23/04/2021
Posted • Last week, Seema—a Yuwa Class of 2021 graduate and coach—was offered and accepted a full scholarship to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Seema was also accepted to Ashoka University, Middlebury College, and Trinity College.
Seema is the daughter of illiterate parents in a village in Ormanjhi. Her family relies on subsistence farming as well as her father’s work at a local thread factory. After joining a Yuwa football team in 2012, Seema has avoided child marriage, defended her right to an education, and played football for years despite being ridiculed for wearing shorts. She will be the first woman in her family to attend a university.
Harvard University, widely considered one of the best universities in the world, had a historically low acceptance rate this year due to a record number of applications—only 3.4%. Defying all odds, Seema has won a place at Harvard during this extremely competitive year.
Although Seema does not know what she will major in at Harvard University yet, she has a clear vision for her future: “Gender equality is a development that I want to see in my village and the whole world. Bringing gender equality to my community is essential to reduce injustices against women like gender discrimination, domestic violence, child marriage etc. It would not only show economic growth but also social, where women take part in decision making at each house.
I plan to start an organization for women in my village.This program would have two goals. One to start a small business that would train women to be financially independent.The other is to educate women about their rights and to build a bigger network to support women by providing essential vocational skills and knowledge.” CONGRATULATIONS, Seema! We are all so proud of you.
