Recognising that success in higher education does not depend only on the classroom, the comprehensive Fellowships cover all direct and indirect costs such as tuition fees; room and board; transportation; uniform, lab, and exam fees. Along with that, the Fellowship offers extra-curricular support including language and computer training; civic engagement and leadership workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities to enrich their educational experience.

In a nutshell, what Samaanta offers its Fellows is Education Plus. 

Room and board

Fellows are placed in private hostels in Kathmandu during their entire Fellowship period. Girls are placed in Buddhanagar and Sankhamul, whereas the boys are placed in a separate hostel at Dillibazaar.

College Placements

Fellows are placed in institutions with a proven track record in higher education. To know more about the colleges our Fellows attend, please visit our Educational Partners page.

Training and Workshops

We believe that holistic development goes beyond the classroom. To ensure our Fellows thrive in all aspects of their lives, we provide:

• Training and workshops tailored to enhance interpersonal and professional skills.
• Academic and career support, including job search guidance and accessible mental health resources.
• Educational materials to aid Fellows’ academic and personal growth.
• A rich calendar of events, featuring sessions led by professionals on topics such as:
  1. Health, wellness, and safeguarding
  2. Citizenship, social justice, and civic engagement
  3. Career progression
  4. Life skills
  5. Personal development

Service and Projects

At Samaanta one of our core values is Paying it Forward. Our Fellows believe that they can give back to their communities in whatever capacity they can and on their month-long vacation, plan activities to involve the community members in certain projects and also ensure that they are giving back to the community that has helped them become who they are today. In 2024, our Fellows decided they wanted to make more impactful projects by working in groups. They conducted 18 projects in 9 different districts impacting more than 550 people. 

Apart from that, our Fellows regularly conduct service projects in their communities and have led events to support others in need.  In November 2023,  senior Samaanta Fellows organized a clothing donation drive to support earthquake victims in the Jajarkot district and donated approximately 18 bags of clothes to the community. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during the earthquakes in 2015, our Fellows actively contributed to preparing and distributing food and relief materials to those in need. 

Additionally, the existing Fellows strongly believe that the opportunity provided to them by the Samaanta Foundation changed their lives for good. Every year, Fellows from Samaanta come together to raise funds to support one more deserving Fellow from a disadvantaged community in Nepal. This is a Fellow-led initiative where the Fellows are striving to narrow the gap between deserving candidates and required financial resources. They aim to bridge the gaps and add at least one deserving candidate. They opt for several methods to bring this Fellow-led initiative to life. 

Mentorship

We seek to link each Fellow to a volunteer young professional in their field of interest so that they can get tailored, professional advice that sets them up for success. This widens the network for our Fellows and introduces them to a support structure beyond Samaanta. To know more about our Mentorship and be a part of Samaanta, please visit our Mentorship page.

Networking and Internships

Findings on Dr. Karki’s research on, Education and Employment: Transitional Experiences in Nepal , state that “the study raises questions about the relevance of education as the primary factor for obtaining employment. Social capital rather than credentials or skills were found to dictate major outcomes in employment, though some differentiation due to education does exist.”

As most of Samaanta’s Fellows are first-generation college goers, not only in their families but also in their community, Samaanta ensures that the Fellows can access the right opportunities and have the access to reach these opportunities. 

Samaanta takes various approaches beyond the conventional means to help Fellows build these relationships and connections. Access to the network of our board and staff members, networking events, support in placement to internships etc are some approaches Samaanta takes to increase the social capital of the Fellows. 

Leadership Opportunities

At Samaanta, Fellows have multiple opportunities to develop and showcase their leadership skills. They actively participate in leadership groups that help run Samaanta’s activities, including:

• Digital Committee – Manages the website, social media, and other online activities.
• Indoor Committee – Oversees in-house programs and assists with office management.
• Outdoor Committee – Organizes outdoor events such as futsal, hiking, picnics, and cricket tournaments.
• Fundraising Committee – Supports annual fundraising campaigns.
• Library Management Committee – Manages the Samaanta Library and ensures Fellows have access to necessary stationery.

Additional Leadership Roles

• Fellow and Alumni Involvement – Fellows and alumni actively participate in the selection process of new Fellows, including interviews and evaluations. They also conduct several sessions that aid the personality development of Fellows.
• Fellow-led Programs – Fellows take initiative in proposal and report writing, experience-sharing sessions, and the annual “One More Fellow” Campaign.
• Graduate Contributions – Samaanta graduates give back to the organization by mentoring current Fellows and supporting its initiatives.

Beyond Samaanta, Fellows also enhance their leadership skills by engaging with external organizations and programs, such as:

• The LEAD Course at Women Lead
• The Mentorship Program at Aakar Nepal
• Various internships and job opportunities