Since August 25, 2009, a remarkable joint effort has taken place, partnering 23 volunteers from WBFN with World Bank field office staff and volunteers in South Africa. Together they are reading and scoring over 50 applications for the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF) scholarships received online by that application deadline from African women wishing to continue graduate study at the University of Cape Town or the University of Pretoria for the 2010 academic year. Using computers and videoconferencing, this partnership has crossed geographical barriers to further MMMF’s goal of providing greater opportunity for higher education for more international women.
This increase in the number of applications received, from 43 last year to 51 this year, results from the change to online applications from hard copy and extended advertising/marketing, according to Elna van Greuning, WBFN member and co-chair of this selection process for the past three years with Melanie Jaya, of the Bank’s Pretoria office, who directs recruitment and review efforts there. Even recommendations of the professors can now be submitted online and not by mail. This streamlined process enables the Selection Committee to have the materials needed to complete the first and second round of readings and scoring of applications between September 14 and October 16, 2009, to meet selection guidelines.
A total of 23 readers: 10 in South Africa, staff and volunteers drawn from both the World Bank and IFC country offices (see picture); and 13 in Washington drawn from WBFN members. Shirley Faragher, of the World Bank’s Pretoria office, has ably recruited and organized volunteers to participate in this project. This year there are six new members of the group in South Africa, including several men, and three new members in Washington, making nine new members out of 23 and ensuring new perspectives for the application reviews. Also, some readers participated long ago and have returned to lend their skills.
The Selection Panel, composed of five volunteers from the Selection Committee and five staff from the World Bank (in D.C. and Pretoria), complete the third round of readings and scoring in time for an early November telephone interview with each finalist. Following that, they complete the selection of candidates to be presented to the MMMF Board November 12, 2009, for final approval.
The success of the teamwork and international cooperation involved in this MMMF scholarship selection process is an inspiration for us all. In the first two years of this Overseas Project, nine scholarships have been awarded, and a similar number is expected this year.
The overseas scholarships are supported by your purchases at the MMMF Fair and the kind donations to MMMF from Friends of MMMF, the Bank-Fund Credit Union, and others.
Sarah Brau