Educational Support Fund
Many young Aurovilians after school would like to pursue higher studies and structured vocational training. At its present size, however, Auroville does not offer sufficient options in this regard, and study and training courses and life outside Auroville imply expenses unaffordable to many Aurovilians.
Convinced that financial support and counselling on educational options are valid contributions to Auroville's growth and future, in January 2009 the Scholarship and Educational Fund (SEF) was founded as a sub-unit of SAIIER and later renamed Educational Support Fund (ESF). While career counselling and study guidance are limited primarily by the receptivity of the individual students and their home and school environment, financial support is limited by the funds that can be raised. Funds are being provided as interest-free loans, and it is envisioned that a large enough revolving corpus fund can be created in the long run that minimises or eliminates the need for further fund-raising.
ESF has set itself the following aims:
- To help in creating educational and training opportunities inside and outside of Auroville.
- To fundraise and operate as a fund for the education of Auroville youth inside and outside of Auroville.
- To help in creating equality of opportunities for Auroville youth.
- To work towards finding optimal educational options in consideration of the needs and potential of the individual.
Financial help, by available funds, is extended after assessing the following criteria:
- The financial needs of the student and the student's family; and
- The applicant's motivation to take up particular studies or training or to undergo exams.
Academic merits are no criterion for funding support, but they are taken into consideration for the assessment of the intellectual aptitude and motivation of a student.
Students are interviewed and cases are assessed in meetings of the ESF team, i.e. the executives and a support group, consisting of a total of seven members (status 2024). The ESF has been operating without any administrative expenses, with executives and team members contributing time and resources as per their capacity. In December 2018 an assistant secretary was appointed to follow up on the repayment of outstanding loans.
Funds are released as interest-free loans expected to be repaid when the student has completed her/his studies and as soon as repayment becomes feasible, even if only in small instalments.
Thanks to contributions from within and from outside of Auroville, as of 2024, the ESF has supported more than 200 students for exams and for studies in colleges and universities, mainly in India.
email: mail ID: edusupport@auroville.org.in
