The Developing Nations Scholarship Fund is transforming the lives of
young people in developing countries around the world who will have an
advantage as they enter the labor market: they will have an
education and a degree in their own country that will help them with
gainful employment. LifeNets has served students in the following
countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia, Chile,
Brazil, Ukraine, Philippines, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Malawi. LifeNets has providing student scholarships since
2001.
UPDATED March 7, 2011
As part of our Developing Nations
Scholarship Program, LifeNets decided to help some of its students with laptop
computers support. We have helped in this in some of the countries we provide
scholarships. Some courses of study are
quite computer intensive and
to have access to crowded computer labs often with outdated computers was not
helping their studies. A laptop computer accelerated their education. We
always provide a backpack so that the student can keep the computers close by.
In some cases we have also provided a bicycle to help the students with
transportation to school.
A Happy Conclusion to a
LifeNets Scholarship Experience
From our
student, Cephas Chapamba who describes his graduation and future
Hello!
Graduate Cephas Chapamba with
his wife Patrica
The
graduation was held at Malawi Adventist university, Lakeview campus, a constituent college of Malawi
Adventist University which is affiliated with Ballaton University of East
Africa and its headquarters in Kenya. The graduation took place on
Sunday 26 September 2010. The graduation saw me getting out of the
college corridors with a Diploma in Clinical Medicine. This will benefit
me a lot in the sense that my salary with the government will rise, my
responsibility at work will rise, my chance of expanding my business has
increased to almost 100%,above all the community I am saving will stop
travelling long distances in search of medical services since they have
one right in their community. Is this not wonderful? There are a lot of
benefits that could even feel this whole page, but the issue is that the
LifeNets has managed to bring a Clinical officer to the Malawi nation
and to UCG. My study period is 18 months intensive class work and 12 months
work experience which will end in June 2011. All this with funding from
LifeNets. Oh what a nice organization!
If you see
properly you will see that
almost four faces are dominating the pictures the one in black suit is me (Cephas)
and a lady with a purple suit and a white hat is my wife Patricia she
accompanied me to the ceremony since we are one body. The other man in
yellow shirt is my best friend now at Nkhotakota and the other lady is
his wife. (photo below).
You would be
surprised to hear that we did not know this family
until I went to school but when people see us, take us as brothers, we
visit their family and they also do the same, this means that
in addition to getting my diploma, the school has helped me add to
the
number of family friends. Others are friends and relatives who came to
witness the occasion, the notable names to you could be Gift Chikwera
and Kennedy Nyalubwe, and do you know that without your camera which was
given to Gift just 12 hours before graduation I would have a graduation
without photos?
You would also be
interested to know
that after this diploma I have opened a lot of market for the clinic I
own. I will now be able to start inpatient department, to open a
maternity wing, to do some operations like hernia repairs, Caesarean sections,
just to mention a few. The government of Malawi has offered me a job which
shows that despite being in private sector the Malawi government is
still benefiting directly from my services.
Its exciting, I could write
pages, all this is to
show my appreciation to LifeNets, God bless LifeNets!
Good day,
Cephas
UPDATED November 11, 2010
From
Malawi: On September 20, 2010 we visited one of our scholarship
students at the Malawi Polytechnic College. His name is Madalidso Kazembe
(on the right) and the Dean of Students. Madalidso is a
very special young man from a small rural village. He grew up with no
electricity and no running water. Studying after dark is not possible. Now, he
is studying electrical engineering and doing very well. We were really
impressed by him and his desire to better himself. Bev and I brought over an
extra unallocated laptop computer and decided to give it to him. In technical
studies, ones own personal computer accelerates learning because you don’t
have to stand in line to use the computer lab at school. We met at the Dean’s
Office, Nellie Katenje who was very impressive.
Madalitso wrote to us:
"I would like to thank you so much for every effort you are conducting in order
to transform me into someone else. This means that to appreciate this, my
performance has to be as good as possible. But, to achieve this requires one to
have enough resources. This is so because as far as college students are
concerned, lack of enough materials in one subject can be a contributing factor
to poor performance is all subjects.
"I am finding problems in performing better in Computing Engineering which
involves designing engineering programs. As far as electrical engineering is
concerned having no computer is like walking without seeing where you are going.
Now my request from you si that I I may have a laptop then life will be very
easy. The laptop can assist me in the following fields:
"Perfoming better in computer course (engineering
programming) which istgo be acovered from now up to my final yhear.
"Can be an easy way to communicate with you the
Internet
"Library books are not enough in the library so having
a laptop menas you can have your own library by installing books in it.
"Lastly, let me thank you very much assisting me accordingly."
___________________________
From Ukraine: This is Gabriella. I want to
let let you know that I really enjoy studying at the Monada College in Khust. My
studies are very interesting. I thank you very much for providing me with
the means to this eduaction.
Love,
Gabriella
Below are photos of Gabriella and her classroom in Khust, Ukraine:
Gabriella's classroom
___________________________
I'm Rhodrick
Haiton Thungula,
28years old. I
live in
Lilongwe,
Malawi. I have
been supported
by LifeNets
since I started
my Career in the
construction
industry. I
started
schooling at
Lilongwe
Technical
College in 2007
where I've been
studying
Construction,of
the City and
Gilds of London.
My work duties
includes
Designing and
Drawing
Construction
working
drawings,
supervising
construction
works,
calculating
building
quantities
estimate. I use
different
computer
packages for
drawing and
calculating
estimates.
All through my
education, I've
been studying on
campus as well
as on sites as
part of my
career
attachment and
exposure.
LifeNets has
helped me cope
up with life
demands and
standards,since
I can now get a
job easily and
am recognized in
the world of
construction. I
thank LifeNets
and all those
who are behind
it for making it
possible through
this
organisation,
not forgetting
those who are
coordinating
this program
right here in
Malawi
especially right
here in
Lilongwe. At the
moment a'm able
to support my
younger brothers
who are still
schooling and
needs my support
and my mother at
home.
I thank God and
am not ashamed
to say my future
is brighter than
ever before and
my progression
route is on my
career is open.
I'm the kind of
person who
desires to go
further with
studies and this
has given me a
good platform.
I'm holding an
advanced
technician
diploma in
construction of
the city and
gilds of London
Institute.
Lastly I thank
all LifeNets
stakeholders for
making it real,
by the grace of
God.
Rhodrick Haiton
Thungula
UPDATED
October 29, 2010
We are happy to feature photos of our Developing Nations
Scholarship students. This is Edita Danko who was part of our Vinogrdov
Street Children Program since 2001. We are happy to see her development
and see her aspiration for a higher education and a brighter future.
UPDATED
October 27, 2010
Parents Samuel and Rodia Siopan writes about LifeNets
scholarships granted to his two sons Timothy James and Andrei who live and study
in the Philippines. The parents currently live in New Zealand:
"I am so pleased to share some good news about our sons school's development in
their school and church activities. First, we really had a good
bonding
time with our family in the Iloilo Feast site in the Visayas area. We were so
blessed, that my wife and I were able to attend in the Philippines to be with
our families. Our sons didn't have a hard time in taking off from school since
it coincided with the university's sportsfest week.
Exams were scheduled this week for the final term for the
first semester. They have been doing well in their academic pursuits and
positive outlook in life. Our eldest son, Timothy James still joins the
engineering club while Andrei joins the environmental club because some school
clubs have a meeting on a Saturdays. This year's FOT were a big surprised to us,
because they were both active in joining and volunteering in the different
assignments for the Feast success. TJ was doing the sound system every
services, joined the Family Night dance presentations and encouraging the youths
to participate in the festival activities. Andrei was active in the festival
choir and the Family Night's comical skit, dance and singing rendition. As
parents, we can't helped but be amazed with their talents and participation.
LifeNets has done a good job in helping our youths future thru education and the
church leadership in helping them grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Thank you so much Sir for helping us in their education and we'll be praying for
continued blessings for LifeNets.
UPDATED
October 18, 2010
Meet one of our newest program students. She lives and studies in Armenia.
From Ani Poghosyan in Yerevan, Armenia:
"I started my studies at the end of August in Yeriwan.
Since my father already taught me some German, I am doing well in my
German course, but I am also doing well in English. I am able to live with
my aunt here in Yeriwan. That saves me money since I do not have to pay anything
for room and board.
My parents and brother live in Gyumri which is 120 km
away. Even though that might not seem far away, I do not visit them often
because I have to travel by bus and there is no schedule for buses to Gyumri.
You simply take a seat on the bus and wait until all the seats are taken, and
only then does the bus leave. So I only will visit home when I have several days
since bus travel is not reliable time-wise.
I appreciate the opportunity given by LifeNets to study and obtain a degree in
modern languages. Thank you very much.
UPDATED August 28, 2010
Here is some current news of new students receiving funding from the the
LifeNets Developing Nations Scholarship Fund. We thank everyone who has
supported our Fund to help these people have a future!
First, from Ukraine. Here are two young ladies who have been part of our
Vinogradov Street Children program (www.lifenets.org/vinogradov).
We are now happy to see them move on with an education that will give them a
meaningful profession. Both have enrolled at a Khust, Ukraine Monada
technological school and are studying in a three-year dental technician program.
We particularly thank the Scharpen Foundation for helping specifically with
these young ladies.
Gabriella on left, Edita above
Innocent
From our new student Innocent in Zimbabwe:
"I wish to thank you for
helping me with my studies through LifeNets. I am so excited to enroll for my
CFA level II studies. Thank you very much!
"I passed my
Level 1 Chartered Financial Analyst Program with flying colours. I can send you
the result transcript if the one i sent you did not get to you. I am now
looking forward to progressing to Level 2. Job opportunities are very rare in Zimbabwe and
I keep praying for a breakthrough."
From Kenya:
Linet is a Bachelor of Arts student at
the University of Nairobi and is doing her 2nd academic year. She
does most of her studying at home; goes to the university during the months of
April, August and December when the rest of the students are on recess. She
tells me her classes involve carrying out revision with the lecturers and then
taking an exam. If one scores good grades, one is allowed to proceed with the
following semester. If one does not score good grades; one is allowed to redo
the paper in question. Thankfully Linet has been doing wonderfully well.
Her first vision was to train as a Nurse, but she
knew that would conflict with Sabbath-keeping and present unnecessary
challenges. She prayed to God and he guided her current choice.
Linet
Linet tells me that her vision of University level
education nearly collapsed. Her husband was more than willing to do everything
possible to help her. Due to a low salary, he was forced to apply for loans to
educate her. When Rose Helen McDowell and Judy Servidio appeared, their
application for loan had been turned down twice. They were making plans for the
3rd attempt when help finally arrived. She remains very thankful and
agrees it was a miracle that God performed in her life. She is very touched by
the generosity of the brethren behind her scholarship. “May God bless them
bountifully”, she says.
Linet tells me she will now be preparing for the 5th
Semester which ends in Dec 2010, followed by the 6th semester that
ends in August 2011. Completion of the entire course and graduation is expected
by end 2011.
In May this year; she will be expected to look for
a school to allow her field attachment for Practice.
Linet is very thankful to God. She has seen His
hand in her life and continues to expect more miracles from Him. She and her
husband, and indeed the whole family, say a a big thank you from the heart to
the team sacrificing for this scholarship.
UPDATED March 3, 2010
We are starting a Ruth Ann Cleveland Memorial Developing
Nations Scholarship Fund as part of LifeNets. Ruth Ann was a marvelous
supporter of LifeNets and the people we serve while she was living.
You can donate towards scholarships
via her fund.
February 9, 2009
January 7, 2009
Clip of LifeNets Developing Nations Scholarship
Fund students below. See testimonials from young people whose lives are
transformed by LifeNets.
From Timothy K. in Malawi--January 6, 2009
LifeNets has really changed the
lives of many people I know in
my country Malawi. Indeed, most
of them had no hope for better
education but because of
LifeNets grants and scholarship,
their future is certain. They
say it is better to teach people
how to fish, than give them
fish!! Thanks to LifeNets!!
MORE
Scholarship
stories:
July 13, 2008
LifeNets had sponsored my last semester
of studies for ND Mech Eng, I would just like to inform you that i have
passed all my current studies and appreciate the assistance.
I am now currently seeking my 1 year
in-service training to complete my qualification.
Developing
Nations Scholarship Fund
From
Malawi: On September 20, 2010 we visited one of our scholarship
students at the Malawi Polytechnic College. His name is Madalidso Kazembe
(on the right) and the Dean of Students. Madalidso is a
very special young man from a small rural village. He grew up with no
electricity and no running water. Studying after dark is not possible. Now, he
is studying electrical engineering and doing very well. We were really
impressed by him and his desire to better himself. Bev and I brought over an
extra unallocated laptop computer and decided to give it to him. In technical
studies, ones own personal computer accelerates learning because you don’t
have to stand in line to use the computer lab at school. We met at the Dean’s
Office, Nellie Katenje who was very impressive. 
Scholarship
stories: 
From Timothy K. in Malawi--January 6, 2009