We are simply delighted that after three years of generous support from Nissan Motors India P/L that Nissan Renault Financial Services P/L has stepped in to take over fiscal responsibility by way of support for the Blossom Bus program and providing funding for 350 students from 22 villages of Haryana and Tamil Nadu for the 2024-25 academic year!!
Girls in India continue to face significant roadblocks in terms of equal access to education, including lack of water and hygiene infrastructure at schools, household duties, high incidents of child-marriage, remoteness and safety issues while travelling to school.
The Blossom Bus service is now in its 15th year resulting in ever increasing numbers of girls remaining in classes 9 through 12 in our target schools resulting in better teachers and increased funding to improve educational facilities including science and computer labs crucial to preparation of youth for careers in STEM and for which women are currently highly under represented.
Tanshu, a year 11 student at Hathin Girls Senior Secondary School has been riding Blossom Bus daily some three kms each way since 6th grade!! She lives with her parents, one brother, and three sisters and her father is a shopkeeper. She is very appreciative of the opportunities provided by her school and is especially excited about having access to STEM subjects, which have been instrumental in her education and development.
“I am very grateful for the STEM program at my school, which has been a huge part of my academic journey. I’ve enjoyed learning through projects like the volcano models and the smart class projector that makes lessons feel real. My first experience in a science lab was in 8th grade when I teamed up with a friend to create a kaleidoscope using three glass sheets and which was a fantastic experience. Without the bus service I would not have been able to continue at 8th grade and until now, let alone studying STEM subjects!”
“My goal is to become a Collector after clearing the Indian Civil Service Exam. I’m committed to this goal and see education as a key to improving my life and contributing to society. Despite the financial challenges my family faces, I’m determined not to let that stop me. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can achieve my dreams and make the most of the opportunities I have.”
1Females are less likely to be enrolled in the STEM stream (28.1%) than males (36.3%). ASER-2023-press-release1_English_16-Jan.pdf
