Scholarship Proposal

CONSORTIUM OF CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION FOR RURAL-URBAN
DEVELOPMENT (CONCORD), Inc.
Zone 6, Barra Opol, Misamis Oriental
PHILIPPINES



A Project Proposal


i. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION


Project Title Scholarship for Education and Development of
Communities ( SEDEC ) II

Project Proponent CONCORD Incorporated
Zone 6 Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental
PHILIPPINES
C/o Rev. Beltran Pacatang
General Secretary

Duration of the Project Six (6) Calendar School Years Beginning in SY 2008-2009

Total Project Cost Php 68,648,380.00

Local Counterpart Php 14,399,076.00

Requested Fund Php 54,249,304.00

Nature of Assistance Grant


BACKGROUND OF CONCORD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The scholarship program of the Consortium evolved from the staff development programs in its early years in the 1980`s . Needing to improve the skills and capacity of the early staff, selected personnel underwent training and formal education. The governing board played a major role in the screening process. By 1984 a partnership with the Ecumenical Scholarship Program of Germany established, the program was expanded into the Scholarship for Poor and Deserving Students (SPADES) with the sole aim of supporting college education. In 1995 it was renamed as Deserving But Poor ( DBP) Scholarship Program but with the same rationale and objectives.

Due to some feedbacks regarding the DBP program implementation, an evaluation was initiated in 1999. The major recommendation of this evaluation study was to reiterate that the program was intended to support the human resource development programs of its member agencies and the broader communities of the consortium served. It also emphasized that the consortium need to continuously guide and assist the scholars according to its orientation and philosophy, the CONCORD should pursue continuing extra-curricular programs that will impart its pro-people, patriotic and God-fearing values, attitudes and commitment on the scholars, according to the October 1999 final report. The extra curricular program was to ran parallel to the formal scholarship program before, during and after the formal scholarship periods. Hence, in October 1999, the DBP became the Scholarship for Education and Development of Communities (SEDEC).

In 2000, SEDEC was implemented until 2006. Based on the latest report to the CONCORD General assembly in February 2007 and Committee meetings much remains to be desired in the program implementation. It was even difficult to determine if the 1999 evaluation recommendations were achieved or even implemented. As a matter of fact, some of the scholars for one reason or the other were still studying as of the lat report well beyond the 4-year prescribed period, others dropped out from the schools and less than 30 % were absorbed by the member agencies.

It is therefore the goal of this SEDEC II to implement the 1999 recommendations with more intent and purpose. Hence, an implementation mechanism will be followed integrating the scholarship program with the existing organizational set-up of the consortium. A conscientious, diligent and deliberate promotion of concepts, principles and transparent organization policies at all levels and periods of the program implementation shall be ensured. The program is extended for six years because of the lessons learned during the SEDEC I implementation.

OBJECTIVES

General Objectives

Develop a human resource pool of properly oriented and committed individuals; a leadership pool composed by professionally and academically qualified personnel

Specific Objectives

Determine the human resources development needs of availing member agencies and peoples` organizations especially those participating in this program;
Design and install organizational management mechanisms at the CONCORD governing body level to ensure program oversight and directions;
To hold a program at the CONCORD level for the continuing education of the scholars covering the pre-schooling, during the schooling and post schooling periods;
Attend to the welfare of the scholars in cooperation with the member agencies, peoples` organizations and families;
Assist scholars with potentials who have dropped out from schooling for justifiable reasons.

SEDEC II BENEFICIARIES

A maximum of 5 candidates per member agency will be accepted or a total of 145 scholars for 29 member agencies. The scholarship program will be intended for graduate, college and technical courses levels. Every MAs and its peoples` organization could avail the scholarship support program depending on the determination of their human resources needs.
The candidates for scholarship must be poor but deserving active member of the church, community organization or networks and MAs personnel which are part of their staff development program or developed to become MAs future administrators or leader.

The process of determination of such needs and screening requirements shall be determined by the CONCORD Board of Trustees in consultation with the member agencies and peoples` organizations.

Policies covering the program shall be inclusive of past applicable policies and principles cited below. Patronage will be disallowed and the candidate and the member agency, peoples` organization or families shall be required to shoulder a counterpart based on respective capacities.

The maximum number of five (5) candidates per member agency and PO ma not be actually filled up depending on an appraisal of the human resources development plan and actual needs of the availing organization or institution. Such decision could be reached in a collegial discussion between the CONCORD Board of Trustees and the concerned member agency or peoples` organization.

PRINCIPLES

People are the prime movers for change not the technology or tools which are instruments to serve human needs;
Human resources must be pro-people, patriotic and God-fearing;
Human resources have passion for truth, justice and freedom;
Education brings about life, not the degree obtained
Students should enroll or study in school and colleges that sustain an academic environment which promotes social development;
Gender sensitivity and poverty alleviation;
Serving local communities and those in need;
Preference for learning institutions which are near their residence;
Non-theological courses- science and mathematics;
No bias/ prejudice- race, religion, political, creed, dropouts, scholastic performance, etc;
Principles of consortium support for one another; weak MAs priority, strong MAs to give way or support weaker MAs.

SEDEC II FRAMEWORK

The preliminary phase of the program would include:
· The selection of candidate-scholars by the member agencies and peoples` organizations.
· The information should be properly disseminated within the organization.
· The program committee shall receive them and process the application based on its institutional processes and needs.
· The candidate scholar should be fully aware about the objectives, principles and requirements of the program.
· The final action of the MA would come in the form of a recommendation to the Scholarship Committee of the CONCORD BOT. The later will process the screening and request for other requirements.
With the selection of the candidate, the scholar will be required to join a community immersion and learning programs and the duration to be determined by the CONCORD program. The process should include a written self-appraisal by the prospective as well as an appraisal by the hosting community. The documents shall be included in the candidate appraisal. This will be processed collegially among the candidate-scholars to be facilitated by the Cluster Coordinator. The latter will prepare a summary report on the candidates` attitudes and aptitude which shall form part of the candidates` individual life.

During the actual schooling process, the student shall provide the area cluster coordinator the semestral class schedules and other needs covered by the budget of this program. The student shall be visited by the area coordinators as well as the organization or family or MA as part of the regular visits.

Scholastic performance such as grades, participation of in-campus student activities, violations of campus rules shall be requested from school authorities, etc. The student-scholar will be asked to make an annual report to the MA, PO and CONCORD exclusive of his/ her academic performance. Such individual performance shall be kept with the personal file at the CONCORD office.

In-between extended long school breaks or when the area cluster coordinator deems that the scholars can convene or even tap them individually for some activities without affecting their academic attendance, such should be programmed. A fellowship or alumni association maybe even considered to instill a sense of camaraderie and companionship among themselves.

A post graduation activity sustaining the the level of fellowship and communication among the graduates will be the responsibility of the CONCORD secretariat. Follow ups through retreat processes or other forms should be encouraged.

Hence, no secretariat will be hired or appointed. The monitoring and follow ups of the scholars will be a part and parcel of CDW and area cluster coordinator’s responsibilities. Budget in the draft for personnel will be used to implement the parallel, extra-curricular program of CONCORD. The amount should be supplemented with other sources from the regular programs of the CONCORD Secretariat.

VI. The implementing Structure

The CONCORD General Assembly


Board of Trustees
Executive Committee

Scholarship Committee

MAs CORD or Task Force

Area Cluster Coordinator -------------------- Community Development Worker

Role and Functions:

CONCORD Board of Trustees/ Executive Committee

a) Set directions of the scholarship program.
b) Approves policies covering the implementation of the Scholarship Program.
c) Acts on recommendations forwarded the the Scholarship Committee.
d) Makes final approval on all candidates to the program
e) With schools, colleges and universities.


Scholarship Committee
a) Collates and consolidates all existing policies related to the
implementation of the Scholarship Program.
b) Receives and study the list of candidate-scholars as to
compliance with set requirements and human resources need(s) of the member agency, peoples’ organization, families. (for BOT approval)
c) Draft policies and/or revise existing ones that have an
effect on the scholarship Program. ( for BOT approval)
` d) Draft a list of accredited schools, colleges and universities.
d) Study and monitor the complimentary extra-curricular
program of the CONCORD Secretariat for the scholars.
e) Receives progress reports from the scholars and the
CONCORD secretariat on the development updates.


Member Agencies, Peoples” Organizations (its committees, governing bodies, CDWs
a) Submission of Human Resource Development Plan of
manpower Plan.
b) Selection and initial processing of candidate-scholar(s)
According to each MAs stipulated processes.
c) Submission of format of MOA or covenant exclusive of terms of
covering academic requirements, responsibilities of the candidates, before, during and after schooling period. Commitment of counterpart shall be included in the MOA or covenant.
c) Provide regular update report to the CONCORD Board of
Trustees thru the Office of the General Secretary.

CONCORD Secretariat
a) Assists the MAs and Peoples’ organization in providing
orientation on the scholarship Program within their
respective area of responsibility
b) Assists in the processing of candidate-scholars at the MA
And/or peoples’ organization levels.
c) Draft an extra-curricular program for the scholars before,
during, and after the schooling period for submission to the Scholarship Committee.
d) Prepares a progress report on the status and welfare of the
scholars with recommendations.
e) Prepare a collated semestral and annual reports to the
Scholarship Committee and BOT before submission to ESP Germany
f) Establish a working relations with the accredited schools,
colleges and universities.
g) Performs other tasks related to the program
implementation as requested by the CONCORD BOT.



VII. Budget