Women’s Leadership Scholarship
We are writing to you to inform
you and your organization about a funding opportunity for women pursuing
non-doctoral level graduate education.
The Women’s Leadership
Scholarship (WLS) (formerly the Native Leadership Scholarship) program creates
educational opportunities for women activists, grassroots leaders, and
organizers from the Global South and/or from indigenous groups. WLS
invests in women's leadership by supporting non-doctoral graduate education in
human rights, sustainable development, and public health in many places around
the world.
Pre-applications for the 2008-09
academic year will be available on our website on January 1, 2008. For more information please visit www.nativeleaders.org. Please
distribute this message widely. Information about WLS is available in Spanish
and French on our website.
WLS has
been granting scholarships since 2001. Our alumni are working around the world
to improve the welfare of their communities. Prior to 2006, WLS granted
scholarships to both women and men that included a limited number of awards for
doctoral level education. Starting in 2006, WLS will only award scholarships to
women pursuing non-doctoral level graduate education.
WLS supports
study, research, and leadership training, to assist women in their pursuit of
solutions to the critical social, environmental, health and economic problems
facing their countries and communities. By granting scholarships to remarkable
women who demonstrate effective leadership, innovative solutions, and
commitment to their communities, WLS helps develop and advance local expertise
and community-based, culturally appropriate solutions. WLS endorses
non-traditional leaders who use imaginative methodologies and model change.
Academic study, research and leadership training should be based on the
scholarship recipient's present or prior experience working with her community.
Course of Study
Scholarship recipients enroll in programs of study that cover a
range of human rights and development issues at the non-doctoral graduate
level including human rights, gender, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, child
exploitation, human trafficking, infant and maternal mortality, conflict
resolution, environmental justice, global fair trade, agro-ecology, and
sustainable development. WLS is secular and does not support programs of study
that promote specific religious beliefs.
Location of Study
Candidates may use WLS funding for non-doctoral graduate study at
accredited institutions worldwide. The WLS is committed to promoting the
strengthening of research and of institutions of higher learning in the Global
South. As such, WLS encourages students to study in their home country or
region provided that the educational institution is accredited for higher
education.
Eligible candidates include women leaders from the Global South
and/or from indigenous groups who also meet all the following criteria:
1. They are committed
to grassroots organizing and the needs of their communities.
2. They have proof of
a bachelor's or a higher degree.
3. They have at least
three years of work experience dealing with critical human rights concerns, or
other social, educational, or health conditions negatively affecting their
communities.
4. They have been
accepted into a non-doctoral graduate program at an accredited university for
full-time study/research related to their work experience in human rights, sustainable
development, and/or public health.
5. They can show
evidence of financial need for educational support.
6. They intend to
return to their home countries to work, utilizing training and research
acquired in the study program.
WLS pre-applications for the 2008-2009 academic year will be
available Jan. 1 through March 14, 2008 on our website or by request from info@nativeleaders.org.
After
the pre-application period ends, all candidates will be notified about their
application status. Incomplete pre-applications will not be considered for
review. Unsolicited additional documents provided by the pre-applicant will not
be reviewed. Only a small group of candidates will be invited to complete a
full application.
Laura Mapp, Program Manager
Women's Leadership Scholarship
Channel
Foundation
603 Stewart St., Suite 415
Seattle, WA 98101
USA
tel:
(00)1-206-621-5447
fax: (00)1-206-621-2664
Information supplied by Fareeda Jadwat.
