ADAPT Scholarship Program: a collaboration between New Moon Foundation and Pacific Links Foundation
Pacific Links Foundation
Pacific Links Foundation (PALS), founded in 2001, is a US-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support the sustainable development of Vietnamese communities. In 2005, PALS launched the An giang/Dong thap Alliance for the Prevention of Trafficking (ADAPT) to combat the trafficking of young girls and women for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. ADAPT’s counter-trafficking efforts consist of (1) prevention activities which include a scholarship program and vocational training/job placement assistance, (2) protection services for survivors of trafficking, and (3) capacity-building and public awareness campaigns to strengthen local, national, and regional counter-trafficking efforts.
Representative: Diep Vuong
Title: President
Address: Pacific Links Foundation Sobrato Center for Non-Profits –
Milpitas
534 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035
New Moon Foundation
New Moon Foundation’s mission is to provide and support charitable, educational and scientific programs that promote the practice of the Foundation’s core values of Gratitude, Respect, Accountability, Courage and Engagement (GRACE).
- Gratitude – A deep appreciation of life in all forms, valuing both its gifts and lessons. This is the foundation for finding joy in our human condition.
- Respect – The practice of awareness and openness to others, new ideas and different perspectives. Respect is the basis for peace and understanding.
- Accountability – Taking responsibility for our actions, thoughts and emotions. Acknowledging our choices and their consequences empowers us to choose again.
- Courage – The discipline to be authentic, honest and act with integrity. Courage allows us to grow and realize our true potential and dreams.
- Engagement – The intention to wholeheartedly contribute our gifts and skills in a way that benefits our communities and natural environments. This is a natural outcome and test of a values-based life.
Representative: Thuy Fujimoto
Title: President
Address: 66-1453 Ko Uka Place,
Kamuela, Hawaii 96743
I. OVERVIEW
I.1. Purpose of the Collaboration:
The purpose of this partnership between PALS and NMF is to provide scholarship awards to at-risk young girls in the Mekong Delta region and to teach them critical core values and life skills based on the GRACE principles to enable them to grow into centered and independent adults.
I.2. Scope of the Collaboration:
The scope of this collaboration is to provide scholarships to 50 students for the 2011-2012 academic year at $200/student/year, with the understanding that it may be renewed and possibly expanded based on mutual satisfaction by both parties and availability of NMF
funds.
I.3. ADAPT Scholarship Program Background:
Since 2005, Pacific Links has awarded ADAPT scholarships to more than 700 girls in the Mekong Delta region. Pacific Links partners with more than 40 schools and local organizations in the selection of scholarship recipients. The schools are located in remote border areas of the Mekong Delta (specifically An Giang, Dong Thap, and Kien Giang provinces) with high incidences of human trafficking. Each participating school appoints a teacher to be in charge of the ADAPT program whose responsibility, together with Pacific Links staff, is to support the progress of the scholarship students. In 2009, the first class of ADAPT scholarship recipients graduated from high-school, and three students have gone on to attend university.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES:
II.1. Pacific Links Foundation agrees to:
II.1.1 Develop and incorporate in its summer camp program an interactive module that teaches, and lets students reflect on, the following core values (GRACES).
- Gratitude: A deep appreciation of what one has been given by immediate family, friends and the community.. This is the foundation for finding joy and happiness regardless of current life circumstances.
- Respect: The practice of awareness and openness to others, new ideas and different perspectives. Respect allows one to embrace different viewpoints and reach a better understanding of people different from oneself.
- Accountability: Taking responsibilities for one’s own actions, thoughts and emotions. Acknowledging one’s own choices and their consequences on one’s own life makes one come to the realization of possibilities within one’s reach and thus empowers oneself to realize these possibilities.
- Courage: courage allows us to be decisive, take actions to break away from negative habits to grow and realize our true potential and dream.
- Engagement: The intention to wholeheartedly contribute our own gift of love and understanding, and skills in a way that benefit our communities and natural environments. This is a natural outcome and test of value-based life.
- Safety: Acquiring the knowledge to be safe from the risk of human trafficking. This is a basic skill for protecting oneself.
II.1.2 Reinforce the GRACES values during home visits/family days conducted by PALS staff through a questionnaire that asks the scholarship recipients and their family to reflect
and share their thoughts on the values of GRACES.
II.1.3 PALS will send NMF a cost estimate budget, a copy of the application form, the names and addresses of the scholarship recipients assigned to NMF within one month of the scholarship award date. The scholarship application form asks the students to reflect on GRACES values. The 10 top answers will be included in this package.
II.1.4 PALS will provide NMF with an annual report detailing recipient student academic results, summer program attendance, and program achievements. Most importantly, the report will explain clearly how the program has achieved the purpose listed in section I.1 : “The purpose of this partnership between PALS and NMF is to provide scholarship awards to at-risk young girls in the Mekong Delta region and to teach them critical core
values and life skills based on the GRACE principles to enable them to grow into
centered and independent adults.” The report will be due by July 1 the following year.
II.1.5 Recognize the partnership with NMF on its website and in appropriate future communications and marketing collateral.
II.2. New Moon Foundation agrees to:
II.2.1 Fund 50 scholarship recipients for ten thousand ($10,000) USD for the 2011-2012 academic year, with an understanding that it will renew or expand support in future years based on mutual satisfaction by both parties and availability of NMF funds. The scholarship recipients assigned to NMF may change from year to year due to drop out but otherwise will remain the same. Summer campers may be different from scholarship recipients.
II.2.2 Disburse the funds for the upcoming year’s scholarships by 1st of each year, to allow PALS the necessary processing time to award the scholarships in the first week of August for the start of the new academic year. For the first year of the scholarship, this fund will be due by July 1st.
II.2.3 Communicate to PALS its commitment to the next year’s scholarships after receiving and evaluating the annual report from PALS. Should PALS’ performance not comply with the terms laid out in this MOU, NMF agrees to work with PALS in good faith to allow PALS to make the necessary corrections to the implementation of the program.
II.2.4 Recognize the partnership with PALS through website links and mentions on its website and in appropriate future communications and marketing collateral.