Scholarship And Educational 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.
Viewing financial support and counselling regarding educational options as a valid contribution to Auroville's growth and future, in January 2009 the Scholarship and Educational Fund (SEF) was founded as a sub-unit of SAIIER. 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. All funds being provided as interest-free loans, it is envisioned that a large enough revolving corpus fund can be created in the long run that eliminates the need for further fund-raising.
SEF 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 SEF team, i.e. the executives and a support group, in March 2019 consisting of a total of eight members. For ten years the SEF functioned without any administrative expenses, with executives and support group 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 after 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 2019 the SEF has supported close to 130 students for exams and for studies in colleges and universities, mainly in India.
