FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is meant by "to promote systemic change"?
We understnad systemic change to be more a transformational process than an application of "band-aid" solutions to problems. Systemic change works at root causes.

We believe that nothing works more effectively in eradicating the root causes of poverty than the education of persons who have the potential for transforming themselves, their families and the larger community.

"Give people a fish and you feed them for a day; teach them to fish and they can feed themselves for a lifetime."

Who is eligible to receive these funds?
Those eligible to receive funds are young men and women in Catholic Secondary School for tuition only. In addition, women pursuing post-secondary eduaction/job training are eligible for funds.

Who is considered Mercy Partner? A Mercy Associate or Sister who submits an application on behalf of someone seeking educational assistance and assumes ultimate responsibility for the progress of the process for the person.

Who is considered Mercy Co-Ministers?
Anyone who partners with a Mercy Sister or Associate in the Mercy ministry [sponsored or Mercy presence]. Co-Ministers can serve as designees or can initiate the application process on behalf of someone but the process requires that a Mercy Partner submit and sign the application.

Who is considered a Designee?
A person who is designated by the Mercy Partner to provide mentoring, monitoring and evaluation for the applicant for the duration of the funding process. [Designee can be, but need not be a Mercy Sister, Associate or Co-Minister.] Designee needs to be capable of and willing to fulfill the requirements of the role of designee.
While only Sisters or Associates can apply for MEWFT finds, Mercy Co-Ministers can link up with Sisters/Associates to serve as designees in working with the youth or woman receiving the scholarship.

Are only women/girls eligible to benefit from this funded program?
Boys under eighteen years of age who require financial assistance in order to attend a Catholic High School can be eligible to receive funding through this program.

What does it mean to be a mentor for the applicant?
Mentoring implies the commitment to companion the applicant through the educational process, providing encouragement, emotional and spiritual support. A mentor is one to whom the applicant can feel free to go with questions and concerns. A mentor challenges the applicant to develop his/her own response and solutions to barriers encountered in the process. Some practical matters with which the mentor might assist, e.g., are the budgeting of finances, or the management of time while the applicant deals with new responsibilities and commitments.

Some programs working with multiple applicants at the same time may choose to designate a staff member or other person to serve as mentor to a group of students.

What could be other sources of funding?
Other sources of funding could include, among other possibilities, personal savings, other scholarships and/or grants, educational loans, personal earnings, gifts, and work/study programs.

Please explain the community service requirement for the applicant.
We consider the challenge to give something back to the community as an integral part of the educational experience. In order for this not to be a burden to the applicant,s/he can volunteer/minister according to a timetable that coordinates with other aspects of the total experience. For one, it may be convenient to accrue hours weekly. Another will find it more desirable to give a day or weekend a quarter to service. However these hours are accrued, an average of thirteen hours or more per quarter is requested.

Who receives the money that is awarded?
The Mercy Partner or designee receives the funds, who is then responsible for disbursing the payments to the appropriate parties.