Avasara Academy Launches in August 2015
50 deserving and talented girls are now enrolled for Avasara Academy’s inaugural class, launching this August!
On Monday, April 27, 2015, Avasara Academy held its first annual Enrollment Day at the Avasara Academy Annex in Pune. Over 150 people, including students, parents, and teachers, attended the event. Attendees toured the Annex, including the newly retrofitted classroom building, and met the Avasara team. During the Welcome Address, many parents were deeply touched after hearing Avasara’s story, including one parent who was moved to tears when Avasara Head of School Joseph Cubas remarked that each student had been handpicked for the pioneer class because the Avasara team saw great potential within each one of them.
As a representative from Ashraya Initiative for Children remarked: “Today was definitely one of the most inspiring days for us. As our kids, their families, and all of us were welcomed with such warmth on the foundation day, it made us realise how fortunate our girls are to be part of such a beautiful and path breaking journey.”
Avasara’s Impact on Admitted Students
Avasara’s transformative impact has already been felt by several members of the pioneer class.
Several of the girls are from the most marginalised communities in Pune, including the Waghris and the Sikligars—nomadic communities with a long history of caste oppression. Sana, an admitted Avasara student whose family is Waghri, was one of the top scorers in her grade. With Avasara’s support, Sana will achieve great heights and will be a leader in her community.
Avasara Admissions Timeline
February 2015: The team worked with an extensive network of local NGOs, including Ashraya Initiative for Children, Akanksha and Teach for India, schools, and families in Pune to find extraordinary girls of exceptional talent to build the pioneer class.
March 2015: 123 students took the Admission Assessments to compete for a place at Avasara Academy.
April 2015: Avasara’s Academic Directors reviewed all the assessment data—reading comprehension, writing and maths tests as well as student and parent interviews—and admitted 50 girls to Avasara Academy, consisting of 25 7th grade students and 25 8th grade students.
Avasara’s Pioneer Class At-A-Glance
Class Composition: 25 7th grade and 25 8th grade students ranging from ages 12 to 15.
Education History: Selected from over 14 schools in Pune, 43% of the admitted students come from Pune Municipal Council (PMC) schools, 55% from low‑income private schools, and 2% from higher‑income private schools.
Parents’ Education: 52% of fathers have reached 10th standard in school. Most fathers have been educated up to 8th standard. Only 40% of mothers are educated up to 10th standard. 45% never made it to 8th standard. Most fathers hold daily wage jobs, such as labourers and auto drivers. Most of the mothers are housewives.
Family Housing: Most of the families live in one or two-room dwellings in a slum. Household incomes range from 45000 rupees INR ($750 USD) to 120000 rupees INR ($2000 USD) per year.
Click here to read the founder of Avasara Academy’s Inspirational Woman interview.
