The RLSP program is designed around six
basic goals, developed after a year-long
best practices study conducted at the
Boston College Center for Human Rights
and International Justice:

The RLSP relies on the help of a carefully chosen local consultant, experienced in the field of female education, who serves as an invaluable resource for the students and their families.  A member of the same minority group as the scholars themselves, she visits the village regularly and meets with the students individually, as well as their parents and teachers.  She provides feedback to the RLSP board which is then used to adjust program design.  She also helps verify that scholarship funds are actually being spent on education expenses, and whether those funds are indeed sufficient or excessive.

Students are only selected if their parents support their participation.  Although it can be tempting to award scholarships to girls whose parents do not appreciate their academic potential, doing so can generate ill will from the family and from other villagers. Ultimately, the program risks losing the support of the community, and the entire effort is sabotaged. Conversely, if all participating families support the program enthusiastically, the program’s position in the community will be secure and any negative responses from skeptical villagers are met with positive feedback, or at worst, fall on deaf ears.

Where markets operate on the barter system (without receipts), the best accounting practices are are as simple as possible. The RLSP’s small scale and direct involvement in the community allow us to estimate the costs of items we cover by simply looking in local shops. Scholars keep ledgers of their purchases which they submit at the end of each semester.  During visits to the students’ homes throughout the year, our administrator confirms that each girl has received the books, clothing and supplies that were budgeted, and reports to the board any concerns she has about inappropriate spending or insufficient funds.

Applicants are evaluated on four criteria:
     1.  Academic record
     2.  Financial need
     3.  Attitude
     4.  Parental support

To get information about these factors, we collect grades, a teacher recommendation, and parental statement, and a questionnaire for the student including open ended questions about her educational experience and goals.  Our local administrator also visits each applicant’s home, to speak with the parents and to gauge the family’s financial condition.

We track basic indicators throughout the year so that the RLSP board can revise the overall program design from year to year.  But we also maintain weekly contact with our local administrator, learning about the day-to-day activities of the students we support, and of their families.  This allows us to respond to scholars’ needs and begin problem solving in the immediate term while planning for the next year. 

RLSP efforts are taken with the utmost respect for local norms. We do not require that students go to college or get a job; if a graduate decides to fill the traditional female role in her household, she will be better equipped to do so having gone to high school. Other private scholarship programs require attendance at madrasa, or some other religious adherence in connection with funding.  We require only that our students go to school, and that their families support them in that effort.