The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME) through the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles In order to help raise the educational levels of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans living in the United States,
CALL FOR Educational Institutions and Non-Profit Social Organizations to apply for financial support for educational projects aimed at Mexican and Mexican-origin students looking to begin, continue, or complete their studies in 2013-2014 school year. I.
MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION
a) Adult Education. Non-profit organizations that offer literacy programs, elementary school, middle school and high school, open and distance learning programs; General Educational Development (GED) exam; computer training; job training and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. The IME’s Community Plaza Programs allocated throughout the United States of America are funded under this scheme. The maximum amount to be available at every Consular Representation for this scheme is $15,000.00 U.S. Dollars. b) Higher Education. For undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in public universities, community colleges or private universities in the United States of America, preferably those who do not have access to any other type of scholarship or financial aid. The maximum amount to be available at every Consular Representation for this scheme is $30,000.00 U.S. Dollars. The IME-Becas Scholarship Program will award financial support to institutions whose commitments meet the objectives and guidelines set forth in this proposal, and demonstrate a strong ability to organize and monitor the proposed project. Each Non-Profit Social Organization and/or Educational Institution that receives funding from the IME Scholarship Program may distribute the proceeds according to the needs and characteristics of their students, under the assumption that the money will be used solely for the purposes and conditions listed below:
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Adult Education a) Mexican or Mexican-origin adult students, for a maximum of $200.00 (two hundred US Dollars) per student, for each course, subject or module. b) Educational Advisors (facilitators or promoters) who voluntarily offer their services in any Adult Education Programs, for a maximum of $800.00 (eight hundred US Dollars) per Advisor. c) Program Coordinators in the Non-Profit Social Organizations or Educational Institutions that offer their services in any Adult Education Program for a maximum of $1,000.00 (one thousand US Dollars) per Coordinator. Both Educational Advisors and Program Coordinators will receive their stipends as a single award, which will be delivered in two stages: 50% at the beginning and the rest at the end of the term. Those working as both, Educational Advisors and Coordinators for Adult Education Programs, may receive funding under only one of these two modalities. Higher education d) Mexican or Mexican-origin students residing in the United States of America, for a maximum of $5,000.00 (five thousand US Dollars) per student, per school year enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. II.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applications may be delivered in person or sent by postal or electronic mail to the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles. The Consulate will forward the requests to the Local Selection Committee, who will review the proposals in detail. Non-Profit Social Organizations or Educational Institutions interested in participating in the Program must submit the requirements listed below to Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, no later than August 1st, 2013 III.
PRESENTATION OF APPLICATIONS
1. Submit the Application for the IME Scholarship Fund—completed in Spanish or English—at http://becas.ime.gob.mx. 2. Include a proposal with the following guidelines: a) Proposal of no more than three pages describing the Organization/Institution, its goals, programs, activities and achievements in the field of adult education and higher education, and its contributions to the educational development of Mexican
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immigrants, as well as projects and plans to meet the program’s needs with the proposed grant. b)
Project description with anticipated results that would be achieved with the support of the IME Scholarship resources, and the procedures used for assessing the progress of objectives. Organizations offering adult education must verify that at least 80% of people benefiting from the educational services are Mexican or of Mexican-origin.
c)
Institutions that offer support for undergraduate and/or graduate students must verify that IME Scholarship resources are preferably 100% of the channeled to Mexican or Mexican-origin students.
d)
Include a budget with a detailed list of the expenditures proposed by the applicant Organization/Institution, including a short statement describing the purpose of such expenditures. The proposal should also indicate how the funding will be allocated amongst the students and when the payments will be made.
e) Description of the relationship between the support requested from the IME-Becas Scholarship Program and funding received from other sources and other funding expected by the applicant Organization/Institution in order to help meet project tasks and activities. The following documents must be attached to the application: i.
Mission of the Educational Institution or Non-Profit Social Organization.
ii.
C.V. of the people responsible for the proposed activities and the management of funds in the Organization/Institution.
iii.
Copy Internal Revenue Service (IRS) letter confirming 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt status.
iv.
In the case of Non-Profit Social Organizations, a copy of the most recent 990 tax refund Form.
v.
Statement of the operating budget for the current fiscal year, including a summary of funding sources for the Program.
vi.
Letter of recommendation from an education authority who acknowledges the education programs for adults and youth offered by the applicant.
IV.
SELECTION PROCESS
The Local Selection Committee, composed of distinguished people from the area and that are dedicated to education, will provide plurality, transparency, integrity and sensibility to the proceedings of the IME-Becas Scholarship Program, and execute, among others, the following functions:
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•
Review applications and verify that Organizations/Institutions fully comply with the program’s requirements.
•
Allocate the available financial resources according to the Program’s objectives.
The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles will publish the results of the deliberation of the Local Selection Committee, on its Website and local Media outlets, no later than September 1st, 2013. V.
COMMITMENTS
To formalize collaboration and the transfer of resources from the IME Scholarship Fund to beneficiary Organizations/Institutions, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Consulate of Mexico and the implementing Organizations/Institutions, to set the responsibilities and commitments of both parties with respect to the administration and allocation of funds, and with respect to Program implementation, under the example issued for this purpose, which has been endorsed by the Legal Counsel of the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles will award the local IME Scholarship funds as a single contribution to the Organizations/Institutions selected by the Local Selection Committee, between the days of October 1st 2013 and October 12th, 2013. Of the beneficiary Organizations/Institutions: In order to receive Funding from the IMEBecas Scholarship Program, the Organizations/Institutions commit to: •
Assume responsibility for the administration and distribution of resources funded by the IME Scholarship fund under the allocated budget, according to the paragraph III letter d).
•
Complete the final report in the Program´s microsite at the end of the project, including activities performed, the number of beneficiaries by the Program’s resources, and the amount of funds allocated to each category. Testimonials should be attached to account for how the Program has benefited students, a photo-gallery and the final financial report.
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Encourage scholarship recipients to participate in some type of social service or other work that benefits the migrant community. FOR MORE INFORMATION Please feel free to contact Cecilia Zavala 213-351-6815 Czavala@sre.gob.mx www.ime.gob.mx http://becas.ime.gob.mx www.sre.gob.mx/losangeles
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