Tiyara Graduates
Tiyara celebrates 37 graduates
Tiala
B.A. in Sociology Honors 2021
Diploma in Computer Applications 2022
Graduated with a Tiyara scholarship and laptop. Was given an additional scholarship in 2022 for Computer Applications Certification after which she became employed.
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
Roja
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.
Jaison
Radiography & Imaging Tech.
Jaisan is working 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.
Okthem
B.A. in Hotel Management
Vasuki
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.”
Arpana
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.
Ragul
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.
Leela
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”.
Eswari
Bachelors 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.”
Naro
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.
Samuel
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.
Prabhu
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.
Enjal
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”.
Kanishkar
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.
Esther
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.
Kathiravan
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.
Rachel
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.
Madhubala
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.
Sosang
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.”
Tholkappian
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.
Vasanthi
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.
Narmadhi
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”!
Amei
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.”