New AUA Mosaic Scholarship Aims to Make Volunteering in the Muslim World Possible for More Americans

March 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Washington, D.C. – March 18, 2011– Today, Creative Learning announced the launch of the America’s Unofficial Ambassadors (AUA) Mosaic Scholarship program, an initiative specifically designed to make volunteering abroad more accessible to a wide range of Americans. AUA Mosaic scholarships will support outstanding and under-represented volunteers who seek to partner with local leaders and citizens across the Muslim World to address human development challenges in education, health, community needs, and civil society.

A 2010 study at Washington University in Saint Louis showed that 88% of Americans who volunteered abroad in 2008 were Caucasian and that 70 percent of international volunteers came from households earning more than $50,000 per year. A similar study showed that persons with disabilities as well as members of the LGBT community were dramatically underrepresented. In an effort to expand the profile of Americans who volunteer abroad, AUA Mosaic Scholarships will provide financial support to outstanding volunteers who represent the diversity of America.

AUA Project Director Benjamin Orbach explained, “The AUA Mosaic Scholarship program will not only increase the number of Americans volunteering in development in the Muslim World, but make the valuable experience of volunteering overseas and representing America accessible to more Americans.” Orbach continued, “At the same time, one of the things that people in other countries appreciate most about America is our diversity. It is a demonstration of the strengths of our society to have as many different representatives of America out in the world partnering with local leaders on their development initiatives.”  

The AUA Mosaic Scholarship is available to American volunteers who commit to serving in a Muslim-majority country through an organization listed in the AUA Directory of Recommended Organizations. Scholarships with AUA Directory-listed organizations will cover $2000 - $5,000 in program fees and/or travel costs. Volunteer service can range from building houses in Mali, to working in an orphanage in Indonesia, to teaching girls English in Morocco. The AUA Directory is the premiere resource for Americans to identify short-term volunteer opportunities in development that build people-to-people partnerships in Muslim-majority countries. It can be found, free of charge, at: www.unofficialambassadors.com.Full details and applications for the AUA Mosaic Scholarship are available at http://unofficialambassadors.com/get-involved/aua-mosaic-....  

Creative Learning’s President, Bill Kruvant notes that, “We at AUA are convinced that the deep distrust and misunderstanding between the Muslim World and America can be alleviated by Americans’ personal service ‘over there.’  Nothing shows our sincerity better than proving our desire for better relationships through deeds, not just words.”

Background on the AUA Initiative at Creative Learning
The AUA initiative at Creative Learning aims to increase American volunteerism in the Muslim World. By December 2012, the AUA program aims to encourage 1000 Americans to commit to at least a week of service in the Muslim World. Creative Learning is a Washington DC-based 501(c) (3), not-for-profit organization that enhances the capacity of local organizations around the world to improve the lives of people in their communities. Through the creation of people-to-people partnerships, Creative Learning is especially dedicated to protecting human rights, supporting economic and social development, and building peace.

Consistent with the program’s theme that American citizens should do more to make a difference, AUA is a citizen-funded initiative that does not seek government funding. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tracy Key at Tracykeyevents@aol.com.