Muhammad Althwaf K is a young boy who dreams big. He comes from a modest background. With limited means, he completed his schooling from Vocational Higher Secondary School (VHSS), a Government-aided school in Panangad village, Kochi.Although he was an average student, he was hard working. His determination to study in an institution in a city, helped him do well in Class X and XII. Muhammad wanted to study further and pursue engineering. But his family could not afford it. He has two younger siblings and his family was already trying to pay off their housing loan with much difficulty. To take another loan for Muhammad’s education was next to impossible.Muhammad and his family then heard about the scholarship programme of Foundation For Excellence (FFE). Their joy knew no bounds. Muhammad bagged the scholarship and was able to pay his college fees and pursue his dreams.

Muhammad got admitted to College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET). After a few initial bouts of homesickness, he got used to of college life. He is an active member of Herakles – his college’s automobile designing club. In 2019-20, he competed in FMAE BAJA Hyderabad, a student-level off-road ATV design challenge and secured the first rank under the designing category.

Muhammad derives his inspiration and determination from his role model Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. As a mechanical engineer, Muhammad would like to work with any of the Core companies for a few years, before writing the civil services exam. Once financially stable, he would like to support his family and ensure his siblings also get a chance to pursue their higher education just like he did.

The FFE scholarship has supported many students like Muhammad. It has been supported by the employees of CISCO and DE Shaw who enrolled into OneStage’s payroll giving programme – Give As You Earn (GAYE).