The aim of the RP4E Scholarship Scheme is to provide mentorship and funding for disadvantaged young people in low-income countries so that they can continue their education by attending college and/or university in their home countries.
The Faringdon and District Rotary Club has started off the 2019/20 Rotary year by launching a new international project. The focus is on education in low-income countries. This is an innovative student sponsorship and mentorship scheme entitled:
A Rotary Partnership for Education (RP4E).
Under the direction of Council and the International and Foundation Committee we have set up a RP4E Panel comprising Gordon Hughes, Bjorn Watson, Graham Dawson (Friend of Rotary) and Georgia Richards (Rotary Scholar). The Panel will lead on implementing, promoting and managing the project. Initially, we will support a ‘pilot’ phase assisting 8 students from the ‘Home for Rescue of the Afflicted Children’ (HORAC) in Nepal ; 5 are college students, one is attending a Pre-University course, and 2 are studying at university in Kathmandu.
Aim
The aim of the RP4E Scholarship Scheme is to provide mentorship and funding for disadvantaged young people in low-income countries so that they can continue their education by attending college and/or university in their home countries. Without RP4E assistance these bright young people would lose the opportunity for further education; they would simply not be able to reach their potential, and gateways to future careers in their home countries would be closed. No one should have to make it alone…
This RP4E education scheme differs from the Rotary Global Grant scheme for Rotary Scholars which requires students to travel overseas outside of their home country to receive graduate-only education, targeting a very specific group of people, and involving substantial costs: fees, travel, accommodation and living expenses.
RP4E Partnerships
For success, RP4E relies on a key set of partnerships. We have an RP4E partner club in Kathmandu, the Rotary Club of Kopundol. We also have support from other Rotary clubs within District 1090. And we have the very important partnership between individual students and sponsors/mentors who are either Rotarians or Friends of Rotary. We are also planning to have RP4E ambassadors to promote the scheme and, in due course, some business partners. In the longer term we envisage RP4E being replicated and adopted by other Rotary Clubs with existing links to low-income countries and a passion for promoting positive change through education.
Benefits of RP4E: the Win-Win-Wins
l Financial contributions qualify for gift aid relief (i.e. a tax-deduction).
l For a business partner and for organisations RP4E can form part of their Corporate Social Responsibility Programme.
l Funders become “Friends of Rotary”, and partner organisations can use the Rotary trusted and internationally recognised logo. They can access the Rotary platform of more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide by attending or speaking at Rotary events.
l Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds will be empowered to complete their education and realise their full potential within their own countries.
l Low-income countries will benefit from educating their own people and retaining talent and skills for their local communities.
l Rotary International will be contributing to better-educated societies and promoting Rotary objectives.
l Sponsors will benefit knowing that their financial assistance is being managed within a trusted Rotary network and without any additional overhead costs.
l The cost of educating young people in their home countries is orders of magnitude less expensive than sending them abroad, with the prospect that many may not return.
Sponsorship/Mentorship Models and Money Matters
We have a number of models for sponsorship/mentorship. These will be developed during the pilot phase and include:
· A Sponsor fully funds (Fees and Expenses) and mentors a student, usually by email.
· A Donor part funds and also mentors a student
· A Volunteer mentors a student with financial support from a donor. Funds can also be allocated from the RP4E General Fund held within our Rotary Club.
· Donations to the RP4E Fund will be allocated for sponsorship of students at the discretion of Faringdon Rotary Club. District Grants will also be sought.
Thank You. A Huge Thank You…to our Rotarians and Friends of Rotary for providing our RP4E students with a once in a lifetime opportunity. You know who you are. You are making a real difference to the lives and future prospects of these young people. At the end of the Day….no one should have to make it alone…..
You may like to read some of our case studies below about the students in Nepal who are already benefitting from the RP4E sponsorship programme
Interested? Would you like to help give a disadvantaged young person the Golden Opportunity of a Lifetime – an Education? For more information:
Gordon Hughes – Faringdon Rotary Club gordon.yewtree@gmail.com
Bjorn Watson – Faringdon Rotary Club bjornwatson@btinternet.com
Graham Dawson – Friend of Rotary graham.dawson@routes2success.com
Georgia Richards – Rotary Scholar georgia.richards@kellogg.ox.ac.uk