NEWSLETTER NO. 1
FEBRUARY 2021
Dear supporters
Thank you all so much for the interest and support you have shown since this project commenced in mid-2019. We are delighted to provide you with an update on what has been achieved so far with your support and what we hope to achieve together in the future. The aim of our project is to support financially disadvantaged young women from the Himalayan region who need a scholarship to pursue higher education. This support will empower them to realise their full potential and to make an impact on the lives of others. On average, a three-year degree will cost approximately AUD$6000 or AUD$2000 a year. Donations are pooled and awarded to individuals based on our selection criteria.
Step one is to identify suitable candidates from the cohort of final year secondary school students in the region. We do this through our partnership with Tibetan Children’s Village. TCV was established in 1960 by HH the Dalai Lama at Dharmshala in northern India and has provided primary and secondary schooling to over 50,000 students thus far. We work with TCV to identify candidates via a mid-year application form followed by a final application once Year 12 exam results are available. Step two is to assess the final applications, select successful applicants and award scholarships based on the funds we have available. Our selection process is based on a combination of factors including financial need, academic merit, and the potential for that individual to make an impact on their family and their community in the future. Step three is to remain in contact with each of the successful applicants to get updates on their progress as they undertake their chosen course and then provide funding for each subsequent term.
In 2019 we awarded one scholarship to get our program started and for the 2020 cohort we were able to award a further five full (tuition and accommodation) scholarships. All six scholarship recipients are young women from the Himalayan region who completed their secondary schooling as boarders at TCV schools in northern India. Their tertiary courses include doctor of Tibetan medicine (TMA Dharmshala), general nursing and midwifery (St Philomena’s Bangalore) and BA (Bangalore University). Despite challenges due to Covid-19 restrictions, each student reports that they are enjoying their tertiary studies. For 2021, we will receive mid-year scholarship applications shortly and then final applications around mid-year once Year 12 government exam results are released. We aim to raise enough funds to support at least a further five girls this year.
We will keep you posted.
Peter Chapman, Carolyn Hamer-Smith, Letitia Tunmore
Himalayan Higher Education Fund