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Since 2008, over 100 students have been a part of the OM scholarship programme in Cebu, Philippines. The scholarship provides various levels of support depending on the student’s individual situation and needs. Some of the items that may be covered include: tuition, school uniform, school supplies, project and field trip related fees and a monthly allowance for living costs.
Aiah*, a Bachelor of Education student from a Muslim community in Cebu, has been helping OM workers with a pre-school literacy class in her neighbourhood. Aiah was sponsored by the programme since her first year of college and has both seen and experienced the benefit of the scholarships. “After becoming a scholar, that boosted my confidence a bit more.” She is now in her final year of college and hopes to teach in the Philippines after graduation and one day work in another country.
Geneva and Jessa live in a mountain village on the outskirts of the city. They already graduated with their college degree in education and are now living their dream of teaching at the same school where their scholarship journey with OM started. Both women look back on their time with OM with joy. “When I talk about college days, I always remember all my experiences with OM, not really with the college,” shares Jessa with a laugh. “[The scholarship] was not just merely receiving [financial] support, but it was really helping you grow holistically,” adds Geneva.
Scholars from Kinatarkan, an island to the east of Cebu and a six-hour journey away, can often only visit their families during their summer break, because the colleges where they study education, engineering and information technology, are all on the mainland. “[The programme] is a great help for our studies,” says Rosalie, “without the scholarship we would not be able to study.” Because of the distance, OM staff only visit scholars in-person every few months during weekends or holidays, but a weekly online Bible study provides a space to check in and build relationships.
Margie, a former scholarship recipient and now social worker, has worked with OM for the past seven years. “If not for the scholarship programme, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” she says. Margie often feared her profession was a bad fit with her because of her reserved personality. But through many extra-curricular activities with OM, Margie felt encouraged: “When I had to do internship in my fourth year, I knew that ‘I am able’ because I am well-trained in OM.” Today, Margie is much more outgoing and works diligently to share the blessing she has received with more young students as she oversees the scholarship programme.
These life-changing experiences would not have been possible without the support of donors and the Lord’s constant blessing on the programme. Margie knows that full well: “I just want to say, ‘Thank you Lord’.”
Please pray for financial resources for more students. Pray that more students would experience the love of Jesus Christ through their interactions with OM staff. Join with us in prayer for more opportunities to reach least-reached communities through the scholarship programme.
*name changed
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