100 LIVES launches the ‘Amal Clooney Scholarship’ – an annual scholarship for young Lebanese women to pursue a degree at the United World College (UWC) Dilijan in Armenia.
100 LIVES is pleased to announce the launch of a new annual scholarship established in partnership with esteemed international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. The new ‘Amal Clooney Scholarship’ is part of an ongoing effort by 100 LIVES – the organization behind the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity – to strengthen cross-cultural education and understanding through collaborative social and philanthropic projects.
“As a leading human rights barrister and campaigner, Amal Clooney is an inspirational role model for young women around the world. She exemplifies integrity, compassion and dedication – and typifies what it means to be a global citizen across all cultures.” said Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of 100 LIVES and UWC Dilijan College, an international co-educational boarding school hosting students from 64 countries. “100 LIVES recognizes the need for future generations to have greater cross-cultural understanding. The college strives to make education a force for peace by bringing together aspiring young leaders from all over the world.”
Through this new scholarship, 100 LIVES will send one female student from Lebanon to Dilijan each year to enroll in a two-year international baccalaureate program. Recipients of the Amal Clooney Scholarship will be chosen annually based on their exemplary academic performance and demonstrable interest in the promotion of human rights and international issues. The first Amal Clooney Scholarship will be awarded to Pamela Tebchrany – a dedicated Lebanese student who graduated top of her class and is fluent in Arabic, French and English. She will be using the scholarship to pursue her interests in human rights and women’s equality.
“This scholarship will give young women from Lebanon the opportunity of a lifetime,” Amal Clooney said. “Cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative. I am grateful to 100 LIVES for helping to open doors for these bright and talented young women.”
Beyond this scholarship, both Mrs. Clooney and her husband, George, have philanthropic ties to 100 LIVES. Mr. Clooney is co-chair of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity – a new $1 million global humanitarian prize recognizing those who put themselves at risk to enable others to survive. He will present at the inaugural Prize at a ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia on April 24, 2016. Mr. Clooney’s Not On Our Watch foundation is also a partner of 100 LIVES – the two organizations share a commitment to focus public attention on the impact of genocide and work to prevent mass atrocities around the world.
The annual selection process is managed by a dedicated UWC National Committee in Lebanon and based on the UWC entry requirements and Amal Clooney Scholarship criteria.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About 100 LIVES
100 LIVES is a new global initiative rooted in the events of the Armenian Genocide, during which hundreds of thousands of Armenians were saved by the courageous and heroic acts of individuals and institutions. A century later, 100 LIVES seeks to express gratitude, to share remarkable stories of survivors and their saviors, and to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.
Further information is available at http://www.100LIVES.com.
About the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity
Recipients will be recognized for the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. Every year, the winners will be honored with a US$100,000 award as well as the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating an organization which inspired their work for a US$1,000,000 grant.
The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former Australian Foreign Minister and President and CEO of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.
The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on April 24 of each year in Yerevan, Armenia.
Further information is available at http://www.100LIVES.com/Prize.
About United World College (UWC) Dilijan
UWC Dilijan College opened in October 2014 in Dilijan, Armenia. It is the first international boarding school of the UWC education model to open in Eastern Europe and CIS countries and it accepts students from all over the world.
Today UWC Dilijan has 190 students from 64 countries studying a two-year IB programme. The college offers full scholarships to 48% of its students, and a further 50% of the student body receive partial scholarships (covering 67% of tuition fees on average).
UWC Dilijan was established by entrepreneurs and philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend with the support of other Founding Donors. The construction of the campus was funded by large-scale philanthropic donations, and the admissions policy aims to make places available to promising young talent regardless of their socio-economic background, on the basis of demonstrated need.
More information about UWC Dilijan is available at http://www.uwcdilijan.org.
Media contact information: 100livesmedia@edelman.com / +44-203-047-2300
SOURCE 100 LIVES
Amal Clooney Style 
Are these scholarships means tested? I can’t see whether they are solely merits and motivation based or whether they have a means element. My own personal view is that a scholarship without a means test is lamentable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the same, but I couldn’t find if the financial situaton is verified or the total amount of the scholarship.
LikeLike
I agree completely, ESR.
LikeLike
If you do some Internet research there is information about the scholarship and the criteria for obtaining one. Here is an example of information available on the Internet: “Recipients of the Amal Clooney Scholarship will be chosen annually based on their exemplary academic performance and demonstrable interest in the promotion of human rights and international issues.”
LikeLike
It is also in the post.
LikeLike
Yep, seems like it is based on academic ability alone. A shame because it follows that it is possible those those are being awarded these scholarships can already independently afford to do the work they are being funded to do. And this is one of the paradoxes of human rights law – because it is poorly paid, if at all, unless you are independently wealthy it is very hard to accumulate sufficient experience, or indeed sustain a mainly human rights legal practice.
LikeLike
ESR: I do not see the relationship between a scholarship based on academic achievement and your comments about human rights law. The scholarship is not to become a human rights lawyer if that is the connection you were attempting to make. Furthermore, exemplary academic performance is not a variable related to wealth and the ability to go on to school so it is likely that students coming from different backgrounds will qualify for the scholarship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was making a general comment on human rights law itself – not suggesting the scholarship is for those seeking to be human rights lawyers.
Back to the scholarship itself – sure a student from a disadvantaged background may well qualify. But why leave it to chance? Why not means test the scholarship so that you are certain that the recipient is not only able would not have been able to find the trip anyway? I just don’t see the point of paying someone to do what they can already afford to do. Means testing scholarships would ensure greater diversity, not leave it to chance. And statistically speaking, due to various social structures and issues in Lebanon and even my own country, the wealthy do top league tables – we don’t have a perfect meritocracy. Which is why means testing is crucial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would not like to to be critical of an initiative where a young woman gets an eduction – but I think naming it after yourself – and really – Amal is relatively young, it’s not like she has led or won landmark cases – it seems and bit self important and grandiose to me,
That said. good luck to the woman we receives this scholarship, Although would it not have been more appropriate to give it to an Armenian student to go study at one of the American Ivy League Colleges – or Amal’s university – Oxford
LikeLiked by 1 person
Casual Observer: How do you know that Amal named the scholarship after herself? Please go onto the Internet and read about the origin of the scholarship. This is not Amal’s personal scholarship.
LikeLike
How do I know Amal named the scholarship after herself? Because it is called the Amal Clooney Scholarship. That would not have happened without her permission or upon her request
LikeLike
100 Lives press release mentionned the scholarship as “Amal Clooney’s Scholarship”.
LikeLike
Casual Observer….I agree totally. While any scholarship to further education is a great scholarship, it’s just one more disappointing thing. Sigh.
LikeLike
I have taught many UWC students in college over the past years and have found them to be wonderful students, very motivated and progressive. Most of them come from families with little means to support their children obtain a higher education. I’m glad to see a new campus open in Eastern Europe and commend Amal Clooney on this scholarship.
LikeLike
“As a leading human rights barrister and campaigner, Amal Clooney is an inspirational role model for young women around the world. She exemplifies integrity, compassion and dedication – and typifies what it means to be a global citizen across all cultures.”
I would argue strenuously against the above. No one who happily wears fur or endangered skins, or willingly becomes a show pony for outrageously expensive brands, can be described as having (a) compassion or (b) integrity.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My thoughts exactly
LikeLike
Uma iniciativa muito bonita, é de louvar. Parabéns. bjs
maria
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reminds me of Huma Abedin, Hilary Clinton’s aide.
LikeLike
I agree with ESR. Also, I like what this scholarship represents. Great idea. Marrying George was a smart move. It has given Amal platforms that otherwise she would not have nor be given. George is a huge financial backer. Amal, too, studied abroad, in AMERICA @ NYU. Also, I would like George, since he is American born and educated, and also Amal who received ber juris doctorate in America, to use his good fortune to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate; children, elderly, etcetera. And I would like to see Amal give some of her fortune to some of the same causes since her higher education was in New York, New York. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jaclyn: Amal did not receive her JD in America. She received a master’s in law, which is entirely different. She received her initial legal training n England.
LikeLike
She received her LL.M in 2002.
LikeLike
This blue dress is my ‘wish list dress’. Designer? Size options? Price? Still available? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a Stella McCartney dress and is no more available https://amalalamuddinstyle.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/amal-and-george-clooney-at-100-lives-event-in-new-york-10-03-2015/
LikeLike
Appeller cette aide par son nom je trouve qu elle manque d humilité . Elle a besoin de plaire et de travailler son image dommage ça n est pas de cette façon su elle réussira. Plus elle sera simple plus elle excelera
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Nora
Ce n’est pas SA décision d’appeler cette bourse d’étude par son nom :). Il faut arrêter de porter des jugements sur tout et n’importe quoi sans connaître les tenants et les aboutissants…..:) just saying…
LikeLike
I found this in our magazine Bunte:
PRINZ CHARLES
GEHEIM-PARTY MIT AMAL CLOONEY UND WEITEREN SUPER-VIPS
Einen seltenen Einblick in das Leben von Prinz Charles. Keely Shaye Brosnan lässt uns ein wenig wie Insider fühlen
© INSTAGRAM.COM/KEELYSHAYEBROSNAN
Im Buckingham Palace versammelten sich große Hollywood-Stars – und niemand bekam davon Wind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ja, danke. Ich suche noch Amal Kleid aber es ist gar nichts so einfach.
LikeLike
Manque d humilité de la part de Mme clooney. Il n était pas nécessaire que cette bourse porte son nom je trouve dommage. C est plus pour sa notoriété.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Maheva
Pourquoi voir toujours le verre à moitié vide plutôt qu’à moitié plein. Elle n’a pas besoin de plus de notoriété ….elle met sa notoriété au service d’une cause noble.
LikeLike
I am just wondering would Amal get a scholarship in her name if she wasnt married to George Clooney.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicole – would Amal get a blog in her name is she wasn’t married to George Clooney?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point Nichole & Casual Observer. 🙂 And would we know Amal at all if she wasn’t married to George Clooney (doubt it). 🙂
LikeLike
My blog was named “Amal Alamuddin Style” on the beginning 😉
LikeLike