BUILD A SCHOLAR
Build a Scholar Framework
The framework can be understood in five steps as explained below.
IDENTIFICATION
The grantee organization identifies a highly talented child (or a group of children) in the 10-12 age group from a lower socio-economic background who cannot afford better schooling or unable to afford secondary schooling (the target segment is a school going child in grade 6-8). The Karmakar Foundation provides direct guidance to grantees on identifying candidate students and appropriate economic standing relative to their country/regional context.
QUALIFICATION
Since, the Foundation offers grants from grade 9 and above, we encourage grantee organizations to qualify candidate students for scholarship after reviewing school reports available from grades 6-8, earlier information can be used but may not fully meet our criteria. Certifications like Olympiad, AMO or any other accolades are also reviewed to qualify a candidate. Qualifications vary by country. A detailed account of all acceptable criteria is available from your country’s programme officer.
Once a grantee organisation identifies appropriate students, candidate information will be sent to the Foundation for review.
ACCEPTANCE
Once the grantee submits a proposal for a scholarship, if preliminarily approved, the Foundation will ask the student to complete an online tests (at one of our testing centres), and if successful, invite them to attend a panel interview at the chapter level. Chapter Panels include Foundation staff, retired education officials, and other experts, like senior child psychiatrists. The Chapter may also conduct further interviews and group discussions, if necessary. Sports scholarship applications include tests, which are conducted in person by a chapter program officer.
ON-BOARDING
The Foundation’s support is not limited to a child’s schooling. Once approved, the scholar is then on-boarded into the program by the grantee. The grantee is responsible for placing the child in an appropriate school, arranging local transportation for child, and ensuring for their general welfare to ensure they have the necessary support to complete their schooling. The grantee must maintain a relationship with the student’s family, and if needed, introduce them to relevant counselling and support services to ensure the student has a supportive and productive environment at home.
ENGAGEMENT
The grantee must have a direct contact/mentor for each scholar who will be responsible for the scholar’s well-being. The grantee will engage with each student, their family and their school officials regularly. A single mentor may manage multiple scholars at any time, provided they are providing adequate support (quality checks and feedback from students, families and schools will be regularly reported). Engaging with the family of the scholar is important so that they do not place undue pressure on the child, and ensure a more stable home environment to support their studies.
Outstanding scholars are eligible for direct grants for higher education once they remain a Foundation Scholar for four years (or until secondary schooling completes – dependent on local educational structures).