tries to make a living through tailoring, despite health challenges. The household includes Madhushri’s grandfather and two uncles suffering from severe medical conditions. Madhushri dreams of securing a stable job to provide for her “loving and caring family.” She is smart, gets good grades, and loves spending time with her mother.

Bachelor’s in Medical Laboratory Science

Sagariya comes from a single-parent household, abandoned by his father. His mother, who did not graduate High School, works as a daily wager to support Sagariya and his brother. Sagariya is a strong student, and enjoys playing soccer.

Diploma in Nursing

Shalini’s father has medical problems and is unable to work regularly. This leaves her mother, a day laborer, to provide for all four family members. Rather than let these struggles hold her back, Shalini pursued a degree in nursing and her goal is to become a successful nurse.

Bachelor’s in Medical Laboratory Science

Sivasankari’s father died when she was a baby. Her mother works as an agricultural laborer to support her four daughters. Sivasankari has a heart to serve the needy. She enjoys craft making and playing an Indian sport called kabadi.

Bachelor’s in Physician Assistant

Silviya is a multi-talented young lady, having participated in science and dramatic competitions, and winning a district level prize in drawing. Her mother married very young, and went into a deep depression after Silviya’s father abandoned the family.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

A badminton star, Uma says her dream is “to study well and take care of my mother”. Abandoned by her husband, Uma’s mother works as a housemaid to care for her daughter and son. A strong student, Uma completed a Bachelor’s in Nursing.

Bachelor’s in Math

Velu’s father was tragically murdered by his mother, leaving his grandmother to raise him and his two siblings. His grandmother does her best to provide for the needs of the family, but it is difficult for her to pay his school fees. Velu pursued a Math degree and wants to take the bank exam. He has dreams of becoming a bank manager and building his own home.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Vinisha’s father died when she was young, leaving her widowed mother to raise three children on her own. Her mother works as a day laborer making a meager income and the family is very financially unstable. Vinisha has persevered and is pursued her degree in nursing. She dreams of pursuing an upper-level nursing degree and getting a job as a research nurse.

Electrician Training

Amos is training to be an electrician. Both his parents tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021. 3 days later, his father developed an incessant cough. The first hospital he was taken to had no oxygen. So, his wife and relatives took him to another hospital, 40 miles away, but it was too late. Amos learned of his father’s passing only when his mother came home from the hospital the following day.

B.A. in Hotel Management

India Union Public Service Commission Exam

“With a Tiyara scholarship, I have been coached to appear in competitive exams and succeed in securing employment with the government. My parents are uneducated and work with their hands to fend for our family of four. My education and subsequent employment will be my fuel to bring a change to the community and also help my family.”

Bachelor’s in Theology

Arpana is a senior in College. Both her parents tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021. 3 days later, her father developed an incessant cough. The first hospital he was taken to had no oxygen. So, his wife and relatives took him to another hospital, 40 miles away, but it was too late. Arpana learned of her father’s passing only when her mother came home from the hospital the following day.

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Enjal’s mother was taken away from them without warning as a result of COVID-19. Not only did this create an emotional vacuum in her lives but also an economic one. Enjal’s goal is “to become one of the best nurses”.

Diploma in Nursing

Esther’s mother died when she was young. Esther’s alcoholic father and her older brother both work as day laborers. Esther comes recommended by the head of her nursing school, as a strong and deserving student.

Bachelor’s in Bio-Technology

Eswari’s mother is a street vendor selling t-shirts and undergarments to support her son and daughter. Eswari’s father was murdered by a neighbor. Eswari says, “I want to get a government job. I want to earn money and help my family to live happily. I am preparing for competitive exams.”

Radiography & Imaging Tech.

Jaisan worked towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiography and Imaging technology. Neither of his parents graduated High School and the family is financially unstable. Jaisan says his goal is to earn his degree and serve others like him. Jaisan enjoys volleyball to keep him fit.

Bachelor’s in Commerce

Kanishkar’s grandmother, a daily wager, has been caring for Kanishkar and his sister, ever since their father stabbed their mother to death and was subsequently imprisoned. Kanishkar’s goal is to become the first college graduate in his family, gain stable government employment and change his family’s fortune.

Diploma in Health Inspection

Kathiravan is studying to become a Food Security Officer. He has remained focused in his goals despite a difficult childhood, while his father served a 14-year prison term. Even after the father was released from prison finding employment was a challenge. The father works for daily wages, while Kathiravan’s mother works in a small juice shop. Kathirivan has one sister.

Diploma in Nursing

Leela and her three siblings come from a single parent home. Their father walked away when Leela was three. Her mother works hard as a manual laborer, barely making ends meet. Leela enjoys volleyball and dreams of becoming a “good nurse”.

Bachelors in Computer Science

When Madhubala was a young girl, her father was murdered by a group of drunken brawlers at a temple festival. Despite severe health problems, her mother has continued to work as a day laborer to provide for her daughter and two sons. Madhubala is seeking a degree in Computer Science and wants to become a teacher.

B.A. in Economics with Honors

“I graduated with a B.A. in Economics with Honors. I am the second of 5 siblings from a broken family. With the Tiyara scholarship, I am preparing to enter into civil service. I want to contribute toward addressing the needs of the people and the state, to help bring about desired developments and changes in society, and by modeling integrity.

Bachelor’s in Commerce

Narmadha wants to become a banker and take care of her mother. It pains her that her father was murdered by her uncle when she was just 3 years old, leaving her to grow up fatherless. Yet, she says, “I love to sing”!

Diploma in Medical Lab Technology

Prabhu is the son of a special needs father who murdered his mother. This tragic event has not stopped him from following his dreams of becoming a Lab Technician and he is enrolled in a Medical Laboratory Technology program. He is a bright young student who enjoys agriculture and medicine but he needs financial assistance to achieve his dreams.

India Union Public Service Commission Exam

“With the Tiyara scholarship, I aspire to become a civil servant and use my knowledge and skill for the betterment of society and help economically struggling students. One day I would like to meet Barack Obama over a cup of tea, I don’t mind dinner as well!’

Rachel has faced a lot of hardships, hopping from one place to another seeking support from relatives. Her father passed away, Rachel has struggled to support her four siblings, her step mother and herself.

Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering

“My passion is to become an entreprenur & provide jobs for fellow engineers in the future. I also want to create a mini robot,” says Ragul. His father was murdered by Ragul’s uncle over ownership of a well. Ragul’s mother has raised her son and daughter on her meager salary working as a tailor. Ragul says that when life feels hard, he beats it by listening to music.

Diploma in Nursing

Roja’s father died young, leaving her barely educated mother to raise Roja and her younger brother. Having experienced her father’s illness, Roja dreams of becoming a nurse and caring for the sick. Undaunted by adversity, Roja loves to sing and dance.

Bachelors in Commerce

Narmadha wants to become a banker and take care of her mother. It pains her that her father was murdered by her uncle when she was just 3 years old, leaving her to grow up fatherless. Yet, she says, “I love to sing”!

Bachelor of Arts

A Senior in College, Samuel has 3 older sisters and a mother who has sadly been widowed by COVID-19. As the family emerged from deep depression caused by the father’s passing, they also did not have a way to pay for Samuel to complete his college education.

Master’s in Commerce

“As both of my parents are daily wage earners, sustaining our family of 6 each day, they cannot afford to pay for my studies. With the Tiyara scholarship, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Commerce, which will provide me with a sustainable pathway to success. I am optimistic and love learning new things.”

Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering

“I am pursuing higher education to get a stable job and improve my livelihood”, says Thoikappian. For almost all his life, his father has been in prison, having been incriminated in mob riots. Despite the stigma attached to his circumstances, Thoikappian enjoys the support of good friends, and a mother who has struggled to raise her two sons.

Diploma in Nursing

Vasanthi’s father died of a heart attack, leaving his 42 year old widow to raise Vasanthi and her 2 brothers on her meager income as a daily wage earner. A diligent student and a prize winning chess player, Vasanthi is a student of Nursing.

Diploma in Nursing

“In my family, my mother is everything”, says Vasuki. After all, this is the mother, who single handedly raised four girls as a daily wage earner, after their father abandoned them. A student of Nursing, Vasuki says, “ After getting a job, I want to help my mother and sisters.”