The Rhodes Trust has announced a new Rhodes Scholarship for East Africa. Young people aged 19-25 from the region will be eligible for the new Scholarship when annual applications open later this year. Detailed eligibility criteria will be published soon at www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply. The new Scholarship will cover Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi. Scholarships are already available for Kenya and also for Zambia, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and the West Africa region. The Rhodes Trust is funding the first two years of the Scholarship itself and is actively looking for partners to endow the Scholarship in perpetuity.
The new East Africa Scholarship is part of a wider geographic expansion of the Rhodes Scholarships. The total number of Scholarships awarded each year has increased in recent years from 83 to 100 each year, including new Scholarships in China, West Africa, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia (reinstated), Palestine, Singapore (reinstated), Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as two new global Scholarships. This increases the number of Rhodes Scholars studying at the University of Oxford at any one time to approximately 250. The expansion into these regions marks a historic moment for the Rhodes Trust, and further strengthens the international Rhodes community. Mr Charles Conn commented:
“Our aspiration is to identify and support innovative, energetic and ethical young leaders in East Africa. We see the value of additional cultural diversity in our cohorts of Scholars every day and they learn from each other in profound ways. The new annual Rhodes Scholar from East Africa will contribute significantly through sharing their skills, experiences and energy with their peers at Oxford and we look forward to welcoming them to Rhodes House in October 2019.”
Mr Sunir Chandaria is a graduate of Oxford University, Hon. Consul of Kenya in Toronto, Canada, and Chair of the Rhodes Trust’s East Africa Advisory Group. He commented:
“It is terrific to be able to announce this new regional Scholarship which will have a great impact. Scholars from East Africa will bring their lens and rich contributions to the global Rhodes Scholar class and, I am confident, will thrive with the excitement and challenges of Oxford. The realisation of this new regional Scholarship has taken dedication, donations, and determination from a wide group of individuals whom we appreciate dearly for their efforts.”
The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards supporting young people who combine academic excellence with good character, and who show promise of values-driven leadership in later life. It is the oldest and the most prestigious international scholarship programme in the world, which aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world's future.
