What we Do

Gender disparity persists in Punjab, with girls’ education, especially higher education, considered a lower priority.

A 2017 National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) report reveals that 39.4% of adolescent girls (15-18 age group) are not attending any educational institution, and nearly 65% are engaged in household activities or are dependents, often from poorer families.

Enrolment rates declined from 97.6% in primary school to 23.5% in higher education, with the highest dropout rates occurring between Class X and Class XI (AISHE Report 2018-19).

Factors contributing to the low female literacy rate include

• Gender-based inequality,
• Social discrimination, economic exploitation, Domestic chores,
• Low Enrolment, and high dropout rates.
• Poverty exacerbates the challenges, particularly for girls in small towns, rural areas, and migrant families.
• Security of girls particularly in a drug environment

The above state emphasises the urgent need for interventions is crucial to improve educational opportunities for girls, overcoming socio-economic barriers, and bridging the gender gap

Full Circle’s flagship program provides a unique blend of academic excellence and personality development tailored for deserving and talented girls hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Fellows, supported by FULL CIRCLE, continue until they complete their graduation or vocational courses, typically spanning 5-6 years. FULL CIRCLE acknowledges the deep-rooted gender, poverty, and societal disparities and strives to address them by offering more than just financial support. The program includes mentoring, capacity-building, resource workshops, instilling self-confidence, self esteem and respect, personality development communication skills and fostering a sense of achieving her potential and more. The overarching goal is to redress the imbalance and ensure that a girl’s will to learn is not hindered by a lack of support.

1. Empower Girls through Financial Support: FULL CIRCLE supports girls in government schools, breaking socio-economic barriers by providing essential financial support for education beyond class X, enabling the focused pursuit of secondary and college education.
2. Holistic Development through Workshops: Acknowledging diverse backgrounds, the program instills confidence and shapes personalities for real-world challenges. Equipping fellows with essential tools, including personality development, exposure to career choices, and fostering independence through academic and life skills training, FULL CIRCLE broadens horizons, empowering fellows for diverse opportunities.  The girls are strengthened in the art of communication both in local language and English. The emphasis is on all round development which the girls being from poor backgrounds need in plenty. These are structured meetings done with a specific purpose each time.
3. Individual Guidance via Mentoring: Integral to the program, a robust mentoring system guides fellows on their self-discovery journey. With personalised attention and counselling, mentors ensure timely and appropriate guidance, contributing to fellows’ resilience, stability, and confidence.

1. Bi-Monthly Workshops:Full Circle host two monthly workshops at Shemrock School, Sector 69, Mohali, concentrating on studies, personality development for overall mental & moral growth, and fostering confidence essential for advancement.
2. Mentoring: Each fellow is assigned a mentor, volunteers from diverse fields, providing guidance on college choices, subjects, careers, and addressing stress and family concerns.
3. Annual Adventure Camp:A week-long camp enhances girls’ confidence and personality through activities like talks, debates, quizzes, yoga, trekking, and extracurricular activities, aiding in career planning, goal setting, and action plans.
4. Youth Giving Back: The program instills social awareness, encouraging thriving girls to assist younger peers, transforming from recipients to contributors.
5. Developing Employability Skills: The initiative fosters employability skills, offering training on career options, job-oriented skills, and insights into the employment world.
6. Social Consciousness: Fellows also give 50 hours of social work each year. This makes them aware of social issues and ‘how to’ apply this knowledge.

Selection Process: Admission is limited to government school girls scoring 85% in Class 10, with a family income below Rs 3 Lakhs annually, and enrolled in Class 11. An advertising campaign targets schools completing their 10th class sessions. Teacher recommendations hold considerable weight in the selection process.

Unique Admission Criteria: Utilising the ‘NAT’ model (Need, Ambition, and Talent), the screening process involves application, tests, interviews, and home visits, ensuring deserving and talented girls join. Continuous high standards, academic progress, and annual re-admission contribute to a high retention rate. All Application Forms bear the parents approval.

Payment of Scholarship: Transactions are exclusively through bank transfer, with the scholarship disbursed bi-monthly to the fellows’ accounts in the first week of the month.

A Comprehensive Journey 

The FULL CIRCLE Scholarship Cycle starts with a school nominations for a Coordinator Teacher. identifying the suitable candidates post Class 10 results and freshly admitted students in Class 11, following the NAT procedure and sending the first scholarship. The written test occurs around July, followed by interviews on the same day.

• After shortlisting, home visits are conducted.
• The final selection is made by August, leading to an oath ceremony in September/October.
• Scholarships are sent monthly via bank transfer, and workshops are held every month, with ongoing mentoring and quarterly monitoring. Scholarships continue till the fellow completes graduation/vocational course.
• Independent agency evaluation.