Shanti Ashram’s Scholarships for Academic High Achievers

About Bala Shanti Sscholarships @ Shanti Ashram
The Bala Shanti Scholarships, inspired by Dr. M. Aram and Mrs. Minoti Aram, has been empowering vulnerable children since 2002. Over 23 years, it has awarded 17,756 children with academic scholarships across 50+ service villages. While every child with needs can apply for the scholarship, there has been an added focus on girls’ education, first-generation learners, children from mother headed families, vulnerable children with special needs and families with chronic illness like HIV. Beyond academic scholarships, the programme offers holistic development through health check-ups, financial literacy, career guidance, and gender equality sessions. With transparent operations and community trust, the Bala Shanti Scholarships continues to break the cycle of poverty, nurturing confident and compassionate future citizens.

Why we focus on ‘Academic High Achievers’?
At Shanti Ashram, we recognize academic excellence as both an indicator of a child’s potential and a pathway out of poverty. By identifying and supporting high-performing students in government and government aided schools—many from marginalized backgrounds—we invest in young minds that demonstrate perseverance, discipline, and promise. These students, despite facing enormous challenges, excel in their studies and deserve every opportunity to pursue higher education and meaningful careers.
High-achieving students often feel huge pressure and struggle a lot when they don’t meet their own high standards, sometimes leading to anxiety, depression, or burnout. Our scholarship gives them caring mentors, emotional support, and tools like peer groups and stress management workshops to help them see low scores as chances to learn, not failures
We help build resilience and confidence so they can bounce back and keep growing even after a stumble.
Most of all we celebrate ‘OUR CHILDREN” as a community for at Shanti Ashram – EVERY CHILD MATTERS!

Our Unique Approach

 By Children, For Children: It is not just a scholarship—it is a structured path to dignity, development, and lifelong empowerment.

 Holistic Support: Beyond financial aid, our scholarship awardees receive following interventions like:
1. Career guidance , 2.Educational tour to institutions of higher education 3.Stress Management & confidence building session 4.Financial Literacy & enrolment into the Children’s savings initiative 5.Transformational Leadership Programme 6.Dialogue with boy’s entry pass.

 Community Commitment: Every scholarship awardee is encouraged to give back to their community, nurturing a cycle of empowerment and active peacebuilding through volunteering.

Transformative effect on ground
Over the past 12 years, our educational initiative has profoundly impacted government and government-aided schools in and around Coimbatore. Spanning 62 institutions, the program has empowered 521 students from under-resourced backgrounds to pursue higher education and achieve academic excellence. As we embark on the 12th phase this year, the Bala Shanti Scholarships continues to foster academic growth, instill confidence, and open new horizons for countless students, reaffirming our commitment to nurturing talent and building a brighter future. The value of each Bala Shanti Scholarship is INR.25,000/-, which includes financial assistance along with six additional interventions.

A Call to Continue As life challenges deepen for vulnerable families, we reaffirm our commitment. Our scholarships are not just financial aid—they are a message to children that they matter, they are seen, and their dreams deserve to be pursued.

Education is for life, through life and throughout life
Mahatma Gandhi

Bala-Shanti-Scholarships-Agenda: FINAL-Bala-Shanti-Scholarships-Agenda-for-Honouring-High-School-Academic-Acheivers-14th-June-2025.pdf