FACT SHEET basiceducation Vocational Scholarship Programme To offer basic education for all in order to improve literacy and create alternatives to exploitation Helping Marginalised Youth to Maximise their Full Potential Besides building educational infrastructure such as schools, thereby promoting education and increasing children and youth participation in school, we also support highly capable individuals in maximising their potential by continuing education. We focus on education because it is proven to be one of the most important factors for sustained social and economic development. Beside vocational scholarships, we also support academically strong studens via our ‘High School Scholarship Programme’. Our Approach We have developed a multi-step approach to monitor and evaluate scholars’ progress in school:  Our staff will visit the scholars twice every semester  Their teachers will act as advisors and will support us in mentoring and monitoring the scholars  Scholars will submit written reports to share their reflections and highlight issues they encounter We strongly believe that education can enhance opportunities in life for children and youth and empower them to make informed decisions. Aim of the Programme We provide vocational scholarship support for enthusiastic and talented secondary school level students to attend vocational training in Thai and Laotian government colleges. With the advantage of vocational training, youth improve their skills and knowledge, especially those who are from marginalised backgrounds and often from ethnic minorities that lack the financial capacity to proceed to further eduation. With better education and more relevant job skills, these youths are better able to access more and improved job options and may even be able to set up their own small businesses and create employment in their communities. Contact us: Child’s Dream Foundation 238/3 Wualai Road, T. Haiya, A. Muang Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand During the scholarship screening process Selection Criteria Students who have completed lower secondary level education and who:  Lack educational funding  Are fit to study  Demonstrate good moral and ethical behaviour  Have a strong desire to pursue vocational training www.childsdream.org [email protected] Tel. +66 (0)53 201 811 Fax +66 (0)53 201 812 Situation Analysis In our basic education projects, we work closely with marginalised communities living in rural and isolated areas of Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand. We aim to improve the conditions for education and to increase child and youth participation in schools. We have observed that, while primary school and lower secondary school level education is widely available in most compulsory education (basic education) schools in the communities, the number of schools providing upper secondary school level education (high school) is significantly lower. Hence, students who had completed their lower secondary school education have to move to another village or district. However, limited by their financial impoverishment, only a handful can continue to pursue education at the upper secondary school level (high school). Besides school fees and the cost of uniforms and stationery, students also require additional financial support to live away from home. Bridging the Educational Gap With our Vocational Scholarship Programme, we hope to bridge the gap between compulsory or basic education and employment by supporting interested and highly capable students in pursuing further education. With the support of the Vocational Scholarship Programme, our scholars who have completed their lower secondary school education can continue to pursue vocational training at selected vocational government schools in Thailand and Laos, as an alternative to high school. Coupled with other programmes under our Basic Education focus group, we aim to support them in creating and accessing opportunities for employment and income generation, knowledge and skills transfer and community capacity building. Example of Compulsory or Basic Education Structure Level 1 Kindergarten 1 - 3 Level 2 Level 3 Primary School 1 - 6 Lower Secondary School 1 - 3 Upper Secondary School (High School) 4 – 6 / Vocational School 1 - 3 Curriculum Overview The vocational programme partners with various government vocational schools in Thailand and Laos. On average, the courses offered in the vocational schools last for three years. One curriculum year is composed of two semesters of in-school training and one semester for internships outside school in their final year. Vocational Courses Offered in Selected Vocational Schools          Automotive Electrical Electronics Accounting Computer Business Civil Engineering Tourism Information Technology Welding Budget and Reporting To ensure that the students can complete their training, it is important that donors commit to the full study path of a student for three years, leading to a vocational training diploma of their choice. The total cost of one vocational student for three years is approximately USD 2,500, depending on the school. The total budget includes our project implementation and monitoring costs. As with all our programmes, reporting will be provided twice a year together with scholars’ GPA reports, programme activities for the year and financial reconciliation. We aim that a donor supports a minimum of 10 students in order for us to keep reporting efficient. Contact us: Child’s Dream Foundation 238/3 Wualai Road, T. Haiya, A. Muang Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand www.childsdream.org [email protected] Tel. +66 (0)53 201 811 Fax +66 (0)53 201 812