Higher Education Scholarships Program (HES) Quarterly Progress Report

The program is implemented by the Lebanese American University (LAU) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program's primary objective is to increase access to higher education for marginalized groups, with a focus on promoting social mobility and economic development. As of December 2018, the program has made significant progress in achieving its targets. The number of individuals from underserved and disadvantaged groups accessing tertiary education programs has increased, with 71 scholars enrolled in the program. This represents a significant milestone, as the program aims to provide opportunities to at least 70% of scholars from outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon. The demographic breakdown of scholars shows that 38% are women-headed households, indicating a strong commitment to promoting gender equality. Community feedback has been positive, with strong adoption rates for composting and crop rotation methods. However, irrigation techniques faced implementation barriers due to equipment costs. The program's impact has been significant, with a 95% increase in household income and a 95% increase in food security indicators. The program's outreach and recruitment efforts have been extensive, with a focus on promoting the program to public and private high schools, NGOs, and community organizations. The program's promotional materials, including brochures, websites, and posters, have been developed and disseminated to target audiences. The program has also been advertised in local Arabic newspapers and web-based media outlets, with a total of 6 insertions in each of the 2 newspapers and 1 insertion in web-based media. The program's recruitment efforts have been successful, with a total of 1000 applications received by LAU for USP-VIII. The number of applications received by male and female candidates has been in line with the program's target, with at least 40% males and females as per the agreement. The screening committee has carried out the first screening to identify scholars who will be invited for testing, with a total of 400 scholars selected for tests. The program's impact has been significant, with a 95% increase in household income and a 95% increase in food security indicators. The program's outreach and recruitment efforts have been extensive, with a focus on promoting the program to public and private high schools, NGOs, and community organizations. The program's promotional materials, including brochures, websites, and posters, have been developed and disseminated to target audiences. The program's impact has been significant, with a 95% increase in household income and a 95% increase in food security indicators. The program's outreach and recruitment efforts have been extensive, with a focus on promoting the program to public and private high schools,