The Pehli Peedi Fellowship is our effort to centre the experiences of first-generation college students and bring visibility to the structural barriers they confront. As we bring you the next story, we are also excited to introduce the fellow behind it—Deepa.
Deepa is a student of Political Science and Sociology with a strong interest in storytelling that brings underrepresented voices to the forefront. Her academic work and field experiences have deepened her understanding of how structural inequalities—particularly in education—shape the lives of young people in complex ways.
Through the Pehli Peedi Fellowship, she seeks to further engage with the lived experiences of first-generation learners. The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to listen closely, document honestly, and narrate powerfully the journeys of students who are reshaping their families’ histories through education. She hopes to use her research and writing skills to amplify these voices, challenge stereotypes, and highlight both the systemic barriers they face and the resilience they embody. For her, this work is not just about storytelling—it is about building understanding and solidarity through responsible and ethical media practice.
