THE DISTRICT 9350 ROTARY FOUNDATION
AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME

[ Home ] [ Timeline for selection process] [ Selection Guidelines] [ Current Scholars ]

Latest Candidate selected: Matthew Dekenah – who intends to study Public Policy in August 2011.

Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholar: Lindi van Niekerk – Masters Degree in Public Health . August 2010 – July 2011
I am honoured to have been awarded the Ambassadorial Scholarship for District 9350. Above and beyond the academic and financial means the scholarship provides, it will give me the opportunity to meet and associate with Rotarians across the world. It is the desire and vision of each Rotarian to serve humanity above self which attracted me to this scholarship. My training as a medical doctor has instilled in me a similar desire to serve those around me and especially people affected by disease in South Africa.  I graduated in 2007 from the University of Pretoria and I have since been working at Victoria Hospital in Cape Town.  It has become evident to me that my existing medical knowledge is not sufficient to relieve the suffering of my patients, but that I need to shift my focus to addressing the broader social issues responsible for disease and find innovative means to improve the health care system in our country. The Ambassadorial Scholarship will help me achieve my aim through providing me with the opportunity to study a Masters Degree in Public Health. I embrace the experience of living and meeting culturally diverse people during my year abroad. Ultimately I dream of returning to our beautiful country to achieve the dream God has planted in my heart to improve health care for all South Africans.  

Current Ambassadorial Scholars -  August 2009 to July 2010.

1. Lizette Greyling is studying kinesiology in Victoria, British Columbia.

I was very fortunate to have studied my Hons. degree in Sport Science at Stellenbosch University. My area of study gives me exposure to a lot of opportunities to get involved with people of different backgrounds, Recently I was given the experience of training one of our Paralympics cyclists and assisting in various fitness testing of the Paralympics Team prior to competing in Beijing. I also had the opportunity to be the fitness instructor of various University netball and hockey. I am especially interested in children/people with special needs (including disabilities and those affected by poverty) and find great satisfaction and reward working with them.

I was thrilled when I found out that I will be one of the 2009/2010 Ambassadorial Scholars in District 9350 and sponsored by the Stellenbosch Rotary Club. It was a great learning experience and a very fair and transparent selection process. I am blessed and honored to represent my Country , Rotary District and The Rotary Foundation and will strive to do my best in everything I set out to do.
Through the  Rotary District and Club Ambassadorial Scholarship team,  I have gained a wealth of knowledge and practical experience. They are giving me so much support and encouragement. I can’t wait to meet my Rotary family in Vancouver and to help with community projects throughout the coming year.

My previous exposure to foreign countries and people/students visiting SA have planted a seed and grown into tremendous curiosity and interest to study abroad. This scholarship gives me the opportunity to experience even more and enhance my understanding and abilities to invest in people’s lives. It is really a dream come true.
I am planning to study my Masters degree in Kinesiology (specializing in disabilities) at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

I want to make a success of my studies and hope to get involved with different community service projects or activities as might present itself in conjunction with the rotary Club. I wish to make lots of new friends and to experience as much of Canada as possible.

I am sure that getting involved with the 2010 Winter Olympics/ Paralympics (taking place in Vancouver) will be a real highlight and I look forward to gaining vital practical experience and to learn as much as possible.

My goal is to share my culture and traditions regarding my country and to share my knowledge and experiences learned abroad with anyone who is willing to listen and especially to those in my field of study/teaching.

Click here to access Lizette’s blog.

2. Damian Lahout studied at the University of Linkoping in Sweden from Sept 2009 to July 2010. His courses included ethics, law and economics, and Swedish society studies.

Here is a brief synopsis of his impression of his year as an ambassadorial scholar.

Being chosen for the Ambassadorial Scholarship is one of the greatest highlights of my life. The past 6 months since my interview have been a combination of both excitement and anxiety not knowing what to expect. When I heard I was chosen and that I was going to Sweden it was like a new fantastic chapter of my life had just been opened up for me and nothing is going to stop me from seizing this opportunity with both hands. I know Sweden is an amazing and different country, but something I learnt as an exchange student is that different is never wrong or right, its just different! I hope that at the end of my year I will be able to return to South Africa with a wealth of information and experiences that will not only help me in my future, but those in my community and country as well.

Damian's blog can be read at www.djlahoud.blogspot.com.

Past Ambassadorial Scholar: Ros Elphink who left for Sydney in January 2009. She will be studying Peace and Conflict Studies.

 I am serving as the 2009 Rotary International District 9350 Ambassadorial Scholar. I am 23 years old and in my final year of law at the University of Cape Town.  I will be spending the year 2009 completing my Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. 
I first heard out about the Rotary Ambassadorial scholarship at the beginning of year 2007 and started filling the application forms out the very same day.  The scholarship provides access to innovative international humanitarian courses, community service projects and the opportunity to immerse myself in a foreign culture in a foreign land. I knew straight away that this scholarship would be a dream come true for me.  The Rotary Scholarship provides me with the opportunity to get the practical and theoretical  formation  which I hope will give me the tools to truly have an impact on my community in South Africa in the way that I feel so driven to do.  Furthermore, representing my country is a special privilege which I relish. I am honored to be selected for this scholarship. Through my course, my new life in Sydney and the opportunities it will bring, I am certain that this year will be exhilarating.