Supporting Higher Education With Eklavya India, Raju Kendre

Raju Kendre is the founder and CEO of Eklavya India which exists to democratize access to quality higher education and leadership opportunities by working with rural and tribal students through information, coaching, and mentoring interventions.

Raju Kendre, a farmer’s kid who moved to Pune to pursue his degree ten years ago at the age of 18, had no one to help him and had no idea how to pay for his continued stay in the “big city” at the time. He transferred his admission to distance learning and in three months went back to his village in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. In addition to his schooling, he worked for an NGO in the Melghat area, where he not only got experience with grassroots work but also deepened his resolve to fight for tribal groups.

A fellowship from the chief minister’s office allowed him to move to Yavatmal after completing his master’s at the Tata Institute of Social Studies (TISS), Tuljapur, where he began working as a college instructor. He began mentoring kids there in 2017, which led to the creation of his organization Eklavya India, a project that supports higher education while fostering grassroots leadership among first-generation students

Raju was chosen by the FCDO office in 2021 for the Indian Chevening Scholarship after they noticed his talent. He picked SOAS to pursue Development Studies because of its support for social justice movements and dedication to progressive ideas.

Another achievement for him is being included on the Forbes 30 under 30 lists. It is well-recognized that the list contains “young disruptors and game-changers.” With its emphasis on higher education as opposed to school education, Eklavya India stands out. Their emphasis on assisting native areas with restricted educational opportunities encourages students to pursue higher education.

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Raju Kendre is the founder and CEO of Eklavya India which exists to democratize access to quality higher education and leadership opportunities by working with rural and tribal students through information, coaching, and mentoring interventions.

Raju Kendre, a farmer’s kid who moved to Pune to pursue his degree ten years ago at the age of 18, had no one to help him and had no idea how to pay for his continued stay in the “big city” at the time. He transferred his admission to distance learning and in three months went back to his village in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. In addition to his schooling, he worked for an NGO in the Melghat area, where he not only got experience with grassroots work but also deepened his resolve to fight for tribal groups.

A fellowship from the chief minister’s office allowed him to move to Yavatmal after completing his master’s at the Tata Institute of Social Studies (TISS), Tuljapur, where he began working as a college instructor. He began mentoring kids there in 2017, which led to the creation of his organization Eklavya India, a project that supports higher education while fostering grassroots leadership among first-generation students

Raju was chosen by the FCDO office in 2021 for the Indian Chevening Scholarship after they noticed his talent. He picked SOAS to pursue Development Studies because of its support for social justice movements and dedication to progressive ideas.

Another achievement for him is being included on the Forbes 30 under 30 lists. It is well-recognized that the list contains “young disruptors and game-changers.” With its emphasis on higher education as opposed to school education, Eklavya India stands out. Their emphasis on assisting native areas with restricted educational opportunities encourages students to pursue higher education.

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