GRANTS FOR ASIANS

Thanks to the progressive approach on the part of countries with strong economic base, the sharp dividing line between the under-developed, developing and developed nations has constantly been blurring. Another encouraging factor that seems to have emerged is that this openness to help those countries that are not so privileged is that financial assistance has become more merit based and individual friendly than being a tool of attaching strings political or otherwise.

Who is not aware of the present recessionary trends affecting even most major economies. What is, however, heartening to note is the sense of balance with which affluent nations, like America, have done their best to see the period of economic crisis does not percolate down to the working people and their families that harshly.

The Asians form by far the largest minority group living in the USA. While a number of them are well entrenched and made them a part of the comparatively prosperous conditions in the country, a much larger number looks up to the academic and vocational opportunities USA offers. It is usually the people falling in this category desiring to benefit from the developed facilities for education and employment that need funding.

For catering to the financial needs of such aspirants, a well organized system is in place for, among others, Asians. USA has been rendering full support to students from Asia to pursue their education by granting scholarships/fellowships. The criteria are merit based and well laid down so as to make the processing applications fairly transparent.

Some of the bodies that cater exclusively to financial needs of students from Asia are Asian American Federation of New York, Organization for Asian Studies, Asian American Journalists Association, Luisa Mallari Fellowship and Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program.

Such students are also entitled to avail financial assistance through educational loans to be paid back on getting employed. It is here that a good number of Asian students work hard through their academic courses so as to qualify getting campus offers for jobs. Those who are able to manage this are best placed to meet their stipulated liability to payback. Many of those who fail to get campus offers on completion of their courses right away do place their resume with bodies that help them secure jobs.

The government supports non-profit organizations for specific needs of minority groups. This way, the US government extends funding indirectly. These bodies formed to look after the needs of particular smaller minority sections do specialize in understanding people from their geographical regions from cultural and attitudinal standpoints; they are for sure capable of appraising their financial requirements more realistically. The system has proved to be quite effective in case of Asians as well.

The US government has formulated programs to cater to tribal people of Indian origin through Native American College grants. For them, a CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood) is a pre-requisite. For those who have merged with the local populace without retaining valid proofs of ancestors’ origin, funding under grants such as Indian Adult Education and Tribal Colleges Equity, may not be available.

The USA has more than endeavored to bring cheer to millions of people without any barriers based on creed, culture or color.