More than 73,000 Uruguayans received scholarships from the Solidarity Fund
Since its creation in 1994, the Solidarity Fund has awarded more than 175,000 scholarships to low-income young people to pursue and continue tertiary studies. One in five graduates received a grant at some point in their career.
The Minister of Education and Culture, Pablo da Silveira, said that the effect of the tool is “immensely favourable in terms of equal opportunities” in access to education.
Last week, the 30th anniversary of the Solidarity Fund was celebrated in the Vaz Ferreira room of the National Library. The meeting was attended by the president of the organization, Rosario Cerviño; the rector of the University of the Republic (UDELAR), Rodrigo Arim; the general director of Technical Professional Education (DGETP-UTU), Juan Pereyra, and the counselor of the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC), Graciela Do Mato.
The Solidarity Fund enables low-income youth to pursue and continue tertiary studies through the professional management of a scholarship system, Cerviño explained.
It is the institution that grants the most subsidies in the country and is based on intergenerational solidarity, since it is supported by the contributions of graduates.
To date, it has awarded more than 175,000 scholarships to more than 73,000 young people from all over the country. Cerviño explained that 92% of the beneficiaries are the first generation to access tertiary education in their family and that one in five graduates received support at some point in their career.
The number of users has been increasing. Initially, support was provided to around 2,000 students, and by 2024, more than 9,000 young people had entered or continued their studies with support from the Fund, he added.
Minister da Silveira stressed the value of this tool to provide opportunities. While free education is an important benefit, in many cases it is not enough for someone to be able to study, he explained. For those who are in a situation of economic weakness, free education does not remove all the barriers, he said, adding: “The Solidarity Fund comes to fill this gap.”
Currently, the scholarship is 12,354 pesos per month and is aimed at those studying at UDELAR, UTEC and tertiary courses at UTU. Registration for next year will begin in November 2024 and will run until February 28, 2025. Those interested must start the application process on the organization’s website.
