Mission:
As an integral part of the International Oromo Youth Association’s (I.O.Y.A.) mission, the Odaa Scholar Foundation (O.S.F) project was initiated to promote the development of Oromo Studies in general and Afaan Oromoo in particular by giving selected scholars access to resources. The OSF is co-sponsored by the I.O.Y.A and the Oliqaa Foundation. The project targets young scholars in Oromia who show exceptional promise of advancing scholarship in Afaan Oromoo and other fields of Oromo Studies in Oromia.

The OSF provides two awards: Undergraduate Fellowships and Graduate Research Grants Awards

Graduate Research Grants: the OSF graduate research grants provide annual competitive supplemental grants for up to 10 graduate students after a rigorous selection and nomination process. A recipient of the award will carry the title “Odaa Fellow/Scholar”.

Eligible Graduate Students are those who are writing thesis in fields such as Language and Linguistics, Lexicography, Literature, History, Religion, Culture, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology and Social Anthropology. However, the graduate applicant must make a clear and compelling case for his/her thesis research having a direct bearing on Oromo issues.

Undergraduate Fellowships: the OSF Undergraduate Fellowship targets young scholars in Oromia who show exceptional promise of advancing scholarship in Afaan Oromoo. Therefore, eligible Undergraduate students are those majoring in Oromo Language and Literature and with good academic standing. Up to 10 awardees will receive stipend for duration of two years; however, former recipients are eligible to re-apply de novo. Recipients of the award will carry the title “Odaa Scholars”.

Application packets for the 2008-09 academic year will be available in January 2008