Send Shilu to MIT Deep Technology Bootcamp

NOTE:

I have been able to arrange for my accommodation, still in need of support for the program and flights. Any sorts of help will be appreciated.

Thanks :)

From an early age, I learned that education can transform the lives of others. It was through my mother that I learned this. My mother was prevented from finishing school so she could be married at a very young age. She had always wanted to go to school, and while that dream could not be realized, I realized that I could use my own education to help her. As a child, I taught English to her and her friends. Through this experience, I came to understand, from an early age, that knowledge can empower and change communities.

In college, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be selected as a Microsoft Student Partners of my college. From this, I started my own digital literacy training programme in schools. I taught digital literacy to underprivileged children from poorly resourced schools, who lacked basic digital infrastructure and access to computers. Through determination and hard work, I found laptops for all of the students and began teaching digital literacy. Using the knowledge I had, I was able to effect change in an immediate and real way. All at once, students who never had the privilege of using a computer were empowered through digital literacy and given access to a world of information and knowledge over the internet. It was at this moment that I realized how knowledge, combined with determination and persistence can bring about real change in communities.

I have devoted most of my free time for the community as a Mentor, Volunteer or even as a Teacher hosting different workshops to share my skills and knowledge. Recently, I even volunteered in the least developed central highland of Vietnam to educate the students there about the importance of Technology. Moreover, I am currently volunteering in two international organizations Wedu Global and Mentors without borders. I was selected as a Rising Star and Rising Star Ambassador in Wedu Global. Here, I have devoted most of my time to help Wedu in their Rising Star Selection process as a Rising Star Interview Leader and also conducted many workshops and sessions in Nepal to educate the need of leadership for women. I was approached by the founder of Mentors Without Border, a group of passionate professionals who teach young people from all over the world how to enjoy the process of setting goals and taking steps towards these goals. At present from this program I am able to provide programming mentorship to underprivileged students within different parts of Nepal.

Nepal is a country rich in resources with limitless potential in agriculture, construction and natural resources. I want to be able to use my knowledge and IT training to empower local communities. I want to start a social enterprise in Nepal, working with marginalized communities (women and low-income groups) to provide training to enhance career opportunities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)field – to help local communities solve local problems. To be able to do this, I need to further my own education, training and skills. The ratio of girl to boy in STEM field is 3:10. Being an IT girl, this program would be a great opportunity for me to represent Nepal to bigger platform. Moreover, inspire more women of our country to join this stream. I have worked in the IT field for over five years now - as a Software Engineer and later as the Chief Technical Officer for a startup IT firm. What I need now is the skills and education to jump to the next level - to transform my ambitions into meaningful change at the local level for my community. I have been selected for the prestigious Deep Technology Bootcamp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. This highly competitive programme offers an extraordinary opportunity to acquire skills and training that I would never be able to obtain here in Nepal. For the caterpillar to become a butterfly, it needs nourishment. Knowledge is the nourishment that I seek, to bring change to my community.

I ask you to support me to acquire the skills and knowledge that will help me help my community.

Program:

The entire program costs 8500 USD, which includes the tuition fee (EXCLUDING cost of travel and accommodation). My transportation to and from USA, and my accommodation for the duration of the Bootcamp is estimated to cost around 2500 USD, making my total funding target 11,000 USD. I have been able to manage 2000 USD from my personal saving and I am campaigning for the rest.

If you believe in my cause and my potential to eventually contribute more to society after the Bootcamp, please feel free to chip in any amount you are comfortable, by either donating through this crowdfunding platform (which uses PayPal) or depositing to my account:

esewa id : 9860468432

Nepal Investment Bank (NIBL) account no. 01205120257954.

This program is an opportunity to learn from the experts in MIT, build good network which I can always bring back to Nepal. Very less from our country gets an opportunity to participate in programs as such. Help me create history while I pave path for the rest of growing changemakers from Nepal.

I truly and sincerely appreciate your generosity. Your support means a lot to me, it will never be put to waste.

Thank you

:)

Facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157260287231085

COURSE INFORMATION:

The course starts on June 15th.

https://bootcamp.mit.edu/deeptech/