Scholarships are a plenty, but this one comes with a rider. The students picked up by Fusion Study Foundation have to assure that they will not go abroad once they finish their studies and also guarantee repayment once they start earning. This is no initiative by an Indian philanthropist or community, but a private Dutch family's fund, which has been providing the best of higher education to the most promising and needy students from across Gujarat and Rajasthan since 2005.

Linda van der Wijk and her husband Alko come to the city for four days every year after the declaration of the HSC results. They personally screen the students who have applied for the scholarship. A network of volunteers from United Way of Baroda, a city-based NGO, which provides backroom support – visit the residence of each applicant to ascertain the family situation and the extent of the help required. This help constitutes the college and hostel fees and the cost of books and educational materials. In their second visit in a year, the couple personally visit each student in their college, meet their teachers and track their performance.

The students also do not mind the two riders. Jagruti Darji from Mehsana is the daughter of a tailor. Her father could only dream to finance her medical education, but now the dream has become a reality, courtesy the aid. "I am the first girl in my community to study medicine. The scholarship was like a dream. Initially we thought it was a con job, but later learnt about it…" said Darji, now a proud owner of a laptop, also courtesy the scholarship fund.

Helping Linda with the Fusion Study Foundation are Tinoo Chawla and Jasmine Patel, family friends of the Dutch couple actively associated with United Way of Baroda.

Linda said: "My parents worked their way up in life. They believe that education can change life. My parents know the Chawlas and Patels who are associated with United Way of Baroda. The idea to set up a scholarship fund came from there".

The meticulous planning comes with Linda's stint with the management of NGOs, even as the family is on the move from the Netherlands, to Moscow and now to Thailand.

Having reached out to 31 students in three years, this year they intend to "adopt" around 25 students from some 140 odd applications.

Vishal Sukhadia, who lost his father – a diamond polisher during his HSC studies, and soon his mother to brain tumour, said he appreciates the help extended by the Dutch couple to the needy.

"We are all from the lower middle class and appreciate the help especially when it comes when we need it the most," he said. Vishal is now a second year pharmacy student in Rajkot.