BHUTAN
Partner Organization: People’s Forum for Human Rights, Bhutan (PFHRB)
Scholarship Program for Student in the Jhapa Refugee Camp

For more than a decade, approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in the Jhapa and Morang refugee camps of Eastern Nepal. While diplomatic efforts for a peaceful political settlement in Bhutan continue, various aid agencies assist the refugees to meet basic health care, education and self-development needs. In the area of education, camp schools have been established and provide schooling up to grade 10. In order to complete high school and follow on with university, students have to attend schools outside the camps which can be difficult due to the financial burden. Since the year 2000, LOMEF/ARF has been participating in this effort through a PFHRB education program that allocates scholarships to students for their continued education outside the camps.

For the year 2003-2004, fifteen students were given the token scholarship of 75% towards admission into their institutions and the respective monthly fees. The remaining fees are paid by the families. The money received from LOMEF/ARF was given to the poor and interested students recommended by either their guardians or by any refugee based committees. The majority of the scholarships were distributed to students looking at outside education after completion of their camp level study of class X. Some students receiving token scholarships are the children of political leaders who are staying outside the camp.

* Class X is the equivalent to Grade 10.