Introdction
In 2000, at CEANA’s Los Angeles conference, the Council of Ewe Associations of North America launched its Educational Scholarship Program to support Ewe students in Eweland. Recognizing the poverty and suffering in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, CEANA aimed to assist senior secondary school students. Unlike traditional scholarships funded by large donations, CEANA’s program relies on modest one-dollar monthly contributions from Ewe diaspora members, reflecting their commitment to uplifting their homeland despite personal economic challenges.
A Unique Funding Model
The CEANA Scholarship stands apart, funded by hardworking Ewes in North America, many unable to support relatives’ education back home. Each member donates one dollar monthly, driven by goodwill, determination, and love for Eweland. This collective effort embodies the belief that saving one student benefits all. The scholarship reflects CEANA’s dedication to fostering hope and opportunity, ensuring that even small contributions create a lasting impact for Ewe communities in Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
Aims of Scholarship
The CEANA Scholarship promotes academic competition among Ewe youth and provides financial aid to brilliant, hardworking final-year students in junior secondary (Ghana) or college schools (Togo, Benin). It supports three-year pre-university education, including senior secondary, lycée, or vocational/technical schools in Eweland. The program adjusts to future changes in school structures, ensuring sustained support for students advancing to pre-university institutions in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, fostering educational excellence and opportunity.
Selection Process
CEANA awards five scholarships per Eweland nation (Ghana, Togo, Benin) to final-year students entering pre-university schools. Candidates submit an essay on “My Financial Situation and Future Career Goals” or a coordinator-approved topic, alongside their application. Recipients must be Ewe by birth, attend public intermediate schools in Eweland, and demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. The Council of Representatives (COR) approves awards, ensuring fairness and alignment with CEANA’s mission to uplift Ewe youth.
Scholarship Guidelines
Scholarships cover three years of pre-university education, paid directly to schools for fees. Recipients must maintain above-average performance or risk forfeiture, except in cases of prolonged illness. Scholarships are non-transferable, and recipients studying outside Eweland forfeit awards. Private scholarships, coordinated by CEANA, follow similar guidelines but allow donor-specific criteria. CEANA’s Secretariat and COR oversee renewals, ensuring accountability and sustained support for Ewe students’ education in Eweland.