02/08/2026
Seema Kumari grew up in Dahu, a small village in Jharkhand, where girls were expected to stay home, not study. But at 9, she joined Yuwa Foundation’s football program, unknowingly kicking off a journey that would change her life.
Football took her beyond her village, first to national tournaments, then to international camps. Along the way, she worked on her academics, seizing every opportunity that came her way: a high-school exchange in Seattle, summer programs at Cambridge and Washington University.
Harvard wasn’t even on her radar until her teacher, a Harvard alum, encouraged her to apply. With support from her mentors, she took the leap, and got in with a full scholarship! Today, she’s studying Economics at Harvard, proving that the right opportunities can change everything.
From dodging stereotypes to making history, Seema’s story is one of grit, courage, and never backing down.
Credits : Shweta Gurnani on Linkedin
[Seema Kumari, Harvard University, Yuwa Foundation, Jharkhand, Inspiring story, Women breaking stereotypes]
