A 17-year-old Dalit boy from Patna has received a scholarship worth Rs. 2.5 crore to pursue his graduation in the USA. Prem Kumar, son of a daily-wage earner from the Gonpura village in Bihar, is a first-generation college student to be in his family.
Prem Kumar Manjhi is one of 6 students from across the world to have received the prestigious “Dyer Fellowship” from Lafayette College. The amount he received will cover his residence bills, books, health insurance, travel expenses as well as tuition fees.
He will be proceeding with his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and International Relations at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, USA.
“My parents were unable to attend school. Receiving this scholarship and the opportunity to study abroad is a dream come true for me. The Dexterity global organisation, which work for Mahadalit children in Bihar, is admirable. It is because of them that I am where I am today. I am happy”, said Kumar.
Prem is one of six international students who have been awarded the renowned “Dyer Fellowship” by Lafayette College. According to Lafayette, this fellowship is given to a small group of students who have a strong internal drive to address the world’s most pressing issues.
A national organisation called Dexterity Global works to develop the next generation of leaders for both India and the rest of the world through training and educational opportunities.
Dexterity Global’s founder and CEO, Sharad Sagar, a well-known social entrepreneur from Bihar, said that more than 100 crore scholarships had already been awarded to students through the organization’s career development initiative, “Dexterity to College.”
