Access / Mature Student Awards

Four fully funded Travel Awards

Three awards are available to young people enrolled in a University or IT Access Programme and who wish to participate in a 2 month summer volunteer programme.

In addition to the above there is one fully funded award available exclusively for a mature student who is enrolled in a full time degree course in a University or IT programme. To qualify for this Award you should be 23 years of age or older on June 1st 2012, be an undergraduate student and have entered your college by way of a recognized “ACCESS route”.

For both categories placements are available in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey or Vietnam. It is possible to choose from a wide range of projects: Teaching, Welfare, Health, Conservation, Community Development, Human Rights or Business Development.

For the 3 standard Access Awards people participating in this programme must be over 18 and under 26 years of age on June 1st 2012. For the Mature Student Award people participating must be over 23 years of age and registered as a Mature student on a full time undergraduate degree programme in either a University or Institute of Technology.

For full details of the options available see the Volunteer Abroad section. All travel, insurance, accommodation, activity and pre-departure costs will be paid for by EIL Intercultural Learning for selected participants only.

The closing date for nominations is 1st April 2012.

In the orphanage: It was a first day when we got the swing and slide. Older kids occupied it straight away, so I had to intervene and make sure that younger ones are getting the chance to use it too. Oksana, Volunteer Abroad.

Details
How to apply
Photos & Videos
Blogs
Terms & Conditions

Details

What are we looking for?

We want to open EIL travel programmes to students who have had little or no opportunity to travel or who may find it difficult for financial reasons to travel abroad.

In particular we are seeking to support people:

Who have a history of voluntary involvement in their school, college or their community.
Who have demonstrated or who believe they can demonstrate leadership potential.
Who are currently studying at third level through an Access Programme.
One award is specifically targeted to support a Mature student.

Volunteer or other community involvement as well as leadership potential will take priority over academic capacity.

How does it work?

EIL Intercultural Learning has created a special fund to provide opportunities for 4 people (1 exclusively for a mature student) to take part in a 2 month summer Volunteer Abroad programme.

Access Programme Administrators or Teachers are invited to nominate any person they think could benefit from participation (a special nomination form is available and you will be asked to state why you think this person should receive a travel opportunity) EIL endeavors to achieve a gender balance and therefore welcomes applications from both males and females.
Nominations should only be made with the permission of the person involved.
Shortlisting will take place and this will be followed by an interview with each candidate.
Selected participants are eligible to take part on one of the Volunteer Abroad travel programmes operated by EIL. They can indicate a programme(s) of preference, but the final decision on which particular programme the young person may participate in will rest with the interview committee and with EIL.
All preparatory, travel, accommodation, insurance, food and activity costs will be covered by EIL.
The person selected will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity and responsibility in order to participate.
Participants agree to take part in pre-departure activities organised by EIL.
3 Access Awards are available to people participating in the University/IT Access programme and who are over 18 and under 26 years of age on June 1st 2012.
1 Mature Access Award is available to a mature student who must be over 23 years of age on June 1st 2012 and registered as a Mature student on a full time degree programme in either a University or Institute of Technology. To qualify for this award you should be an undergraduate student and have entered your college by way of a recognized “ACCESS route”.

How to apply

Students interested in applying for this award cannot nominate themselves. They must be nominated by an Access Programme Administrator or a Teacher.

To nominate someone for one of the three standard ACCESS awards please complete the ACCESS application form.

To nominate a someone for the MATURE student award please complete the Mature Student application form.

Regardless of whether you are nominating somebody for the Standard or the Mature Award the student being nominated must complete the final page of the application form by explaining in not more than 600 words why they are motivated to apply, what they think they could contribute and how they would hope to benefit from the programme.

The closing date for nominations is 6pm on 1st April 2012. Interviews will be held in April 2012. The names of selected participants will be announced in May 2012.

Photos & Videos

Photos:

Blogs

Greetings from Barra De Potosi

17 Aug 2011 - 6:41pm

Just got back from Visiting Jamie in Barra de Potosi. The place is very nice but very small. Jamie works in a small lovely library for kids. The kids were such a charm they were always happy, playful and most all very respectful. On arrival they had us working up a sweat as they were preparing for a presentation and had to get allot done. I was glad to be there and to able to do the little I could. Laura was amazing coordinating all the work and Jamie, Cecilia Fernanda all the volunteers and I got to do our bit.

India is like a snake! One point is so far into the future and the other is so far behind!

27 Jul 2011 - 4:11pm

Today I got great news! By the end of this weekend I’ll be moving in with an English girl! I am currently living with Mr & Ms Kumar, they are an amazing elderly couple. Although I have been missing the company of my own age!! I literally am so excited ha as I think it will be brilliant or I suppose we could kill each other! The room is tiny; it’s so small so we are definitely going to be living on top of each other!!!

Indian Reality - Street Smart

23 Jul 2011 - 6:04pm

Memorias de Ayer - In Ireland 2 months on

3 Oct 2010 - 4:17pm

Hi Everyone. Ok so I know I am back in Ireland already and as great as Dublin is, I am sure I won't be able to top my stories from Ecuador. But, I wanted to post one more time on this journey. I wanted to make a point of saying that in winning the travel award, I was not only lucky enough to see a new part of the world but I was able to create a HUGE change in my life. Something I have noticed more recently. I called the blog post 'Memorias de Ayer' for a few reasons. Firstly, to try and be dramatic and try and get you to read this :) .

Last Blog

21 Sep 2010 - 2:33pm

Hi all! I came back home more than three weeks ago but it still feels that I’ve been dreaming. I could never imagine that I will miss Ghana, new friends and African way of living so much... Actually, I’ve experienced cultural shock coming back to Ireland. I don’t even know why but something has changed... maybe the environment has changed or I have changed... I think it is a bit of both! It is still very hard to stick back to routine and I still live by Ghanaian time, e.g.

Reflections on my Travel Award experience

9 Sep 2010 - 10:49pm

I've been back on home turf nearly three weeks now and have well and truely slotted back into my life here; albeit with a new sense of self, a fresh perspective on situations and circumstances, and a whirlwind of memories of Guatemala accompanying me as I go. My first few days back in Ireland were filled with mixed feelings. It was lovely to see friends and family again, to be in familiar surroundings where I know how most things work and to be able to communicate in my native tongue and articulate whatever I wanted to say without the challenge of a foreign langauge.

Post by Catherine Anderson - Volunteer Guatemala

6 Sep 2010 - 3:09pm

We pray for children
who love to laugh and be tickled,
who stomp in puddles wearing new wellies,
who enjoy a sweet from grandma's special jar,
who sit on father's knee and listen to a story.

We pray for those
who stare blankly at a confused world,
who never play 'pirates' or 'donkey' or 'count potatoes',
who never skip or have fun...
too captured by the hurt and pain around them.

A mind once exposed to a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!

11 Aug 2010 - 8:21pm

Well its been a while! Its very very overwhelming sitting here right now trying to think how on earth I am ever going to be able to explain my experiences of Guatemala and please know that it is simply impossible for me to say all that has happened here, even if I spent the whole night writing! To explain all the cultural differences that I have come across during my experiences here would take a book in itself, as would to explain the emotional cycles I have been through.

Drumming, dancing and some more...

10 Aug 2010 - 6:06pm

Hi! Going through everything I have written, I realize that I describe Ghana in very general terms. The main point is missing – Ghanaian Spirit!!!Ghanaians are famous for their drumming but they are also very good dancers and singers. These three components are present in any public event or celebration, such as weddings, birthday parties, church service and funeral.

Fiesta, Fiesta! - Ecuador style.

7 Aug 2010 - 10:06pm

Hey everyone, While I have an opportunity I thought I'd drop a line and talk a small bit about the social aspect of 'teaching while traveling'. Of course, you would have to try quite hard to go to another country and not meet anyone new but I have to say the social culture of Ecuador is unlike any other I know. I knew, seeing as this was the first time I was to leave Europe, I would notice some differences and indeed some stereotypes. Which really is true. My first two weeks, in Quito, allowed me to get to know other volunteers in the school.

Terms & Conditions

Nominations should only be made with the full permission of the person involved.
Nominee must be currently enrolled on a full time degree programme in a University or IT Institution as an Access or a Mature student.
Short listing may take place and interviews will be conducted prior to final selection.
Each successful applicant must complete all necessary supplementary application forms as required by EIL.
Candidates will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity and responsibility in order to participate.
Selected participants shall forfeit their place on the programme should they not be able to fully participate in the programme on all the dates as specified.
All persons making nominations and all the applicants agree to accept the decision of the EIL adjudication panel as final.
A separate form must be completed for each person being nominated.
3 Access Awards are available to people participating in the University/IT Access programme and who are over 18 and under 26 years of age on June 1st 2012.
1 Mature Access Award is available to a mature student who must be over 23 years of age on June 1st 2012 and registered as a Mature student on a full time degree programme in either a University or Institute of Technology. To qualify for this award you should be an undergraduate student and have entered your college by way of a recognized “ACCESS route”.
Closing date for receipt of hard copy entries is 1st April 2012. Entries must include a fully completed application form. Interviews will be held in April 2012 and results will be announced in May 2012.