Sime Darby Foundation Allocates USD$420,000 For Scholarships

Education  Minister Etmonia Tarpeh, receives  Sime Darby  Foundation  scholarship plague from   the CEO of the foundation:  Madam  Yatela Zainal Abidin. The Sime Darby Foundation (SDF), or Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) is commencing its international scholarship program in Liberia with scholarships worth USD$420,000 being offered to Liberians to pursue tertiary education in Liberia and Malaysia this year.

The foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Sime Darby Group plans to award scholarships annually to Liberians. The 20 excellence scholarships offered this year will include five scholarships to outstanding Liberian freshmen at selected universities to pursue undergraduate studies at top universities in Malaysia for four years in the fields of civil or mechanical engineering.

Another 15 scholarships will be awarded to Liberians to pursue undergraduate studies at selected universities in Liberia including the University of Liberia, Cuttington University and Stella Maris Polytechnic in the fields of agriculture and engineering. The scholarship program in Liberia is part of Sime Darby’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in countries where Sime Darby operates.

Those awarded scholarships are also guaranteed full employment with SDPL after they have satisfactorily completed their studies. The full scholarship program will cover tuition fees, living expenses and books. For the 5 scholars to be sent to study engineering at Malaysia’s top University, laptop allowances will also be provided. The foundation will work very closely with SDPL for the administration of the scholarship program, with the full support of the Ministry of Education Liberia.

Liberian Education Minister Etmonia David Tarpeh who welcomed the foundation’s gesture, expressed hope that young Liberians would be encouraged to take on the scholarship opportunity and stressed that higher education was one of the major needs in the country.