Initiated by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, the Governor-General, the Summer of Service (SOS) Scholarship Program is an integral part of the ‘I Believe’ Initiative (IBI), which was launched in May 2013. The program’s core objective is to foster a culture of volunteerism among young individuals while simultaneously supporting their educational aspirations.

Since its inception, the program has granted over 60 scholarships and bursaries to matriculating undergraduates and second-year students. Every year, participants from across the country dedicate their summer to volunteer for a significant cause in their communities. As part of the process, participants must submit a project proposal detailing the proposed work.

A supervisor, designated for each candidate, oversees the implementation of their projects and provides a report assessing the impact of their work. The candidates also submit a final report to the Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence (GGPE)—the coordinating entity for the IBI and the SOS Scholarship.

A panel made up of sponsors, IBI Ambassadors, and members of the GGPE secretariat reviews these reports and recommends potential awardees to various donors. Scholarships are typically funded by academic institutions and corporate entities that donate directly to the schools, which are also in charge of tracking student performance and facilitating scholarship renewals as per the terms of each award.

The GGPE, acting as a scholarship facilitator, links each donor with the corresponding academic institutions for payments. It also monitors the students’ compliance with their scholarship terms and endorses the renewal of their awards annually if they are on a full scholarship.

Students with partial scholarships may receive additional funding in the following academic year, subject to availability and compliance with award conditions. Students must fulfill the terms of their scholarships, and institutions and sponsors reserve the right to revoke or discontinue a scholarship if a student’s performance is unsatisfactory.

Objectives:

1. Reward academic excellence among students desiring tertiary education but financially constrained.
2. Foster a spirit of volunteerism among youth.

Target Audience:

1. Matriculating students or first-year students at a local, accredited university/college pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree.
2. Young individuals aged 18-24 with a record of academic excellence, volunteerism, and financial need.

Program Rules:

1. Eligible participants must be matriculating or first-year students at a local, accredited tertiary institution aiming to complete a Bachelor’s degree.
2. Project details must be submitted by the stipulated deadline. Any changes to the project must also be completed by this date.
3. Participants are required to dedicate a certain amount of time each week to their project, although this has been temporarily waived due to the coronavirus.
4. Regular reporting to the designated supervisor is mandatory.
5. Any challenges arising during project implementation should be reported to the supervisor promptly.
6. Participants must document their daily service hours in a Log Sheet, which must be countersigned by their supervisor. The project requires 96 hours.
7. Participants are encouraged to keep a project diary detailing achievements, challenges, and resolutions. Supervisors should review this diary at least fortnightly.
8. A final report, including photographic or video evidence of involvement throughout the project, must be submitted to the GGPE Secretariat by the deadline.
9. The supervisor’s report must be submitted separately to the Secretariat by the stipulated deadline.

Unfortunately, the IBI cannot provide a stipend, but participants are encouraged to seek sponsorship for travel costs. In some cases, the organization they volunteer for may offer assistance.

Prizes include scholarships and book grants, with specific awards announced annually.