# Closing the education gap, one village at a time | Raju Kendre | TEDxPFH Goettingen Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogu8uWGHOho Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Ogu8uWGHOho Generated: 2026-01-28T17:11:33.235+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Raju Kendre successfully bridged the gap between poverty and privilege by leveraging education, culminating in him securing the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to study at SOAS, University of London, and subsequently founding Eklavya India Foundation to empower thousands of other first-generation students from marginalized communities in India. **Key Points:** - Raju Kendre, originating from a historically marginalized Dalit community in rural Central India, faced severe poverty and discrimination where education was a privilege he had to fight for. - Despite his parents lacking formal schooling, Kendre achieved an early dream of becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and subsequently pursued a Master's degree in Social Work at TISS and later studied at Columbia University (UK) and Harvard University. - Kendre founded the Ek-Laven-De India Foundation to democratize access to quality higher education, which has since helped over 500 students secure admission to premier institutions like IITs and secure over $14 million in scholarships. - The narrative highlights the systemic exclusion faced by marginalized communities, where caste and social status historically dictated opportunities, contrasting sharply with the meritocratic potential of education. - Kendre's success—achieving an IAS officer role and receiving numerous awards like the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list—serves as a testament to the transformative power of education. - The foundation's mission is to empower marginalized communities by promoting equitable leadership and social mobility through education, combating systemic barriers. ![Screenshot at 08:01: Raju Kendre and his father holding a sign celebrating his selection for the Chevening Scholarship, contrasting his humble rural origins with his subsequent international academic success.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-08-01.jpg) **Context:** Raju Kendre shares his personal journey from extreme poverty and discrimination as a Dalit in rural Central India to achieving significant academic and professional success, including winning the Chevening Scholarship to study in the UK. He emphasizes how education served as the crucial tool to overcome systemic barriers like caste, poverty, and lack of opportunities, ultimately motivating him to establish the Ek-Laven-De India Foundation to replicate this success for others from similar backgrounds. ## Detailed Analysis Raju Kendre recounts his life story, beginning in a small, impoverished, nomadic tribal village in Central India where his family earned less than $300 monthly working on farms, and his parents never completed primary school. Despite facing immense challenges, including poverty, trauma, and discrimination, Kendre harbored a dream, inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Education was his weapon against these systemic barriers. He completed his initial schooling in a small local government school and later pursued higher education in Pune, eventually earning a postgraduate degree in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). His commitment led him to win the highly competitive Chevening Scholarship, enabling him to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and later receive fellowships from Cambridge and Harvard universities. Upon returning to India, Kendre founded the Ek-Laven-De India Foundation, whose mission is to empower historically marginalized communities by ensuring equitable access to quality higher education and leadership roles. The foundation has already had a significant impact, securing over $14 million in scholarships for more than 500 students from marginalized backgrounds to attend prestigious institutions worldwide. Kendre argues that education is the most powerful weapon to break generational poverty and create a fair society where success is not determined by birth caste or privilege. ### Early Life and Challenges - Born and raised in a small rural village in Central India facing poverty and caste discrimination - Parents never completed primary education, living on less than $300 monthly - Faced social exclusion and limited opportunities due to systemic barriers. ### The Power of Education - Inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Kendre prioritized education, trekking miles daily for primary and secondary schooling - Pursued higher education at Zilla Parishad School, Pune University, and TISS. ### International Recognition - Won the prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the British Government to study at SOAS, University of London, and secured fellowships at Columbia and Harvard. ### Founding Ek-Laven-De India Foundation - Established the foundation to help first-generation students from marginalized communities achieve higher education and leadership roles. ### Impact and Scale - The foundation has helped over 500 students gain admission to premier institutions, securing more than $14 million in scholarships, and has reached half a million people through workshops across India. ![Screenshot at 00:08: Raju Kendre begins his TEDx talk on stage at TEDxPFH Goettingen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-00-08.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:46: A photo showing a young Raju with his family, standing next to oxen, illustrating his humble rural background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-01-46.jpg) ![Screenshot at 03:46: A photo of a younger Raju sitting with a large stack of books in a modest home setting, symbolizing his dedication to self-study despite limited resources.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-03-46.jpg) ![Screenshot at 06:18: A split image showing the speaker \(Raju\) receiving his Chevening acceptance and standing in front of the SOAS building in London, illustrating his educational ascent.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-06-18.jpg) ![Screenshot at 11:16: A photo of the Ek-Laven-De Foundation team holding their organization's banner, representing the community outreach effort he now leads.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ogu8uWGHOho/00-11-16.jpg)