Open Call: Diamond Education Grant Program

The grants enable the women to enter or return to employment, or move to a growing industry, by acquiring new skills. The educational grants contribute to raising the standard of education among women, who may not otherwise be able to improve their circumstances, those of their family, or the community in which they live.

The grants that have been awarded include courses as diverse as helicopter engineering, teacher training, play therapy, midwifery, a conversion course for an overseas qualified pharmacist and a diploma in sign language interpreting.

Eligible Countries

• To be eligible you must be permanently resident in one of the countries of their Federation, which are:
  • Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
  • Europe: Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom
  • Caribbean: Anguilla, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos.

Eligibility Criteria

• They favor women who are:
  • Female: 30 or over within the relevant academic year (no upper age limit)
  • Resident within the SIGBI territory: Updating or acquiring skills after a career or learning break to improve employment opportunities.
  • Must be willing to submit a progress report at the end of the academic year:
    • Aiming to complete a vocational course/training
    • Have no financial support from their immediate families
    • Disadvantaged in some way e.g. physical/medical needs, Special Educational Needs, Disability, Trauma, Financial challenges
    • Wishing to progress in a STEM career or male orientated field
    • Interested in working with a mentor during the academic year
    • Interested in joining a local Soroptimist club for a defined period.

Ineligibility Criteria

• They do not accept applications for grants towards Masters, PhD’s or similar.

For more information, visit SIGBI.