8 tea girls get AUW scholarships
Leaving behind the confined life of tea gardens and the harsh realities of working-class families, eight struggling tea girls from Sylhet are spreading their wings on the international stage.
They have secured the opportunity to pursue higher education at the Asian University for Women (AUW) with full scholarships.
The students who received the scholarships are Sraboni Kairi, Srabanti Kairi, Lucky Naidu, and Poonam Lohar of Langla Tea Garden in Kulaura Upazila of Moulvibazar district; Anima Rani Pal of Dhamai Tea Garden in Juri Upazila; Sristi Chasha of Chaklapunji Tea Garden in Chunarughat Upazila; Prama Goswami of Alinagar Tea Garden in Kamalganj Upazila; and Shatabdi Hazra of Baraura Tea Garden in Srimangal Upazila.
Their medical examinations have already been completed, and they will officially begin their studies at the university next month.
It is learned that, as a result of a special initiative launched in 2018, opportunities are being created for talented students from tea garden communities to study at this international university. Currently, 85 tea girls are studying on full scholarships under this programme.
Among the students in this programme, 15 have already completed their bachelor’s degrees, while three have completed their master’s degrees. Some have secured jobs, while others have moved on to higher education abroad.
One of them has completed higher education in France, while two have joined Harvard University, one of the world’s top institutions. It is also learned that several others are preparing for higher education abroad.
The reporter spoke to Srabanti Kairi and Sraboni Kairi, two sisters from Langla Tea Garden in Kulaura who received scholarships.
They said, “We are very happy that this scholarship programme is not only transforming the lives of girls in our tea community but also creating new hope for the future of the entire community. We hope that if this trend continues, our tea daughters will one day take their place on the world stage.”
According to local educationists, this is not just about higher education but the beginning of a major social transformation in tea garden communities. Where once it was a challenge for the children of tea workers to complete primary education, today they are dreaming of conquering the world.
