Sri Lanka

Program Group

Program group meetings: Online, at irregular intervals (urgently seeking new members! Please feel free to contact the project group via the email address below).

Contact: srilanka@studieren-ohne-grenzen.org

Scholarship Program - Infinity Centre

Program start: 2015

Total supported: more than 24 scholarship recipients

Currently supported: 2 scholarship recipients (as of 2024)

Since early 2015, Studieren Ohne Grenzen has enabled financially disadvantaged young adults in the north of the country to participate in six-month computer courses as well as accredited AAT courses (The Association of Accounting Technicians) at the Infinity Center for Higher Studies (ICHS).

The scholarship covers the course participation fees for students who cannot afford these costs themselves.

Cooperation partner: Infinity Center for Higher Studies (ICHS)

ICHS is a private educational institution, founded in 2013 in the northeast of Sri Lanka, aiming to enable people to study regardless of gender, religion, or ethnic background. Over several years, the center was able to open additional locations and expand its offerings. It provides, among other things, computer courses and courses in computer science, marketing and tourism, soft skills training, and accounting.

ICHS plays a key role in the selection process and is responsible for assessing financial need. Based on this assessment, the institute proposes potential scholarship recipients.

Projects of the scholarship recipients:

The scholarship recipients either support local NGOs or organize their own local projects, such as creating a public vegetable garden or raising awareness about alcohol addiction. Depending on their involvement, they can directly apply their newly acquired skills.

Scholarship Program - Action Forum (discontinued)

Program start: 2016

Program end: 2023 (due to lack of local cooperation partners)

Total supported: 3 scholarship recipients

In the predominantly rural east of the country, Studieren Ohne Grenzen supported committed students in their studies in cooperation with the organization Action Forum for Social Development. The studies were not tied to a specific university, allowing support for a wide range of disciplines. Since 2020, after completing a bachelor's degree, support for a master's program was also possible.

The scholarship mainly covered financial support for living expenses, travel costs to the university, and study materials. The amount of the scholarship was linked to the regional cost of living. In addition, the scholarship recipients were in direct contact with a member of Studieren Ohne Grenzen in Germany.

Projects of the scholarship recipients:

The projects of the scholarship recipients were usually implemented during their studies. Through their projects, the scholarship recipients provided impetus for lasting social change and acted as educational multipliers. The skills they acquired during their studies were thus made available to a broader audience. For example, a scholarship recipient in medical studies conducted awareness campaigns on dengue fever.

Cooperation partners:

The selection of scholarship recipients was carried out in close cooperation with a local school, which nominated former students for the application process who had shown particular commitment. Unfortunately, this cooperation could not be continued in 2022, and despite intensive efforts, no new cooperation partner could be found.