“It was a pleasure meeting with the founders of Deenbandhu and YGB and students of Deenbandhu via zoom earlier this year. It was heartwarming to see the gratitude that the students bear to both these organizations. The SHE scholarships have benefited both boys and girls and given them a means to break out of the cycle of poverty – a life transforming opportunity that too few disadvantaged children get in India. None of this would be possible without the commitment of the founders and management of both YGB and Deenbandhu, and my sincere gratitude goes to them for setting such a good example of serving the needy. May their efforts and success increase going forward.”
~ Mukund Padmanabhan, Founder Guru Krupa Foundation
At Yoga Gives Back (YGB), we’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our mission to empower underserved communities through education. Thanks to the generous $35,000 grant from the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF), YGB’s Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) program is now entering its 14th year of making transformative change possible for disadvantaged youth.
GKF, under the leadership of CEO Mukund Padmanabhan, has long focused on uplifting those less fortunate. As Padmanabhan emphasizes, “One of the few ways of helping break their cycle of poverty is to enable them to get higher education.” This belief aligns seamlessly with YGB’s goals. In partnership with Deenbandhu Trust, YGB now funds scholarships for 140 students through its SHE program, a five-year scholarship for higher education in the Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka, India.
Addressing Education Inequality in Chamarajanagara
Chamarajanagara is one of Karnataka’s most impoverished districts, with a literacy rate of just 64%—far below India’s national average of 78%. Many residents belong to tribal and disadvantaged caste communities, often facing systemic challenges to education and opportunity. Through its rewarding relationship with GKF, the SHE Scholarship for Higher Education addresses these challenges. SHE provides five-year scholarships for higher education, enabling students whose parents can offer little or no financial assistance to continue their studies beyond the 10th grade and pursue college degrees or vocational training.
The Deenabandhu Trust: A Pillar of Support
Our partner in this mission, the NGO partner Deenabandhu Trust, a charitable non-profit organization, has been a beacon of hope in Chamarajanagara since 1999. Their schools, serving over 450 students, deliver affordable, high-quality education from kindergarten through the 10th grade. 90% of these students are from families in marginalized communities who live below the poverty line. The Deenabandhu Children’s Home also provides a nurturing environment for 80 orphaned or estranged children, fostering their unique talents and supporting them toward self-reliance. YGB’s global community supports 38 children here in 2025.
Deenabandhu’s founder, Prof. G.S. Jayadeva, shares:
The light you [Yoga Gives Back and Guru Krupa Foundation] have kindled is spreading into other lamps. Soon, there will be enough light to dispel the darkness.
The Impact of the SHE Program
Now supporting 440 students annually, the SHE program opens doors for young adults to achieve their dreams. Many students graduate with Bachelor’s Degrees and make history in their families and communities by pursuing careers in fields such as engineering, nursing, paramedical sciences, and more. Many become role models for the younger generation. The SHE program seeds the opportunity for each student to become a real change-maker in their community and beyond while creating a generational impact.
Building a Brighter Future
This partnership with GKF exemplifies how collaboration can create life-changing opportunities. We are deeply inspired by the students who are turning their aspirations into reality and becoming role models for future generations. You can read about success stories of SHE scholarship graduates here.
Together with the unwavering support of organizations like the Guru Krupa Foundation and the dedication of the Deenabandhu Trust, Yoga Gives Back remains committed to empowering disadvantaged youth through education.
We acknowledge with gratitude the kind support from Guru Krupa Foundation supporting the college education of 140 students through a scholarship programme. Deenabandhu Trust, located in Chamarajanagara, an underserved border district of Karnataka is proud to be a partner with Guru Krupa Foundation to help students from underprivileged families to realize their dream ‘College education.’ The spectrum of courses pursued by our students and nurtured by GKF has a range of its own – from simple bachelor’s courses in humanities or science to the technical field like engineering, paramedical and nursing. Some are pursuing their post graduate courses. These students in turn are not only supporting their families but are supporting the education of their siblings at home. We are equally grateful to Yoga Gives Back, USA which has been instrumental in procuring the grants from GKF. The light you both have kindled is spreading into other lamps, soon there will be enough light to dispel the darkness.
— Prof. G.S.Jayadeva, Founder Deenabandhu Trust
