The Scholarship Program

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Thanks to many contributions to the Tanzania Scholarship Fund this past year, Shepherd of the Valley supported 150 students in secondary, vocational, and university programs! Since 2001, your gifts to SOTV’s Tanzania Scholarship Fund have made a world of difference for hundreds of young men and women who would not have had the opportunity for education.

In the United States, we appreciate, and perhaps even take for granted, our system of public education. Our friends in Tanzania experience a different reality in their educational system:
·        Secondary school tuition fees range from $300 to $900, plus boarding fees.
·        The cost of secondary and advanced education often exceeds the family’s annual income. 
·        Fewer than 25% of Tanzanian youth are able to advance beyond sixth grade.


How does the scholarship program work?
·        Shepherd of the Valley makes a commitment to provide $14,000 to each of our partner parishes, and $7,400 to orphans and other parishes not partnered with a congregation.
·        Partnership committees prioritize student requests based on need.
·        Funds are routed through the Saint Paul Area Synod to Bega Kwa Bega accounts in Tanzania.  BKB staff and volunteers verify student attendance and process payments directly to schools.
·        Next July, SOTV travelers will visit schools and connect with most students on our list, gathering photos and letters of thanks like this one:
Dear SOTV, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. My name is Elizabeth and I am currently in Form Two [8th grade]. I love school. The purpose of this letter is to thank you for your assistance and God bless you all; do not grow weary of assisting us, your brothers and sisters. I love reading the science subjects such as mathematics, chemistry, physics and also biology. Thank you for your cooperation and God bless you for it. Yours sincerely, Elizabeth
General Secretary Nayman Chavalla from the Iringa Diocese tells us that because of Tanzanian extended family systems, when we help one student, we are actually improving life for at least ten more family members.
The average scholarship is $400/year. There are no forms to complete – donate online, place your check into the offering plate, or bring it to the Welcome Center. Please include “TZ Scholarships” in the memo line of checks, or in the description box if donating online.  

Your gifts make a world of difference! Our contribution deadline is December 1, 2015. 

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