Google has just announced their 2008 Scholarship winners. In total, there are 42 recipients from various US Universities.
Each of these students will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship from Google, as well as an invitation to attend the all-expenses-paid Annual Google Scholars’ Retreat held each Spring at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California.Earlier this year, Google announced the winners of the 2008 Google Anita Borg Scholarship in the U.S. and Canada as well as in Europe.
As I was going through the list of successful students, in stead of getting excited with their achievement, I became more and more disappointed.Why? Because a big continent that is usually forgotten by many was once again left out.Yeah, I am talking about Africa! But as I continued moving my mouse from one link to another on the Google blog, I finally landed on a page where I found that Google is doing something in Africa. Google state that as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting education in Africa and to diversifying the engineering talent pool, they are encouraging African women to pursue careers in computer science and technology. They have partnered with the Zawadi Africa Educational Fund to grant five Kenyan women full scholarships to complete degrees in computer science, computer engineering and/or ICT. The Google Zawadi Scholars will pursue studies at top universities in Kenya and South Africa, and they’ll each have the support of a Google engineering mentor.
The Google Zawadi Africa Scholarship program is a welcome development.But it has a few shortcomings.It is limited to Kenya. As if that is not enough, it caters for only five students. University tuition in Africa is cheaper than in the US or UK. For example, tuition fee for one student at a Western University can cater for several students at an African University. When I was doing my MSc at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, my first year tuition fee was less that USD1,500.In my second year, it was less than USD60. You can agree with me that the amount of money that Google will spend for the five Kenyan students studying in Kenya or in South Africa will be very small.Therefore, I would like to ask Google to expand their scholarship program in Africa so that more students can benefit. I am also of the view that men must also be given a chance in these scholarships.
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23 users commented in " Any plans to increase the number of Google Scholarships for African students? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThat just told us that discrimination is still the order of the day, if not why would African student who need the scholarship the most be totally excluded from benefiting, considering how cheap the cost of education is here in Africa.This kind of thing could be annoying sometimes, the western countries keep saying African countries are not developed, yet they do things to ensure Africa forever remain undeveloped.
Google should try and correct this by arranging something similar for Africans other than that of kenya.It would put them in a better light with African as a whole and most especially with African bloggers.
Bolas last blog post..Are you a good parent?
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You are not alone when it comes to reading articles of people being awarded good amounts of money to go towards their education with little or none going towards Africa. It is far cheaper to fund the education of Africans in Africa where there are a number of good academic institutions.
I always wonder why so many people/institutions do not want to have anything to do with us. What is it that they fear?
Gerris last blog post..Kirsty Coventry’s $100,000 Handshake from Mugabe
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Its good to hear that google really cares for the African countries. This is a great help when it comes to education aspects which is very crucial in the children point of view.
Neills last blog post..Pregnant Women Should Avoid Perfume at All Costs
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wawa a nthambazale,
this is an important idea you are sharing here. and you have provided the proof of how education is much cheaper in africa compared with the west.
we’ll use this in our next round up.
steve
steves last blog post..Peace Studies and ‘Africa’: International Day of Peace Reflections
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I think it`s important that google is involved in these kinds of actions. The best thing that it could to is to involve the entire african continent or to encourage others to do the same.
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It`s time that our African fellas receive any scholarship as much as other countries.
Hartantos last blog post..Free coffee for cops raises concerns
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The Google Zawadi Africa Scholarship program is a welcome development.
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Its good to know Google is trying to give back..:)
Eric Shans last blog post..Six Tips for Newbie Freelancers
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Did you just ask for more here. Africans granted of the scholarship must really be very lucky. Here in my country where education is the only reliable asset for applying for work, there is very little chance if you are not a graduate student that you will be taken and chosen as a candidate.
You guys must be lucky to receive such importance from Google.
sam’s tips paradises last blog post..Star City Opening Schedule Ticket Reservation Entrance Fee New Rides Group Tour and Field Trip Packages
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Check out specific colleges in the US for their unique programs. The college I went to Ramapo State College of NJ had tons of exchange students from various parts of Africa… especially Nigeria. Most of these students got all tuition room and board but they would have to work about 20 hours a week tops for extra ford and party money.
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Google is a very smart company. Good to see they are making use of their PR resources and helping those in need.
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That is really a great move for Google. They are sharing their companies success to the deserving and the less fortunate. More power to Google and I hope they will keep on supporting students who are academically excellent and also those who have no money to go to school>
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I agree with your post, Google who has almost monopolized the entire web right now and moving onto mobile phones (copying Apple Iphone) can afford to give some scholarships out to students in Africa. In fact, I think they should sponsor more than 42 students when they are pulling in over a billion a year.
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Africa is disadvantaged in many ways and this, according to me, is lack of committment on the part of leaders at all levels. Take the case of the environment which is my area of interest. We know the Environment poverty nexus and yet our leaders are not keen on the environment conservation. We need people who can authoritatively contribute to policies on the environment and we will go a long way in tackling th problem of the environment. That’s why I am looking for an institution to cover my expenses in pursuing a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering and Management in a Kenyan university.I already have an admission but lack funding. Any idea of where i can get a scholarship? Africans need to be serious.
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well leefting out Africa is not new i’ve been witnessing it since the past 1 year and now i am used to it i sometimes tried to contact some of the officials through mails but nothing happened. ….. i can’t belive that intelligent kids resides only in Europe and America
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You should check out Unitus. They do a lot of good stuff for Africa, although I’m not sure the do scholarships.
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Erasmus Mundus Scholarships (from the EU) provide scholarships for students to attend European Schools. I find their web site very confusing but they seem to offer full scholarships and fund over 100 Africans this year.
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I hope google would also consider giving scholarship here in Phil since we have alot of great minds here who needs support.
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Thanks for the input. I did not know that Google could have been so generous. I guess it is a good tax break for them too.
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I agree that google should do something to help Africans to further their studies. I am also looking for a scholarship to do my master degree. i have B. Economics degree and would like to study further i.e. MBA or sustainable or environmental economics. Please let me know if you come across a scholarship that i might qualify for.
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It would have been better if Google will pay for scholarship for african students, who will be studying abroad, say in Europe. But nonetheless, these scholarhip grants will be very helpful for those in Africa. I hope this campaign will also expand in other countries.
Reiselaender´s last blog post..Südafrika
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I’m from the black continent and i hope i found Google and other companies do some jobs here I’m from Egypt and white but I’m proud of being a citizen of Africa , welcome Google !
Mohammed´s last blog post..Applying for a new job ? need a CV ? so learn how to write or build a prefect and effective cv
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You make a really good point with this article. I actually compiled a list of scholarship database websites that students can use to find scholarships. There are a few databases dedicated to international and African students. Check out my website Random Scholarships.
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