Scholarship - Good health and well-being / Master's programme in Sweden

Choose one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) from the list below and describe how your professional position and/ or engagement in a network/ civil society organisation relates to the goal. [Max 1000 characters incl. spaces]

Motivational Letter for Scholarship

Goal 3: Good health and well-being
As a clinical dietitian intern, I have witnessed how a mother's late enquiry about her child's poor nutritional status can be detrimental for the child's proper growth and development. Unfortunately, we still suffer from a wide gap between community myths and practices and professional dietetic help when pregnancy and child rearing is concerned. According to the Global Health Observatory (GHO) data repository, Lebanon's highest rates of child mortality are related to prematurity, and perinatal and nutritional conditions. For the growth of a prosperous society, I believe the work on Goal 3 should start from the prenatal stages. From proper nutrition before pregnancy, to during pregnancy, to correct lactation, to proper food introduction, everything counts. I believe a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics can significantly aid in the progress towards the achievement of good health and well-being of people.

Describe, using concrete examples, how the master's programme you plan to study in Sweden will contribute to your ability to address the UN SDG you have chosen above. [Max 800 characters incl. spaces]

The master's programme in Global Health is an essential element for my educated progress towards Goal 3 in Lebanon. This programme will provide me with the much-needed one-on-one collaboration with actual researchers from various research teams. Acquiring the practical set of skills and knowledge on addressing the current global health challenges is the cornerstone from where I plan to grow. The latest data collected by GHO dates to 2015. When armed with the necessary knowledge, collaborating with local NGOs or organizations, for new region by region assessment, will be different and well-informed. Furthermore, I hope to learn of better techniques for effective educational and preventative programs targeting especially schools and villages.

Nahla, the research by the GHO should be the opening statement of your motivational paragraph. After you present that information, the story about your observation as a clinical dietitian will make more sense. Try to insert a statement about how the information motivated your desire to bring changes to this field, specifically under goal 3. Describe in simple terms how you were affected by this observation and how it has affected the way that you work, hence your motivation for advanced studies in this area of concern.

As for question 2, the first sentence is a throwaway. It is not necessary. Neither is the information from the GHO from 2015. The statement is asking you for your solid plans of action upon your return to Lebanon. These are not the "I will learn" but instead, your statement should be all about "I will do" under a specific department and capacity. That is how you prove that your line of study will have a direct applicability to the health situation in Lebanon upon your return.

Thank you so much!