Rihanna launches College Scholarship Program benefitting students in Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, and the United States. Read more below.
The Clara Lionel Foundation is a nonprofit organization launched in 2012 by Rihanna that “works to improve the quality of life for communities globally in the areas of health, education, arts, and culture.” Today, The Clara Lionel Foundation launched a global scholarship program that will provide full college scholarships to students in Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, and the United States. The scholarships will be awarded up to $50,000, and will be renewed every three years or until a bachelor’s degree is achieved.
“To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor,” Rihanna said in a statement. “Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.” Watch Rihanna talk about the scholarship and the foundation below.
The Bajan philanthropist further explained: “A lot of these kids, they’re really smart and they’re doing really well in school, but they may not have the access or the financial stability to take it any further than that. That’s why we started the program.”
Applications are open from now until June 10 2016, with 50 winning candidates judged on their “academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience and a personal essay”
