{"id":129936,"date":"2021-09-02T12:23:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T10:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=129936"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:49","slug":"why-a-c-grade-student-can-be-a-better-candidate-for-a-scholarship-than-a-straight-a-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/09\/02\/why-a-c-grade-student-can-be-a-better-candidate-for-a-scholarship-than-a-straight-a-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Why a C-grade student can be a better candidate for a scholarship than a straight-A student"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why are most scholarship funds always focusing on excellent, A-grade students? Two weeks ago, Ginie Servant-Miklos (senior lecturer at Erasmus University College) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/08\/09\/the-scholarship-system-is-broken-heres-how-we-fix-it\/\">argued on this site<\/a> that those funds should change their criteria. In many cases, a scholarship for underprivileged students passing their exams with a D or C can be a much better investment. Servant-Miklos mentioned Zimbabwean student Tinashe as an example of a student \u2018that would exponentially power up the impact of a scholarship\u2019 and who was, in her eyes, wrongfully rejected.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-1600x900.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-1600x900.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-300x169.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-875x492.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-150x84.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9-225x127.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 225w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>For her safety, no photos of Tinashe are shown. Instead, we show her artwork in which she expresses her feelings during the described events.<\/span><\/p> <p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Tinashe<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-lg md:text-xl\">Read the opinion article by Ginie Servant-Miklos<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-violet  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 641w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos-300x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos-150x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos-100x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 100w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos-600x600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/09112342\/ginie-servant-miklos-225x225.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139251 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/08\/09\/the-scholarship-system-is-broken-heres-how-we-fix-it\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tThe scholarship system is broken: here\u2019s how we fix it\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2021-08-09\">9 August 2021<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tOpinion\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>After reading the article, I thought I understood why an underprivileged Zimbabwean student from a township would be the better choice for a scholarship than a more privileged one. Poverty came to mind, lack of access to libraries or books, perhaps a dysfunctional family. Tinashe\u2019s story is much more complex than that. The odds were stacked against her in more ways than I could\u2019ve imagined. It\u2019s a story about abuse, sacrifice, financial hardship, risky border crossings but also about karate, bravery and perseverance.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beverly Hills of Zimbabwe<\/h2><p>Tinashe, now 23, is calling me from her office. She recently landed her first official job, as an administrative assistant at a private school in what she calls \u2018the Beverly Hills of Zimbabwe\u2019. The rich kids\u2019 school doesn\u2019t pay a lot. \u201cI can pay the rent and buy food, but that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She grew up in a mission in Murewa, a township seventy kilometres east of Zimbabwe\u2019s capital, Harare. Her father was a teacher in the mission. From a young age, she wanted to do karate. First, for fun. Later, \u2018to protect myself and my mom from my father\u2019. Her high school offered a karate class, funded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairfight.nl\/\">FairFight<\/a>, an NGO founded by Servant-Miklos and EUC colleague Alexander Whitcomb in 2015. It changed Tinashe\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Safe place<\/h2><p>Karate means so much to me. At home, I didn\u2019t have peace. I was always afraid to say something and be shouted at or beaten. I honestly didn\u2019t understand exactly what family meant, until I joined karate. We really looked after each other. I suddenly had a safe place where I could be myself and didn\u2019t have to hide in some corner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She initially hid karate from her father, who, like many Zimbabwean parents, viewed martial arts for women with extreme suspicion. Tinashe says: \u201cHe didn\u2019t want me to do any sporting activity, as it could distract me from my schoolwork.\u201d But soon, Tinashe could no longer hide it. After only six months of training, she participated in a national tournament in Harare, and won gold in the <em>Kumite<\/em> (sparring) category. She was selected for the national team to compete in international tournaments. In 2017, she won a bronze medal at the All Africa Games Zone 6 tournament, and in 2018 two gold medals at the Kofukan Tri-Nations tournament in Durban, South Africa. Because of her success, she was able to keep training in Harare, live with her sister and avoid her father for a while.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trouble at home<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018I still don\u2019t know where I found the strength. He\u2019s very big and I\u2019m tiny. He lost two teeth. I dragged my mom out of there and we ran away\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>After graduating from high school, she applied to study Public Administration at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. A deep sigh: \u201cThat\u2019s when all the trouble started.\u201d In Zimbabwe, high school ends in December and university starts in August the following year: \u201cSo you have to wait for more than half a year before you can start uni.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It meant she had to return home and live with her parents and brother in a small house. \u201cIt was really, <em>really<\/em> bad. Every argument, even in another room, I could hear it. My dad was very abusive towards my mom. And as a kid, you don\u2019t want to get involved, but you\u2019re just there when everything happens. I heard my dad say he found a \u2018better woman\u2019, and call my mom \u2018a weak person\u2019 for being ill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The situation escalated to the point where her father stopped bringing food home. \u201cMy mom and I worked as maids, so we could buy food. And my mom would still cook for him and try to persuade him not to leave. But my dad never changed. One day, I saw him hit my mom. I asked him why he did that, and he said: \u2018Because she is weak.\u2019 That made me so very angry that I hit him. I still don\u2019t know where I found the strength. He\u2019s very big and I\u2019m tiny. He lost two teeth. I dragged my mom out of there and we ran away.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fish business in South Africa<\/h2><p>Tinashe is still very proud of that moment, but it also created a lot of trouble for her, especially financially. She asked him for forgiveness (\u2018I didn\u2019t mean it, but I really wanted him to pay for my tuition fees\u2019). He fobbed her off and even suggested that she should prostitute herself to pay for university. \u201cThen I thought I really had to take matters into my own hands. I couldn\u2019t just sit down and give up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She moved in with her aunt in South Africa, the southern neighbour of Zimbabwe. \u201cShe gave me money to start a fish business. I would wake up every morning at 3:00, go to the forest, find firewood, make a fire, clean my fish, dip it in flour, spices and oil and fry it. Then I would go to the nearest village and sell the fried fish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In two months, she raised enough money for her tuition fee for the first semester of university. \u201cI came back to Zimbabwe, paid my fees, but I didn\u2019t have a place to stay. So I went to my sister\u2019s, but that meant I had to walk twenty-five kilometres from home to lectures every day, and back. That was very difficult.\u201d Her sister only served her one meal per day, in the evening. To buy more food, Tinashe had to work as a maid at the weekends.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helping a student in a wheelchair<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018I had to do whatever this student wanted because otherwise he would drop me and I\u2019d be desperate\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>\u201cBut that didn\u2019t get me enough money for anything, really. Then I heard about a program at uni where you could help students with a disability, and uni would pay for your accommodation and three meals per day.\u201d She obtained a position as a disability-support assistant for a student in a wheelchair. \u201cYou should know that the University of Zimbabwe is built on a hill. So I was pushing a person up who weighs about 100 kilograms. And later I had to go down again, so I would let go of the wheelchair and make sure he didn\u2019t bump into anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She had to sacrifice most of her social and academic time for this student. \u201cI had to be with him all the time, except for when he was sleeping. I also had to clean his room, do his laundry, help with assignments, go with him to church. I had to do whatever he wanted because otherwise he would drop me and I\u2019d be desperate. That did take a toll on me to the point where I failed two modules in my first semester.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FairFight<\/h2><div data-component=core\/image><figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69ead79800df1&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69ead79800df1\" class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"255\" height=\"300\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-255x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-255x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 255w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-743x875.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 743w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-1087x1280.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 1087w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-1359x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 1359w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-127x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 127w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px-225x265.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 225w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02112357\/tinashe-vrouw-2-2000px.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256 1699w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 255px) 100vw, 255px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>In this artwork, Tinashe wants to show the strength of African women.<\/span><\/p> <p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Tinashe<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Meanwhile, her mother\u2019s health deteriorated, with only the children to look after her and pay her medical expenses. That\u2019s when she reached out to FairFight, the NGO of Servant-Miklos. \u201cThey offered to help. It meant I could quit living with this student, concentrate on academic work, and braid people\u2019s hair or do maid work to raise extra money for food and my mom. Thanks to FairFight, I also had a mentor, a laptop and a phone. My grades improved and I passed most of my courses, but it was difficult: academia is a whole new world for someone like me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Things were on a roll. \u201cUntil 2020, when Covid-19 struck.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Borders closed<\/h2><p>\u201cAll sorts of income opportunities closed. And I still had to support my mom. She wasn\u2019t in a good place; she has serious mental health issues. As lockdowns were declared and border closures came into effect, I discussed with my mentor that it would be better to ride out the lockdowns in South Africa, where I could get a job, and where I would have enough internet for remote learning. I got on the last bus to South Africa before the border closed. It was 23:30 when I got to the border, with enormous lines of people waiting to get in and 30 minutes left before closure. I made it, but had to sleep the night in a kind of refugee camp with other women on the other side of the border. The next morning, I undertook the long and dangerous trip to where my aunt lives.\u201d Once there, she found a manual labour job at a shop and was able to attend to her schoolwork remotely. Things worked well for a couple of months, but then, \u2018out of the blue, the university announced that we had to return to Zimbabwe for the exams\u2019. With closed borders and mandatory quarantine in government facilities for those who did return, there was no way she could be in Harare in time for the exams if she followed official procedures.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Film material<\/h2><p>There was no easy solution, but missing the exams would have meant failing the entire year. For her own safety, the details of this part of her story have been omitted for now, but suffice to say that they would make good film material. In the end, she took very serious risks, but she made it to her exams, and passed all of them with B and C grades.<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Servant-Miklos helped Tinashe apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship for a master\u2019s programme in Educational Governance. \u201cIn Zimbabwe, people listen to graduates from European universities, so a master\u2019s would be a great way to get the educational system in Zimbabwe to change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Education is relatively expensive in Zimbabwe, even more so during Covid, when hyperinflation keeps devaluing people\u2019s earnings while the cost of remote learning keeps increasing. \u201cStudents have to pay data bundles of 5 dollars per hour for Zoom classes.\u201d The average salary of a teacher is about 250 dollars a month. \u201cEven they can\u2019t afford to pay for classes for their children. That\u2019s why I want the scholarship. Not just for me but also to change education in Zimbabwe. I want to try and influence the minds of the people in Zimbabwe to look at the position of the underprivileged people and offer them affordable education, if not free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\tI want to try and influence the minds of the people in Zimbabwe to look at the position of the underprivileged people and offer them affordable education, if not free\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New hope in Estonia<\/h2><p>The scholarship application was rejected, but there\u2019s still hope. Tinashe might be able to go to Estonia now and do a master\u2019s there, with financial support from a private donor. \u201cMy uncle lives there, and he\u2019s always been one of the few people that reached out to me.\u201d For now, she\u2019s happy to be in a \u2018much better place than I\u2019ve been in the past five years\u2019. \u201cI have a degree, I have money, I have a home now. It\u2019s an ugly cabin, but it\u2019s a house.\u201d She can dream of a better future. \u201cI want to write books about my life. My mom\u2019s life. Life in Zimbabwe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/persons\" class=\"mt-6 md:mt-8 lg:mt-10\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4 md:gap-8 md:items-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"teaser-person\" class=\"relative flex gap-4 items-center md:gap-8\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"image:rounded-full image:size-20 image:aspect-square image:object-cover md:image:size-36 shrink-0\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-875x875.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-300x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1280x1280.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1536x1536.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Elmer-Smaling_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-2048x2048.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313247 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t<div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/elmer-smaling\/\" class=\"absolute-link font-tiempos-headline underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2 text-lg text-current\">Elmer Smaling<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"text-md\">Deputy editor-in-chief<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts\" class=\"alignfull py-6 md:py-8 lg:py-10 bg-white\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"container-fixed\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-xl md:text-2xl\">Latest news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"post-grid\" class=\"grid items-stretch grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8 text-zoom-lg:grid-cols-1\n\t\t\n\t\tlg:grid-cols-3\n\t\t\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/23\/gesprongen-waterleiding-zorgt-voor-nodige-problemen-op-de-campus\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tBurst water pipe causes considerable problems on campus\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-23\">23 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/IMG_6002-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776958636 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/23\/gesprongen-waterleiding-zorgt-voor-nodige-problemen-op-de-campus\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tBurst water pipe causes considerable problems on campus\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-23\">23 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-mocha hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"@xl:hidden absolute -bottom-9 @md:-bottom-12 right-0 bg-brown text-white aspect-square size-9 block-theme-violet:bg-purple grid place-content-center @md:size-12 svg:size-4 @md:svg:size-6 @xl:svg:size-6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"18\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M17.25 9.99998C17.2506 10.2546 17.1853 10.5051 17.0605 10.727C16.9356 10.949 16.7555 11.1348 16.5375 11.2665L3.03 19.5297C2.80227 19.6691 2.54144 19.7452 2.27445 19.7502C2.00746 19.7551 1.74399 19.6887 1.51125 19.5578C1.28073 19.4289 1.0887 19.2409 0.954904 19.0132C0.821111 18.7855 0.750385 18.5263 0.75 18.2622V1.73779C0.750385 1.47368 0.821111 1.21445 0.954904 0.986734C1.0887 0.759022 1.28073 0.571057 1.51125 0.442167C1.74399 0.311244 2.00746 0.244825 2.27445 0.249769C2.54144 0.254713 2.80227 0.330842 3.03 0.470292L16.5375 8.73342C16.7555 8.86511 16.9356 9.05097 17.0605 9.27291C17.1853 9.49485 17.2506 9.74533 17.25 9.99998Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 pr-11 @md:pr-12 @xl:pr-12\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/23\/oude-boeken-krijgen-een-nieuw-leven-een-kijkje-in-het-poetspaleis\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tOld books get a new lease of life: a look inside the poetspaleis\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-23\">23 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEM TV\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Article type: Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"hidden @xl:grid absolute top-0 right-0 bg-brown text-white aspect-square block-theme-violet:bg-purple place-content-center size-12 svg:size-6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"18\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M17.25 9.99998C17.2506 10.2546 17.1853 10.5051 17.0605 10.727C16.9356 10.949 16.7555 11.1348 16.5375 11.2665L3.03 19.5297C2.80227 19.6691 2.54144 19.7452 2.27445 19.7502C2.00746 19.7551 1.74399 19.6887 1.51125 19.5578C1.28073 19.4289 1.0887 19.2409 0.954904 19.0132C0.821111 18.7855 0.750385 18.5263 0.75 18.2622V1.73779C0.750385 1.47368 0.821111 1.21445 0.954904 0.986734C1.0887 0.759022 1.28073 0.571057 1.51125 0.442167C1.74399 0.311244 2.00746 0.244825 2.27445 0.249769C2.54144 0.254713 2.80227 0.330842 3.03 0.470292L16.5375 8.73342C16.7555 8.86511 16.9356 9.05097 17.0605 9.27291C17.1853 9.49485 17.2506 9.74533 17.25 9.99998Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-mocha lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/20260422_report_bookrestoration_Poetspaleis_Thumbnail_LarisaWedel-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776933770 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 pr-11 @md:pr-12 @lg:pr-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/23\/oude-boeken-krijgen-een-nieuw-leven-een-kijkje-in-het-poetspaleis\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tOld books get a new lease of life: a look inside the poetspaleis\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-23\">23 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEM TV\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Article type: Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"absolute top-0 right-0 bg-brown text-white aspect-square size-9 block-theme-violet:bg-purple grid place-content-center @md:size-12 @lg:size-12 svg:size-4 @md:svg:size-6 @lg:svg:size-6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"18\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M17.25 9.99998C17.2506 10.2546 17.1853 10.5051 17.0605 10.727C16.9356 10.949 16.7555 11.1348 16.5375 11.2665L3.03 19.5297C2.80227 19.6691 2.54144 19.7452 2.27445 19.7502C2.00746 19.7551 1.74399 19.6887 1.51125 19.5578C1.28073 19.4289 1.0887 19.2409 0.954904 19.0132C0.821111 18.7855 0.750385 18.5263 0.75 18.2622V1.73779C0.750385 1.47368 0.821111 1.21445 0.954904 0.986734C1.0887 0.759022 1.28073 0.571057 1.51125 0.442167C1.74399 0.311244 2.00746 0.244825 2.27445 0.249769C2.54144 0.254713 2.80227 0.330842 3.03 0.470292L16.5375 8.73342C16.7555 8.86511 16.9356 9.05097 17.0605 9.27291C17.1853 9.49485 17.2506 9.74533 17.25 9.99998Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-violet hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/22\/hoe-het-voelt-als-je-taal-verdwijnt\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tHow it feels when your language disappears\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-22\">22 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tColumn\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-violet lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 2560w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-875x583.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-1600x1067.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-300x200.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-1280x854.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-1536x1024.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Ronald-van-Raak_foto1_columnist_jan2026_Geisje-van-der-Linden-2048x1366.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1770037856 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/22\/hoe-het-voelt-als-je-taal-verdwijnt\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tHow it feels when your language disappears\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-22\">22 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tColumn\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-right text-brown-600\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n<a\n\tdata-variant=\"outline\"\n\tdata-size=\"default\"\n\tclass=\"group inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer text-md font-soehne underline-offset-2 decoration-2 px-4 min-h-[3.75rem] border-2 border-current bg-transparent text-current font-bold hocus:underline w-full lg:w-auto\"\n\n\t\n\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-button-text class=\"\">\n\t\t\tAll articles\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" flex items-center justify-center w-[1em] h-[1em] icon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"20\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 17\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M18.25 7.5C18.8023 7.5 19.25 7.94772 19.25 8.5C19.25 9.05228 18.8023 9.5 18.25 9.5H1.75C1.19772 9.5 0.75 9.05228 0.75 8.5C0.75 7.94772 1.19772 7.5 1.75 7.5H18.25Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M10.793 1.04295C11.1835 0.65243 11.8165 0.65243 12.207 1.04295L18.957 7.79295C19.3476 8.18348 19.3476 8.81649 18.957 9.20702L12.207 15.957C11.8165 16.3475 11.1835 16.3475 10.793 15.957C10.4024 15.5665 10.4024 14.9335 10.793 14.543L16.8359 8.49999L10.793 2.45702C10.4024 2.06649 10.4024 1.43348 10.793 1.04295Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why are most scholarship funds always focusing on excellent, A-grade students? Two weeks ago, Ginie Servant-Miklos (senior lecturer at Erasmus University College) argued on this site that those funds should change their criteria. In many cases, a scholarship for underprivileged students passing their exams with a D or C can be a much better investment. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":129937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"em_content_type":[24778],"class_list":["post-129936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studentlife","em_content_type-nieuws"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why a C-grade student can be a better candidate for a scholarship than a straight-A student<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/09\/02\/why-a-c-grade-student-can-be-a-better-candidate-for-a-scholarship-than-a-straight-a-student\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why a C-grade student can be a better candidate for a scholarship than a straight-A student\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why are most scholarship funds always focusing on excellent, A-grade students? Two weeks ago, Ginie Servant-Miklos (senior lecturer at Erasmus University College) argued on this site that those funds should change their criteria. In many cases, a scholarship for underprivileged students passing their exams with a D or C can be a much better investment. [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/09\/02\/why-a-c-grade-student-can-be-a-better-candidate-for-a-scholarship-than-a-straight-a-student\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Erasmus Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ErasmusMagazineInternational\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-02T10:23:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-19T10:25:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/02110445\/tinashe-art-insta-EM16x9.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139256\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1125\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elmer Smaling\" \/>\n<meta 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