Pan-African Ahmadiyya Muslim Association  Educational Assistance Program

GUIDELINES FOR PAN-AFRICAN AHMADIYYA MUSLIM ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

This program offers scholarships to support higher education for African American, African and Caribbean Ahmadi Students. There are two named categories, the Munir Hamid scholarship and The Al Hajj Dr. Muzaffar A. Zafr scholarships. These scholarships and financial grants are targeted towards students who are pursuing specialized training, vocational programs, certificates, and  degrees beyond high school. PanAfrican Ahmadi Muslim students in training programs, community college, traditional four-year undergraduates and graduate students are eligible to apply. You will get selected for scholarship if you reach the desired criteria.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

For the purpose of this scholarship, applicants need to submit a personal statement on any one of the 5 topics given below. This helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and a student. This personal statement is in addition to courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. The personal statement is also an important documentation of your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.

PERSONAL STATEMENT SELECTION TOPICS

  1. Describe a person who has had a significant influence on you, and discuss that influence.
  2. Discuss an issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
  3. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
  4. Describe a character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
  5. Describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrates the importance of diversity to you.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The applicant must be

  1. An African American, Caribbean or African  Ahmadi Muslim with a USA Jama’at member code
  2. The application requires a comment from the local Jama’at chapter President and should therefore be in good standing.
  3. Prospective or current student in a certificate, degree or other credentialed program in an accredited training program, community college or university
  4. Graduate and/or doctoral students are eligible on a case by case basis

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Submit a completed online application before the due date.
  2. All sections must be filled appropriately and completely.
  3. Upload scanned copies of all the documents
  4. Upload proof of acceptance to an educational institution. This can be in the form of acceptance letter or current class registration schedule showing name or student number.
  5. Upload financial statements from the intended college or FAFSA, delineating grants or loans being received by the applicant.
  6. Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s).
  7. Upload scanned copy of SAT/ACT/GRE score, (or other standardized test) as applicable. If necessary, the committee may require the official results from the testing authority.
  8. Upload the latest, updated resume.
  9. Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.
  10. Upload personal statements on any of the 5 topics listed above.

IMPORTANT DATES

Type Activity Description Internal Date External Date
Paama Policy/Process Messaging to local secretaries (Announce all applications Open/Close dates) 2/15/2025
Open application portal 3/11/2025
Close application portal 6/30/2025
Collect President’s feedback N/A
Decisions emailed to applicants 6/30/2025
Checks Issued by Accounting (Muhasib) 7/30/2025

 

LATE APPLICATIONS

If your application is late, we will consider it after the decision is made on applications received on time, and if there are any funds remaining. The following are required for late applications to be considered:

  1. A letter by the applicant explaining why the application was not made on time. This should refer to any unforeseen circumstances that may have arisen.
  2. An assessment of the exact amount you need to complete your remaining year.

REVIEW PROCESS

Applications are evaluated based on a standard award evaluation checklist. Applications will be scored based on merit, income, financial need and the quality of the personal statement. Comments from the local Jama’at chapter President or other officials will also be considered in the application process.

AWARD PROCESS

The application requires that applicants provide an address and contact to whom checks can be sent. In most cases checks will be sent to educational institutions. In a limited number of cases checks will be sent directly to the applicant at his/her official mailing address.

To avoid delay applicants should ensure that all of the information they provide is accurate and current. 

Before applying, please review the short training videos for portal login registration and the Talent Award application.