Introduction

‘Danish’ or knowledge is the seed for development and progress. Culture and civilization grow from it. Communities that invest in knowledge, reap the fruits of progress. They in turn unleash creative energy.

The Beginning

Danish Education Trust (R) was set up by a group of concerned activists in the field of education led by philanthropist Ms. Husna Sheriff in March 2006 in Bangalore. It was mainly with the aim of identifying talented youth and taking care of their basic economic needs in order to enable them to fully devote their attention towards attainment of education and building of personality. The immediate concern was to help the meritorious students to claim the seats available in engineering and medicine in the vast number of colleges across Karnataka through Common Entrance Test (CET). It was observed that poor students with high CET ranking had nowhere to turn to at the counseling centre for immediate monetary assistance while seats were being offered in prestigious institutions at incredibly low tuition fee.  Merit was thus being denied fruits for want of resources. The collective sense of grief due to merit being disgraced persuaded these men and women to extend a helping hand.

In action
Danish Professional Education Scholarship

Danish Education Trust got into action as CET counseling sessions began in June 2006. In the first year a total of 100 students were selected for grant of scholarships for BE (70) and MBBS (30) courses. Majority of these students came from city slums, rural areas, under-privileged localities but with impressive ranks and marks. 

In the second year i.e., 2007-2008, Danish could take in another 41 students, (9 MBBS + 29 BE). Three students doing MS in Mass Communication, Master of Social Work (MSW) and Diploma in Medical Lab Technology, too were taken in. They comprised 14 female  and 27 male candidates. However, the things took a pleasant turn around September 2007. The Central Government announced a slew of merit-cum-means scholarships for professional and post-matric students. The people behind Danish along with other NGOs, persuaded several hundred students from Karnataka to apply for these scholarships. By Allah’s grace, we could enable nearly 600 of them to access the government resources for future funding of their courses.

Year on Year…..
Professional Education Scholarships

Starting in 2006, Danish Educational Trust (R) even to this year has continued its scholarship scheme for the poor and needy students not only pursuing Engineering & Medicine but also in Law, Journalism, Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Education and Civil Services. 

As on 2020, Danish Educational Trust (R) has sponsored the education of 150+ students every year and with completion of 14 years, more than 2000 students have benefitted with a budget of Rs.40 lakhs per year.

Looking Ahead

Danish Educational Trust (R) now looks ahead at diversifying the choice of careers and courses within the community.  While it is useful that the community has a lot of engineers, doctors, and managers, it also needs to produce professionals in the field of law, mass media, chartered accountancy, languages, fine arts, economics, public administration, and research. The community’s growth would remain lop-sided if it remains deficient in matters of people who can think, plan and administer. The growing West Asian economy would continue to consume doctors, engineers and other people with hand skills. But qualities of head will lend weight to the people back home. Throwing roots into the soil should be our foremost aim. Danish would henceforth divert an equal measure of attention on nurturing talents in these fields. 

Integrating youth with the community

  • Danish Education Trust regularly organizes Orientation Programmes for recipients of its scholarships in order to integrating them with the community and nurture a sense of social commitment. 
  • It also organizes seminars on careers and courses in order to bring about a modicum of balance in the professional character of the community. 
  • It has plans to set up textbook banks, organize coaching classes and fund students aspiring to enter the civil services.