The IALS program is financed by the Interamerican Development Bank (IADB)

Indigenous and Afro Latino Scholarship Program (IALS)

The Indigenous and Afro Latino Scholarship Program (IALS) is financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and administered by Georgetown University’s Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED).  The program provides full scholarships for outstanding indigenous and Afro Latino youth from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru for two years of post secondary university education at fully accredited universities and community colleges in the United States and Latin America.

Countries:  Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Program Objectives:

• General: The objective of the Indigenous and Afro Latino Scholarship Program (IALS) is to promote higher education opportunities for indigenous and Afro-Latino youth from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru through scholarships for technical training at colleges in the United States, as well as academic institutions identified throughout Latin America, with a view to improving the economic and social opportunities of that population, and fostering intercultural understanding and mutual respect.  Partner academic institutions participating in the Program are expected to be strengthened in their ability to incorporate, and work with indigenous and Afro Latino students. 

Specific Objectives of the IALS Program:

1. Technical Training: Prepare and train rural indigenous and Afro Latino youth, at least 50% of whom will be women, for entry-level jobs in fields that support broad-based economic development and environmental protection.

• Agribusiness
• Small Business Management
• Integrated Natural Resources Technology
• Eco & Ethno Tourism

2. Leadership Training: Prepare students to be leaders in their home communities by involving participants in volunteer activities, on-campus student government, and community service.  Provide them with concrete skills applicable to their home countries. 

3. Networks and Linkages: Build lasting professional networks and links of friendship and understanding between indigenous and Afro Latino youth from four Andean countries. 

Scope of Program:  For the 2008 Academic Year the Indigenous and Afro Latino Scholarship Program (IALS) expects to place at least 80 scholars from the four participating countries at community colleges and universities in the United States and Latin America.  These scholarships will be two years in duration.

Scholarship Application Process: 
The application process was finalized on February 15, 2008. All applicants who have sent their applications by the deadline will be considered during the pre-selection of candidates.

Starting on February 25, pre-selected candidates will receive the final application form, which will have a closing date of March 14. Afterwards, a committee will interview pre-selected candidates. The candidates not pre-selected will not receive the final application form. 

The IALS Scholarship Program welcomes the vast response that we have received from all the applicants to the program and is thankful for the interest shown by the indigenous and afrolatino communities of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. 

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