Become a Scholarship Angel!

In recent years this role has become particularly important as a support to the developing movements in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and to the transgender community. Their delegates have been able to participate thanks to scholarships provided by ILGA-Europe. Read a personal view by Max Anmeghichean (former Executive Director of GenderDoc-M Moldova, and now ILGA-Europe Programme Director) of the benefits of his first ILGA-Europe conference.

There is much competition for these scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of strict criteria: contribution to LGBT movement nationally and internationally, contribution to the conference, relevance of conference content to their work, gender balance, fair geographical distribution, and membership of ILGA member organisation. As the demand has grown, so has the difficulty in raising money for scholarships, particularly from foundations, which in past years were a major source.

We have decided therefore to establishan ILGA-Europe“Scholarship Angels"scheme to provide a stable source of income. This will enable organisations and individuals to support the participation of delegates from Eastern and South Eastern Europe and the transgender community, by agreeing to donate a fixed sum of money each year to the scholarship fund.

By way of expressing its thanks, ILGA-Europe will publicise this support at its web site, and in the conference programme and report. Scholarship Angels will also be advised which scholar their money supported, and be given background information about their organisation and work. If their delegates attend the conference in question, they will of course be put in touch with the scholar(s) they have funded.

Scholarship Angels are invited to contribute one of the following annual amounts:

€400 -- this pays for accommodation and conference participation

€750 -- this pays additionally for travel from a relatively close country

€1000 -- this pays additionally for travel from a more distant country

Of course, larger sums would be even more welcome.

To participate, simply complete and return the attached Scholarship Angels participation form.

We very much hope that you will be able to support our work in this way. The LGBT movement in Eastern and South Eastern Europe, and the transgender movement across Europe, face huge challenges. Their work demands great personal courage, persistence and skill. They need and deserve the support of our European movement.

Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director

NIgel Warner, Co-ordinator