African Service Fellowship

Hass Center for Public Service & Center for African Studies

Background and Purpose
Since 1984, the Haas Center for Public Service has been encouraging students to explore public service through its fellowship opportunities. Fellowships specifically focused on community development work in Cape Town, South Africa became available to undergraduates in 1998 through the Amy Biehl Fellowship. In Summer 2003, the Haas Center for Public Service and the Center for African Studies collaborated to broaden the scope of opportunities available to students in this region by jointly offering the African Service Fellowship. This program provides a service-learning experience for students interested in development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in southern Africa where Stanford has strong historic links to pre- and post-apartheid efforts, and continued active faculty involvement. The program is generously funded by Stanford alumni and friends who are involved and interested in Africa.

Program Description
Fellows will have the opportunity to learn about and help alleviate social and economic problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants must propose their own placements with organizations that they have corresponded with before the application deadline. A faculty member or advanced graduate student from the Center for African Studies will serve as a faculty mentor to students who are awarded this fellowship. Fellows will meet with their mentors to determine academic and other options that will assist with preparation for and follow-up on the summer learning experience.

Each African Service Fellow will receive a US$4,000 award to support travel and living expenses during the summer. Financial aid is available to students who qualify.

Placements
A list of organizations we suggest you consider can be found at http://haas.stanford.edu/files/PDFs/fellowships_0809/09%20Africa%20Placements.pdf. Some of these organizations include:

  • The Amy Biehl Foundation Trust, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Catholic Action for Street Children, Accra, Ghana
  • The Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria, South Africa
  • FINCA, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Kitumusote, Arusha, Tanzania

This list offers students a starting point in terms of identifying potential placements. Most of the placements on the list will be organizations that students have worked with in the past or organizations where we have a solid faculty, alumni, or donor connection. It is up to the student to research the organization and make contact with a representative there. As in the past, students may also identify and research their own placements. Preference will not be given to those students who use the list; however, those that do not will need to effectively demonstrate that their intended placements are established and well-run organizations, where they will receive adequate guidance and supervision.
Eligibility

Eligibility
Up to four African Service Fellowships will be awarded in 2009. Currently enrolled Stanford students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. All applicants should exhibit a demonstrated interest in Africa that relates to a particular field of study. Applicants vary in academic interests, community service involvement, and experience. Graduating seniors may apply with the understanding that preference will be given to competitive continuing undergraduate applicants. At least one fellowship will be awarded in the area of public health and one to a student working with a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Application and Selection Process
Applications are available on the web at African Service Fellowship . For those who seek assistance, a series of workshops is offered in January to help students develop their applications—visit the Resource Center or the Haas Center website for more information.

We strongly encourage students to discuss placements with Fellowships Program staff at the Haas Center well before the application deadline. Developing a suitable summer placement takes time, so start the application process early and consult with professors, advisors and community partners regularly. Please note that international fellowships take considerable more preparation and advising than domestic fellowships, and selection committees expect applications of a higher caliber.

This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate:

  • integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
  • prior interest (or involvement) in the subject area, including related coursework
  • a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
  • interpersonal skills and cross-cultural adaptability (language ability preferred, not required)
  • high quality of recommendations from people familiar with the applicant’s work and interests

Complete applications will be screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by a committee with the intention to award fellowships prior to spring break. Committee decisions are final.
The safety of travel to any international destination is reviewed up until time of departure. The Fellowships Program must adhere to the Provost’s International Travel Policy which states: Stanford-sponsored or Stanford-organized trips involving sending undergraduates to countries where a State Department Travel Warning has been issued is prohibited. No university funds can be used to support travel to these locations. U.S. Department of State travel advisories can be obtained online at http://travel.state.gov (as of January 10th, 2006, the latest warnings are available at this link).
Program Requirements
African Service fellows are required to work at least 35 hours/week for 9 consecutive weeks at their placements. Other commitments include the following:
Spring Quarter

  • attend a program orientation and other preparatory workshops
  • meet with faculty mentor at least once (see Statement of Academic Commitment in application)
  • design a personal learning plan for the summer
  • meet with staff to discuss the completed learning plan

Summer

  • update staff with changes to contact information
  • share learning plan with site supervisor and update
  • submit a brief mid-summer report
  • meet with donor and/or faculty, when in area
  • submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by Fellowships Program staff

Fall Quarter

  • meet with faculty mentor at least once (see Statement of Academic Commitment in application)
  • attend the Africa Mini-Retreat for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating summer experiences with other students who spent time in Africa over the summer
  • participate in at least two campus presentations to share your experiences and help publicize the program

Application
Applications will available online at http://haas.stanford.edu by January 1, 2009.
A complete African Service Fellowship application will include the following components:

  • applicant information
  • résumé
  • personal statement
  • 2 letters of recommendation (1 academic, 1 other)
  • transcript
  • statement of academic commitment
  • Placement/Community Partner Section

All application materials are due to the Haas Center for Public Service
by 12 noon on Wednesday, February 4, 2009.