A CONTROVERSIAL ROUTE TO TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATION

SCHOLARSHIPS: A CONTROVERSIAL ROUTE TO TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATION

By Mwila Agatha Zaza

For many children in developing economies, money is the single most insurmountable rift between them and school.

A child’s family can be motivated and willing to send their child to school and many parents make huge sacrifices to ensure their children get an education. It’s not unknown for families to sacrifice meals and other necessities to afford fees and the other costs associated with school. However, in UNICEF’s words “Poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers” to attaining an education.

For any nonprofit supporting students through school and finding funding for scholarships can be a difficult endeavor with many funders not being fans of the traditional model of supporting individual students.

Regardless, education, whether formal or informal, forms the basis of every society. It impacts the economic, social, and political growth and development of the community and its individuals. In the contemporary era, school is a crucial stage in human development. Through school, children gain valuable communication, empathy, and engagement skills. Most students will obtain a general education that broadens their outlook on the world, preparing them for the future.

According to UNICEF, children throughout the world are denied access to education and learning. Without a good education, children face significant challenges to working and earning later in life.

Unfortunately, most low-income countries are lagging behind the rest of the globe in education, mainly for girls, and poverty is one of the most persistent obstacles to schooling.

Even in countries where schools are free, the added costs of sending a child to school ( transportation, supplies and uniforms ) make it impossible for many families.

Valerie Guarnieri of the World Food Programme stated that even before pandemic, more than 73 million children in extreme poverty were attending school on an empty stomach.

By pursuing what may seem to be an old-fashioned model of supporting education, NGOs providing scholarships are bolstering human rights and individual agency and investing in social and economic change.

Many government and private programs still provide scholarships and financial support to children and families due to the reasons mentioned above.

This assistance has been shown to be beneficial to disadvantaged children and their communities. For instance, a case study by the international development organization High Quality Technical Assistance for Results (HEART) reported that the Girls Scholarship Program in Kenya had been effective with one of its outcomes being that “young women in program schools had fewer arranged marriages and were less likely to accept domestic violence as acceptable.

The benefits are also visible in the short term, the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana supports groups of girls through years of basic and high school and has in the last few years seen the first of these girls begin higher education – going to university and college to pursue science, business, and nursing degrees. Their comprehensive scholarship package includes the additional expenses that often force girls out of school such as food, clothing, and transportation.

Connect Global is Changing Lives through Scholarships

Connect Global’s Global Education Fund supports over 200 children, teachers, and administrators in three schools in Honduras from kindergarten through twelfth grade and beyond. One of the guiding pillars of Connect Global’s work is providing quality education to as many children as possible. Connect Global is fortunate to have a number of supporters who recognize the importance of scholarship programs as sustainable solutions to poverty.

Connect Global uses scholarships as a tool to change lives and communities. In time, scholarship holders complete their education to become leaders and change makers. When recipients reach higher level of education and enjoy improved employment prospects and take up leadership positions, it becomes possible to challenge the social and economic norms that perpetuate the poverty they have escaped.

EDUCATION IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT"By pursuing what may seem to be an old-fashioned model of supporting education, NGOs providing scholarships are bolstering human rights and individual agency and investing in social and economic change."

Our students planted several trees in honor of National Tree Day in Honduras and in honor of celebrating the beautiful earth we all inhabit.

These students have such bright futures and we are honored to be partnered with them in their education journey.We are incredibly grateful that we get to give in such tangible ways through the work and efforts of Connect Global.

This all is in large part due to the many partners ( like you ) who make it all possible.

For more information on the many life changing projects Connect Global stewards please visit our website at ConnectGlobal.org and explore ways that you may consider Partnering and Giving With Us.

Mwila Agatha Zaza is an independent consultant with two decades experience in international development. Her focus is on supporting NGOs across the world in fundraising communications, including in proposal development, strategic planning and optimising digital presence.