Supporting Success Scholarship Fund

Bill Brower is a Field Program Officer with GlobalGiving who is visiting our partners’ projects throughout South and Southeast Asia. On May 25th he met with seventeen of IRFF’s scholarship recipients at their school in Jaigeer. His “Postcard” from the visit:

When low-income families face a shortage of money, the expenses to send their kids to school—fees, uniforms, supplies, transportation costs—are unfortunately often cut. IRFF, in part with your support, is helping to avoid this fate for dozens of families in Jaigeer. According to Amano Tetsuya of IRFF, when determining scholarship recipients the family’s financial situation is the first criteria, including the father’s ability to work. They then consider the student’s academic achievement, and finally their ambition (which they use interviews to help determine).

The recipients I met with certainly seemed to be bright. I asked what they wanted to do when they were older. Engineer, to help my country develop. Doctor, because there are few in the area. Teacher. One boy seemed to surprise even his classmates by answering entirely in English. And ambitious: The students would like more scholarship money so they’re able to get private tutors in important subjects.

IRFF is aiming for more transformational change as well with a microloan project for parents. While it seemed they’re still getting it firmly established and accepted in the community, Mr. Amano says some families have used loans to open a shop in the market or buy seeds.