Graduate / Motivational letter for graduate studies in social policy [3]

I am applying to your Master's program of Social Policy for Development at the International Institute for Social Studies in The Hague, part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. My career ambition is to become a Social worker targeting community based work and research to achieve better advocacy and social justice.

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Social work and Social Administration from Makerere University in Uganda. In my final year, I majored in research, civil society organizations and social development, social work with children and youth, social planning and applied developmental social work. This has laid a good foundation for the intellectual rigor that I have set for myself in my education and my passion to serve the needy.

Development challenges and inequalities has been the cycle in which I grew up right from a young age by default of being in a developing country and from a region that was underprivileged and for long ravaged by war. Having come from the Northern part of Uganda that was for almost 24 years under siege of guerrilla activity and political wars beforehand, I witness the social problems that have for long left vulnerable groups especially women, children and youth wallowing in cycles of poverty, unemployment, social exclusion especially abducted returnees.

During my undergraduate research, I happened to undertake a study to understand the livelihood strategies that households emerging from armed conflict are adapting. The results showed that much as households are trying to return to farming and relying on family ties to rebuild their livelihood, a large fraction of households still depends on government policies and Non-Governmental organizations that have already developed strategies to help them restore their livelihood.

It is for this sole reason that I seek to undertake the Social Policy for Development program to provide me with the professional and intellectual capacity to come up with improved analysis of societal responses to social need, knowledge to close existing gaps with focus on children and youth not only in Uganda but Africa as a whole.

I chose the International Institute of Social Studies because of its dominant political economy tradition of development studies built over sixty years of experience. The multicultural community of staff and students, with staff from over 30 countries over the world gives me comfort and surety of blending in: plus a team ready to keenly nurture my career path further reaffirmed by the student/staff ration of 13/1.

My ultimate goal is to become a Social Worker strengthened by the extensive knowledge base provided by the Social Policy program to realize social justice and equity. With this in hand, I will focus on research to develop better policies and build the existing ones to offer sustainable and lasting solutions to the needs arising within my community, in Uganda and Africa as a whole. I also intend to indulge in intensive community work and ensure ideas gained from multicultural interactions at the International Institute of Social Studies can be integrated in my community by blending modern approaches to what works in our local context.

Scholarship / A short essay - of about 500 words in English - giving reasons for applying for the OFID scholarship [2]

Hello,

I need some help with my scholarship essay. I got a graduate admission in Netherlands however am now searching for a scholarship. I managed to get one i can apply for, the essay is: A short essay - of about 500 words in English - giving reasons for applying for the OFID scholarship, explaining your educational goals, and clearly describing how you will use the experience gained from your Master's degree studies to help in the development of your home country.

My desire to engage in Social Change, to move Ugandan communities forward

Coming from Northern Uganda, a region ravaged by the Lord's Resistance Army decades-long conflict resulting in humanitarian crisis and wiped out hallmarks of a stable society. I am glad and feel blessed that I managed to beat all odds and emerge successful in my education career. Since I grew up in an environment full of development challenges and inequalities; I am committed to engaging in Social Change, justice and equity for sustainable development. I am convinced that understanding a community's concern in regards to poverty, inequality and social exclusion; and developing strategies and policies backed by society's own responses to social needs can be the force that drives us towards hope for sustainable development. I applied for a Masters in Development Studies, majoring in Social Policy for Development so that I can attain my mission.

My motivation towards this OFID scholarship is because I believe my career plans, morals and ethics aligns very well with the organization's mission and aim. The OFID works towards fostering South-South partnership with fellow developing countries worldwide with the aim of eradicating poverty. I also appreciate that the organization gives chance to less advantaged scholars to pursue their goals especially in education and professional careers. One of the OFID's focus areas is Education; Empowering through knowledge. I am therefore sure that the funding this scholarship provides will push me a step closer to achieving my life and career goals.

I come from a community ravaged by war effects, vulnerable with no social safety nets to cushion this, children left orphaned; if not abducted returnees, women and the elderly continuously wallowing in cycles of poverty, diseases and social exclusion. Many of these communities have been left with no hope for what tomorrow holds. My desire to engage in Social Change; to move Ugandan communities forward especially in the education sector, poverty- reduction towards achieving sustainable development intrigued my desire to study Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere University which I completed with an Honors. I took particular interest in general Social Work, Social Development and research which has further nurtured my desire to advance my education career with focus on Social Policy for Development. I chose to pursue a Masters of Development Studies, majoring in Social Policy for Development. The program will equip me with the professional and intellectual capacity to come up with improved analysis of societal responses to social need and as a result demand for social change to attain sustainable development. I envision becoming a Social Worker strengthened by extensive knowledge base provided by the program to realize this goal.

Empowering through knowledge with great focus on quality and quantity is a strong way of attaining our higher goal of eradicating poverty. The program equips me with the knowledge and focus on how social policy can be used to aid progressive transformation and sustainable, gender-aware, socially-just development. The ability to use theoretical concepts and ideas and apply them to daily life situations and needs will be resourceful in my target to carry out researches that can be used to advocate for better policies and strategies reform. The knowledge gained from the program and overall research experience will be used in extensive community work to bring about sustainable and lasting solutions to societal needs. It also creates a network of connections with the university and my country which creates a path for other scholars too. My time spent abroad will indulge me in a multi-cultural environment from which I can emulate great ideas of how social policy has worked in the European context and derive ways of how to moderate and integrate it in the African context.

I came up with this. Any help rendered will be useful; on the number of words, introduction and conclusion, and other information to add.

Thanks