Romeo Dallaire Award Fund

The Romeo Dallaire Award Fund provides full tuition, books and living expenses for qualified sub-Saharan African students wishing to study the English language at Lewis & Clark College for one academic year. Students will enroll in classes with students from around the world at the Academic English Studies program.

Rafiki Gasarasi is Lewis & Clark's third Dallaire Scholarship recipient in 2008-09. As a youth, Rafiki and his family were arrested due to political reasons in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and detained there for over ten months due to tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. Later, in Rwanda, he became a member of Youth Crime Watch of Rwanda. During his university studies in Rwanda, Rafiki studied HIV/AIDS issues, and hopes to continue that work as well as human rights issues upon his return to his home country. Rafiki is presently on campus at Lewis & Clark, excelling in his academic endeavors and improving his English language skills. He is known for contributing his perspectives and insights in the classroom and during campus-wide activities such as the Human Rights Awareness Day event. Rafiki has also begun to investigate possibilities for volunteer work and, as a result of the stronger English language skills he has gained at L&C, he is taking greater advantage of opportunities for personal growth and service to the community.

How You Can Help

Many students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are committed to the Romeo Dallaire Award Fund. The primary goal is to permanently endow a scholarship that will provide for one African student to study English at Lewis & Clark for one academic year; an endowment of $200,000 will accomplish this.

Since tuition and residence hall accomodations will be waived by Lewis & Clark and Bon Appetit food services has generously offered a meal plan -- 100% of donations to this scholarship will be used to cover transportation, books and supplies for the student.

To make a gift, please give online or contact:

Rebecca Holt '01
Senior Development Officer
503-768-7943
rebeccah@lclark.edu

Advisory Committee:

Mark Duntley
Michael Ford
Joann Geddes
Karena Norton '09
Rich Peck
Erin Schreur '09
Dell Smith

Ex Officio Members:

Alina Dumitrasc '06
Michael Graham '06
Leah Hazard '07
Ashley Smith '06