THE U.S. EMBASSY AMBASSADOR’S GIRLS’ SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (AGSP)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Africa Education Initiative (AEI) has been designed to improve educational opportunities for African children.

In Lesotho these funds are provided through the U.S. Embassy Ambassador’s Girls’ Scholarship Program exclusively for Basotho girls and boys. In Fiscal Year 2008 boys were included for the first time. The program supports scholarships for retention of girls and boys who would otherwise have no means of staying in school. Mentoring complements the scholarship program to inspire and encourage children in their educational pursuits. For this purpose, prominent Basotho women have been identified to assist in this respect. One component of the program is to support a focus on HIV/AIDS mitigation and prevention for these children.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The selection criteria are: best academic performance, family’s financial status, degree of applicant’s disability, and whether affected by HIV/AIDS (orphaned).

LIMITATIONS OF THE AGSP

In Lesotho the program was launched in June 2005 with the signing of a Letter of Agreement between Winrock International (a prime contractor for USAID) and Lesotho Save the Children (LSC) (their local implementing organization). Scholarships are strictly for the funding of 172 scholarships to primary and secondary (Form A, B, and C) school girls in Lesotho annually. In Fiscal Year 2008, 100 scholarships were awarded to boys for the first time.

WHEN TO APPLY

The application period for scholarships is open from November to December every year and awards to successful applicants are made in January when schools reopen.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE AGSP SCHOLARSHIP

Application forms are only available from the Lesotho Save the Children. To receive more information on the scholarship program please write to or visit:

The Special Projects Coordinator     OR          The Bursaries Officer

American Embassy                                      Lesotho Save the Children

P.O. Box 333                                             P.O. Box 151

Maseru 100                                               Maseru 100

Lesotho                                                    Lesotho