Imagine transforming the lives of half a million farmers by breaking the barriers of information isolation. That's exactly what Varsha Simpadipura Prasanna envisions with her groundbreaking proposal, Rural Connect—and she's just taken a major step toward making it a reality.
Varsha is the winner of the inaugural DETermined Scholarship, launched by the Duolingo English Test (DET) in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, with the goal of empowering young Indian women in STEM. Recognizing that gender parity in STEM fields remains a significant challenge, the DET introduced this scholarship to support talented women in pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees at U.S. universities, helping to close the gender gap and inspire future generations of STEM leaders.
Born in a farming village in Karnataka, Varsha has experienced firsthand the daily challenges faced by India's rural agricultural communities. This deep personal connection fuels her passion and commitment to creating innovative solutions tailored specifically for India. Varsha aims to use the skills and knowledge acquired through her education to drive meaningful change and sustainable growth across rural regions.
As the first-ever recipient of the DETermined Scholarship, Varsha sets a new aspirational standard for achievement and excellence, demonstrating outstanding performance on the DET and an exceptional commitment to impactful innovation.
Varsha will receive a USD 30,000 grant to pursue her STEM studies at Purdue University. Her visionary project, Rural Connect, is a voice-first, multilingual digital platform designed to empower India's farming communities with critical resources like real-time market prices, weather forecasts, an equipment rental marketplace, skill-building videos in local languages, direct connections to veterinarians and AI assistants, and supportive peer-to-peer forums.
Remarkably, Rural Connect is specifically engineered to function even in areas with limited internet connectivity, addressing fundamental challenges that currently lead farmers to lose significant portions of their income due to inadequate market knowledge and limited agricultural expertise. Within three years, Rural Connect aims to uplift half a million farmers, representing a significant stride toward sustainable rural empowerment across India.
The journey to selecting Varsha was rigorous and inspiring. Applicants went through multiple phases, including a comprehensive application review, the STEM Impact Proposal Challenge, and interviews with a distinguished jury panel of STEM and industry leaders. Varsha’s exceptional innovation, clear vision, and potential for substantial impact resonated strongly with the jury.
Choosing among such stellar finalists was no easy task. Each finalist presented deeply thoughtful, innovative solutions to critical challenges in India, and we congratulate them all on their incredible achievements. We are inspired by everyone who applied for this scholarship and excited to see the continued impact these young women will make in their communities and beyond!
The DETermined Scholarship embodies Duolingo's broader commitment to creating accessible pathways, nurturing talent, and empowering women to lead innovation and address India's most pressing societal issues. Through initiatives like this scholarship, Duolingo continues to champion educational accessibility and equity worldwide.