The young women in our Dreams to Degrees program have just completed their first year of college—a milestone few girls from the slums ever reach. Thanks to your support, 18 of the 19 students are continuing into their second year, a powerful testament to their resilience and your belief in their dreams. (The 19th student’s parents decided that they preferred marriage instead of a college education.)
This summer, these remarkable young women are staying engaged and building skills that will prepare them for life after college.
Meet Varshika, a finance major who’s gaining hands-on experience by helping manage accounting books at ASMITA, our local partner organization.Logging expenses and reconciling reports may not sound glamorous, but it’s valuable professional training that will strengthen her resume when she enters the job market—the kind of opportunity young women from the slums rarely have access to without a program like Dreams to Degrees.
Many of the students have been meeting with mentors to reflect on the year, share strategies for balancing college and home responsibilities, and plan for a strong second year. These sessions are also a space to celebrate each other’s successes and draw strength from the shared experience of overcoming challenges that once seemed unimaginable. Together, they’re building a powerful sisterhood of support, resilience, and success.
Payal, Varshika, and Saloni have taken the stage as emcees for community events to practice speaking to increase their confidence and poise. These experiences are powerful opportunities to strengthen their public speaking and leadership skills—qualities that will serve them in college and beyond.
Kushi, Anjini, and Sakshi recently completed a three-day confidence-building workshop where they practiced public speaking, leading activities, and growing beyond their shyness.
Manya, Neha Jahan, Saloni, and Payal have met with groups of younger girls to share their college journey. They answered questions about balancing academic demands with responsibilities at home, and bravely spoke about the conversations they had with their parents to delay marriage in favor of education. By opening up about their struggles and triumphs, they offered practical advice and served as examples of what’s possible—boldly inspiring the next generation of girls to dream bigger