APPENDIX 3
Memorandum from the Churches' Commission
for International Students' Hardship Fund
UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FACED BY ZIMBABWEAN
STUDENTS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND
1. The CCIS Hardship Fund was set up in
1990 to assist full-time international students, irrespective
of their race, sex or religion, who come from developing countries
(or the former Eastern Europe) and face unexpected financial problems
during the final stages of their course. It is intended to enable
them to complete their studies and return home. The level of funding
is dependent on resources raised for this purpose. The small grants
provided are typically £500, but do not exceed £800
and the same person is not funded twice. Since its inception,
over 2,200 students have been helped.
2. Understandably, the Fund is not free
to disclose detailed information about particular students without
their authorisation, so this memorandum cannot give more than
a general overview. The undersigned has been responsible for the
routine administration of the Fund for the past three years and
is thus able to comment on current experience in relation to initial
enquiries and formal applications from Zimbabwean students.
3. A thorough statistical review would take
time to compile, but it is clear from the Fund's records that
African students annually count for 40-50 per cent of those who
request help from the Hardship Fund and who are eventually selected
to receive a small grant. Over the years, Zimbabwean students
have figured quite prominently.
4. During the past 12 months, the undersigned
has become aware of ever-increasing problems faced by Zimbabwean
students, not only because of significant downward trends in currency
exchange rates, which affect students from very many countries.
Many Zimbabweans are privately sponsored; that is, for their university
fees (at the overseas rate) and for their living costs they are
dependent on their own savings or support from members of their
family in Zimbabwe. Others have been promised support by a government
agency or an employer. All have been able to convince those responsible
for issuing visas that sufficient funding is available for their
anticipated stay.
5. However, on many occasions recently,
the support has not materialised and the completion of the study
programme is seriously threatened. For some—probably a majority—the
problem is basically that obtaining foreign exchange in Zimbabwe
has become virtually impossible; for others, the promised funding
has simply been cancelled.
6. Should the Foreign Affairs Committee
desire clarification on any of the above or more specific details,
the undersigned will endeavour to supply what is needed. It is
certainly to be hoped that the process will lead to ways and means
being identified for helping many Zimbabwean students facing hardship
through no fault of their own.
Grants Secretary, Churches' Commission for International
Students' Hardship Fund
May 2002
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