University Scholarships
The Problem
The ability to attend university and achieve a higher education is well beyond the reach of most students in Southeast Asia, even if they are able to graduate from high school. Some attempt to make it happen by using family savings or borrowing from relatives for their first year, but as many of these students struggle to make enough money for food and housing they eventually are forced to leave as the expenses become too great.
Considering that tuition for one year of university only costs $500 this can be hard to believe, yet in countries where the average annual family income is in the range of $400, this reflects the reality faced by most students.
What JWOC is doing
Through donor sponsorships, JWOC gives university scholarships to deserving Cambodian, Laotian and Burmese students. Each scholarship covers the full cost of tuition as well as textbooks. In order to receive these scholarships, a student must submit an application, write an essay in English, and pass an interview conducted by a panel of JWOC staff members. The students are chosen based on a demonstrated desire to gain a higher education and help their community, their past academic performance, current financial need and English speaking ability.
A unique aspect of the JWOC Scholarship Program is that all students volunteer for JWOC five to ten hours a week, helping make the many other projects JWOC runs, possible. The JWOC scholarship students are the teachers at JWOC's free schools, the loan collectors in the microfinance program and the well scouts for the clean water program. The hope is that many of these students will become future local and national leaders and the idea of giving back will be something they embrace. The education our students get is not just at school, they see the power they have to make positive change in their own communities.
One of the innovative approaches of the program is to match sponsors with university students so both can learn more about their respective cultures. By sponsoring a university student, donors not only pave the way for the future of Cambodia, but also help in the overall development of JWOC projects.
How you can help
By sponsoring a university student not only are you supporting all of JWOC's projects but you also gain the opportunity to learn more about life in Cambodia through correspondence with the student you sponsor.
Sponsor a student for one year of university - $500
Provide a student with 4 years of tuition - $2,000
Important note to sponsors: Sponsoring students through University is reliant on being synchronized with the academic year. Thus JWOC only takes on new students once a year at the beginning of the academic year in the fall. This enables JWOC to coordinate with the academic year in Cambodia as well as being able to give comprehensive training to all our new students together in the project where they will volunteer. Therefore we ask that if you are interested in sponsoring a student that you contact us before donating to find out when the sponsorship would begin.
JWOC's next student intake will be in the Fall/Winter of 2010
Visit our Donate Now page to make higher education possible for a university student and extend the reach of all of JWOC's projects.
- Learn how the Scholarship Program started in Cambodia and meet some of our students...
- Find out more about our Laos Scholarship Program and meet some of the students...
- Get an introduction to how the Scholarship Program is working in Myanmar and meet our students...
- Find out what our JWOC Graduates are doing now...
