LUCKNOW: She lives in a one-room house and teaches kids to support her mother, who works as a washerwoman, to make ends meet. Now, 16-year-old Deepali Kannoujia, a Class X student, is overjoyed after coming to know about her selection for a prestigious scholarship – US dept of state’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study programme, which invites high school students from countries of strategic importance to US for an academic year, reports Isha Jain.
“I am one of the 30 students selected from across India for this programme. I look forward to learning about different cultures,” Deepali said. She is the youngest among four siblings. Her father, who was a washerman, is now bed-ridden following a major leg surgery. “I am happy and excited, though slightly nervous to send her away for the first time,” Suman, her mother, said.
Deepali was admitted to Prerna Girls’ School, a unit of Study Hall Educational Foundation that provides education to girls from low-income and marginalised communities. “I had heard about US from my teachers but never thought I would be there for my studies. It is a great opportunity for me,” said Deepali, who will fly to the US on Aug 19.