GradRight launches GradPRIDE, India’s first specialized scholarship for LGBTQIA+ students to aid higher education abroad
New Delhi: GradRight, an ed-fintech startup, has announced GradPRIDE, India’s first specialized scholarship for LGBTQIA+ students for higher education abroad. The startup intends to offer scholarships worth INR 2,00,000 for higher education in the world’s top 500 universities. Students can apply for the scholarship at GradRight’s website latest by July 31st, 2022. GradRight’s initiative is a step toward supporting education for everyone, across communities.
LGBTQIA+ community goes through diverse life experiences and faces many challenges. Choosing the right college for higher studies is one of the most important decisions for any student and more so for this community which still faces high levels of discrimination. Even when they have found their dream college, inadequate funding can become a roadblock. With GradPRIDE GradRight intends to clear this roadblock and empower the community to achieve their dreams.
“As part of the scholarship program, GradRight will assist the students in understanding which overseas institutions offer an inclusive, safe living and learning environment. Through interactions with international student communities, the program also intends to provide tips and skills for navigating social norms and cultural differences to easily integrate into the international student and LGBTQIA+ communities. The scholarship will also support them with legal guidance to protect their rights.” explains Anand Patinge, Lead, Brands & Comms and Spokesperson for GradRight.
The selection of the candidates for the scholarship will be based on their academic records. Each application will be reviewed by the financial institutes registered with GradRight.
Sasidhar Sista, GradRight’s co-founder, knows the liberating power of education. And he knows what it’s like to be the first to do something, being India’s first Fulbright-Nehru scholar for higher education.
“UPenn changed my life. And it wouldn’t have happened without the Fulbright scholarship. I think scholarships are evidence of everything that’s good with humans. While we are the first, we don’t want to be the last. We’d love to lose this crown of being India’s only LGBTQIA+ scholarship. India needs and deserves as much support as possible from the powerful edu-biz community,” says Sasidhar.
GradPRIDE echoes the company’s vision to aid higher education for all. Being the first Indian brand to introduce an exclusive scholarship for LGBTQIA+ students, it also intends to encourage other financial institutes to contribute to the cause.
Founded in 2019, GradRight is helping aspiring students to pursue higher education abroad without worrying about financing. The company connects the student with financial institutes for the right funding. It also provides guidance for selecting the right educational institute for them. With the vision to provide access to higher education for deserving students, over 80% of its customers are from 2000+ tier 1 & 2 cities.