Middle/Basic school is where most of our current Deep Roots scholars are matriculating. We have programs in Guatemala, Namibia, Nepal, and Zambia, the four countries we operate in as of 2004.

GUATEMALA

• Middle school students are covered under the Future Leaders of the 21st Century Scholarship program.
• Guatemalan B·sico or Middle School covers the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grades.
• Selection process for the Future Leaders of the 21st Century occurs in October, where students are selected based upon interviews, tests, and grades.
• Criteria for scholar selection focuses less on theoretical qualifications in order to account for the varying level of education that students receive throughout Chisec's disparate rural communities where some children will be taught by a teacher with a 6th grade education for their entire primary school education. Instead, it is hoped that the selection is based upon the interview and thoroughobservation of the group process in order to better understand a student's talent as a leader and community member.
• Middle School students are required to attend a monthly meeting on the first Sunday of each month in order to receive their monthly tuition fees and attend a one to two hour long workshop on various topics that SANK (Deep Roots' in-country partner) believes will benefit their educational development and enhance their role as a community leader Past and present topics have addressed, among other issues: self-esteem, study techniques, environmental and cultural conservation, gender, the importance of team work, and human rights.
• There is a 3-strikes-you-are-out policy regarding attendance to workshop meetings.
• Students are required to submit their grades and they must finish the year with an average above 75% (Guatemalan Middle Schools tend to grade low so a 75% is not easy). Should they fail to reach this average or turn in their grades at the end of the academic year their scholarship will be denied for the coming year. If this happens these students are, however, allowed to reapply the following year.

NAMIBIA

• In Namibia, middle school is referred to as "junior secondary school" and includes grades 8 through 10. We start funding students in grade 10.
• The scholarships students receive help to pay for school, hostel and exam fees. Participants in the Girls' Scholarship Program (our college-prep program) additionally receive mentoring, tutoring, and assistance with other expenses, such as books and supplies.
• Applicants submit a completed application which includes:
  • two recommendations
  • grade report for the previous year
  • one essay about why they cannot afford their school fees
  • one essay about what they want to do with their education.
• Selection is based on need and academic performance and in-country volunteer recommendations. We rely on volunteers to vouch for the character of the learners since Deep Roots is not able to do a personal interview.
• Once the applicant is accepted as a Deep Roots scholar, he or she will be funded through the remainder of her/his schooling (up to grade 12). All students must achieve a "D" symbol overall to qualify for the scholarship each year. In order to qualify for the Girls' Scholarship Program, students must achieve a "B" average.
• Scholars must submit a renewal form annually which includes:
  • a most recent grade report
  • an essay about how Deep Roots has affected his or her life
  • a photo if possible.

NEPAL

• Deep Roots Nepal's rural student scholarships were awarded to 24 students in grades 5 - 10 in 2004, half of which are rural scholarship students and half come from the Morning Star Orphanage
• Of our rural scholarship recipients, the grade breakdown this year was:
  • 6th grade - 2 students
  • 7th grade - 3 students
  • 8th grade - 3 students
  • 9th grade - 4 students
• Scholarships are for 2,000 Nepali Rupees per year (around $27). School costs do not vary significantly from grade to grade between grades 5 and 10. This amount was chosen based on our own experience, talks with other teachers in Nepal, and responses to the "needs" questions on our application.
• Schools are contacted at the end of each year to confirm that each scholar has attended school the prior year and successfully completed his/her course.

ZAMBIA

• The Deep Roots Zambia program facilitates direct and constant contact between a sponsor and a scholarship student for as long as she sponsors the student
• Middle school, more commonly called Basic School, covers 8th and 9th grades.
• Fees for Basic School sponsorships are $78 and pay for school and exam fees, school supplies, uniforms, counseling through home visits, and correspondence with the sponsor. New scholars also receive a goat as an income generating project to cover future costs.
• School reports are actively collected by DAPP (Deep Roots' in-country partner) in Zambia.
• Sponsor-child communication is maintained with exchange of letters, school reports, photos, and drawings.
• Basic Schools exist within the village where students live so students do not have to travel far and leave their families behind to study.