What we do
Programmes that change the course of a life
Every programme Suraj Charitable Trust runs is designed around one question: what does this child actually need to stay in school and succeed?
Our approach
Targeted, sustained, and community-led
We do not believe in one-off interventions. Every child we support receives sustained assistance — financial, academic, and pastoral — for as long as they need it. Our programmes are designed with local educators and families, not imposed from outside.
Programme one
Merit Scholarship Programme
Removing the financial barrier to education, one scholar at a time.
The Merit Scholarship Programme is our flagship initiative. We identify academically promising children from low-income families and provide comprehensive financial support — covering school fees, books, uniforms, transport, and examination costs — from Class 6 through to Class 12.
How it works
Identification
Field educators and school teachers nominate children who show academic promise but face financial barriers. Families are assessed for need.
Selection
A panel of educators reviews nominations. Selected scholars and their families attend an orientation to understand the programme's expectations and support.
Support
Fees, books, uniforms, and transport are covered directly. Scholars receive monthly academic check-ins and access to tutoring support.
Mentorship
Each scholar is paired with a mentor — often a former scholarship recipient — who provides guidance through examinations and career decisions.
82%
Secondary completion rate among our scholars
1,800+
Scholarships awarded since 2005
54%
District average completion rate (for comparison)
Scholar story
"I never thought I would sit my Class 12 exams. My family needed me to work. Suraj Charitable Trust paid for everything and made sure I had no reason to stop. I am now in my second year of engineering."
Arjun Kulkarni
Scholarship recipient, 2019 · B.Tech, Civil Engineering, Nagpur
Programme two
Community Learning Centres
Bringing structured education to villages where schools cannot reach.
In many rural communities, the nearest government school is too far, too crowded, or too under-resourced to serve every child. Our Community Learning Centres fill this gap — providing safe, structured, and staffed learning spaces in the heart of the communities that need them most.
How it works
Community partnership
We work with village panchayats and local leaders to identify need and secure a suitable space. The community co-owns the centre from day one.
Educator training
We recruit and train local educators — prioritising women and former scholarship recipients — providing ongoing professional development.
Curriculum delivery
Centres follow the state curriculum with supplementary material in literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Classes run six days a week.
Family engagement
Monthly parent meetings keep families informed and involved. We address attendance barriers — including child labour and early marriage — directly.
38
Active learning centres across Maharashtra and MP
2,400+
Children enrolled in our centres
91%
Attendance rate across all centres
From the field
"Before the centre opened, the girls in our village stopped studying after Class 5. The school was six kilometres away. Now they study here, and three of them have gone on to secondary school. That has never happened before."
Savitabai Jadhav
Parent, Wardha district · Community Learning Centre, opened 2021
Support a programme
Your donation directly funds a child's place in one of our programmes. Every rupee is accounted for and reported annually.