About the Scholarship Schools & Students
The Partner Church Scholarship program has provided scholarships for nearly 500 high school and college students in Transylvania (Romania) and has also provided sponsorships for 30 classes a year in Puriang, India. The program is a remarkable testament to UUCF's commitment to its partners, and the strong belief of its sponsors in the value of education.
The scholarship program benefits the following three areas:
Learn more about each of these scholarship schools and students below.
Szentgerice
A village in Transylvania (Romania)
The scholarship program in Szentgerice was started in 2001 and is the oldest of the Partner Church scholarship programs. It's part of an enduring, 20-year-long partnership between UUCF and the Szentgerice Unitarian Church.
About 800 people live in the village of Szentgerice (the Romanian name for the village is Galateni). Almost 100 people from UUCF have visited and stayed in the village, usually as part of summer trips that happen about every three years. Many of the villagers and students have also come to the United States to stay with UUCF members.
Education in Romania is not free after the eighth grade, and so the scholarship program helps students from the village complete their high school education at academic and trade schools. The scholarships cover approximately half the cost of school fees.
The scholarships are coordinated by the Unitarian Church of Szentgerice. All Szentgerice youth living in the village are eligible to receive a scholarship. To apply, each student writes a letter of application and provides a letter of recommendation. After receiving a scholarship, the students participate in a community service activity and maintain a minimum grade level.
For 2011-12, members and friends of UUCF are sponsoring 27 high school students and six college students. These scholarships allow young people from Szentgerice to continue their education.
- Learn more about the students »
Kolozsvar
The Janos Zsigmond Unitarius Kollegium high school
The Janos Zsigmond Unitarius Kollegium is the top academic and oldest high school in Transylvania. Founded in 1557, it is also one of the oldest high schools in Europe and is located in the city of Kolozsvar (the Romanian name for the city is Cluj-Napoca).
Students must pass a difficult entrance exam to be admitted to the school. The Kollegium enrolls 200 students from Transylvania, with an equal number of boys and girls. Virtually all of the school's graduates go on to a university and many have become community and business leaders in Transylvania.
Although most of the students are Unitarian, the Kollegium admits qualified students from all religions. The majority of the students live at the school for all four years.
The UUCF scholarship is based on need and covers approximately 25 percent of a student's expenses. Rev. Zsolt Solymosi, the vice principal of the school, describes the students as "great students who are financially very poor. Our school, and all the parents, are very grateful for this loyal commitment of UUCF to support education in Transylvania."
For 2011-12, members and friends of UUCF are sponsoring 39 Kollegium students. These scholarships allow deserving and academically talented young people from Transylvania to continue their education.
- Learn more about the students »
Puriang
Puriang Unitarian School in the Khassi Hills of India
Since 2005, UUCF has provided sponsorship funds to the teachers and students attending the Puriang Unitarian School. This program is part of a partnership between UUCF and the Puriang Unitarian Church in Khasi Hills, India. About 300 students attend the school, from nursery school to tenth grade.
The school is open to any child who wishes to attend, with students coming from Puriang and more than five other villages in the area. Conditions at the school are bleak with overcrowded classrooms, no bathroom or outhouse, and no school bus — some of the children walk up to two hours each way to get to school.
For 2011-12, members and friends of UUCF are helping to fund the following:
- a salary supplement for each of the ten teachers
- a safe learning environment (the school buildings are very simple and in need of regular repair)
- reference books
- a winter gift, such as a sweater or shawl, purchased in India and provided to each child and teacher at the end of the school year in December
American dollars go far in Puriang and the need is great.
- Learn more about the students »
