Deepali Kannoujia, a 16-year-old student from a modest background, has been selected for the prestigious Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program by the US Department of State. She is among 30 Indian students awarded this esteemed scholarship. Deepali, who supports her mother, a washerwoman, and lives in a single-room home, was enrolled at Prerna Girls’ School, which helps underprivileged girls. She is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to immerse herself in new cultures during her academic year in the US, starting August 19.
Deepali, a Class X student, helps support her family by teaching local children while her mother earns a living as a washerwoman. Her father, a former washerman, is currently bedridden due to a major leg surgery. “I am one of the 30 students selected from across India for this programme. I look forward to learning about different cultures,” Deepali shared.
Her mother, Suman, expressed mixed feelings about sending her daughter abroad for the first time: “I am happy and excited, though slightly nervous.”
Deepali’s admission to Prerna Girls’ School, part of the Study Hall Educational Foundation, has been instrumental in her educational journey. “I had heard about the US from my teachers but never imagined I would have the chance to study there. It is a wonderful opportunity for me,” said Deepali, who is set to fly to the US on August 19.