Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL) is Pune based NGO working in Maharashtra and Karnataka for education awareness among Class 10, Class 12 and undergraduate students. For its valuable contribution to the society, FUEL was has been recognised as a social changemaker and one of the top 100 organisations from among 20 countries in the Asia Pacific region by Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship (FYSE). The mission and vision of FUEL has been inspired by the vision, inspiration and guidance of Dr APJ Adbul Kalam, renowned scientist and former President of India.

FUEL's works assumes importance in the fact that primary and secondary education in India has not yet got as much attention from the government as higher education is enjoying. This has thrown up many problems at school level that remain unaddressed. Class 10 and Class 12 are the two levels before higher education that need to be addressed. Popularly known as the board exams, Class 10 and Class 12 exams decide the fate of ever student who wishes to study beyond that level. Admission to education courses after the board exams are conducted through entrance exams and centralised admission processes, also dependent on the performance in the board exams.

The board exam years are tension filled in most families, as the students are looking to get into educational courses that would ensure them a settled life. The rising number of educational institutions and educational courses has thrown many education opportunities before students. However, the lack of information about many educational courses keeps students away from these opportunities. Additionally, entrance exams and centralised admission processes are characterised by complicated system formalities, which makes it even harder for students and many of them lose opportunities that would have potentially changed the lives of students for the better.

To avoid such unfortunate incidents, FUEL strives to disseminate information among students, so that they grab the right opportunities for themselves. We have developed a strong expertise in entrance exams and centralised admission processes. FUEL volunteers, who are students at various undergraduate courses, travel to educational institutions -- colleges, coaching classes-- on weekends and conduct free guidance seminars for students on opportunities after the board exams. At the seminars, they provide guidance on all information on entrance tests and centralised admission processes, including timeline of entrance exams, instructions on how to fill up forms, documents to keep ready, etc. FUEL also provides free guidance and counselling through helpline numbers on any education related queries.

FUEL has a reach in 110 institutions across Maharashtra and five districts of Karnataka. It has reached out to over 1.5 lakh students in the past three years, 59000 of them in 2009 alone.