The Rotary Foundation’s oldest and best-known programme, the Ambassadorial Scholarship scheme, was founded in 1947. Since then, more than 40,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is one of the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships programs. Nearly 700 scholarships were awarded for study in 2009-10. Through grants totaling approximately US$16.2 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 80 nations.
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors academic year scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.
Generous contributions from Rotarians worldwide represent a continued faith that today’s Ambassadorial Scholars will be tomorrow’s community and world leaders.
The Rotary Club of Dublin Central has been instrumental in this success story by hosting Ambassadorial Scholars who come are based in Dublin during their studies. Individual Rotarians from the club act as a host counsellor to such students, assisting them with day-to-day issues of adjusting to a new culture and society and ensuring that the scholar is exposed to the very best perspectives of the Rotary philosophy of Service Above Self. Relationships forged in this way very often become lifelong friendships between host counsellor and Ambassadorial scholar, providing further opportunities for “better understanding in the world”, which is the purpose of The Rotary Foundation.
Dublin Central has also been successful in identifying and nominating outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars from Ireland who spend an academic year in another part of the Rotary world.
Scholars will be responsible for preparing and presenting ten to fifteen speeches about their home countries to the members of the local Rotary Club in the host nation. Before arriving in the assigned nation, scholars will have been taught how to make these presentations. When their studies under the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship are complete, they will give a presentation about what they learned in the host country, to Rotary Club that sponsored the scholarship.
An Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship awards $23,000 to pay for one year of study, travel to and from the assigned destination, and living costs. The Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship pays $11,500 only for tuition, for two or three years. Scholars studying under either scholarship are responsible for funding all expenses that exceed the amount of the scholarship. Recipients of these particular Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships are also required to speak the language of the host country.
To be eligible for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, the prospective scholars must have Rotary Clubs in the country where they have citizenship, and have completed two or more years of college. Applications are to be submitted to the Rotary Club in the applicant’s city; and if there is not a Rotary Club in the city, the closest city with a Rotary Club with serve as the candidates local club. Deadlines for applications vary from club to club, as do the types of scholarships available. For specific dates and scholarships, please contact Annie Raftis, the Chairperson of The Rotary Foundation committee in Dublin Central by emailing foundation@dublincentral.org