Support the Gertsch Scholarships
From the Endowment Agreement’s Preamble
Liana Gertsch was a graduate of Woodstock School In Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India, who spent her professional life working to promote educational reform for children in communities around the world.
After starting her career with the Bernard van Leer Foundation and Oxfam in the Netherlands, she decided to bring her talents closer to the regions where she could have the most impact. Liana spent 5 years at Save the Children in Bangladesh as Chief of Party, and another year in Malawi as Director of Programme Development and Quality.
Following her time with Save the Children, Liana continued her work at RTI International. She spent 3 years as Director of RTI in the Kyrgyz Republic, kicking off their education project Okuu Keremet!
Finally, Liana worked her last year as Chief of Party for RTI International in Liberia, where she sadly passed away as a result of meningitis. Liana cared greatly for her work and was happiest being submerged in the communities that she aided. Liana is survived by her sisters and three children, but her care for the world will be remembered by many.
Liana’s work provided access to education for young, poor children. This scholarship is intended to honour her life by contributing to that work in the Himalayan region that she loved.
The Liana Gertsch Memorial Scholarship at Kaplani is intended to honour Liana’s life by contributing to the work she loved.
It was originally established by classmates who knew her at the nearby Woodstock High School in the Himalayan foothills of India.
The Scholarship assists deserving young students with the cost of tuition and other expenses associated with attendance at the Kaplani School near Woodstock in the vicinity of Mussoorie in Uttarakhand, India.
Awards are based primarily on financial need, but with consideration also given to indications of strong character, a commitment to others, and academic aptitude
Donations to the Gertsch Fund are placed in a permanently restricted endowment and the Scholarships are financed from earnings from this Fund. A formal endowment agreement that details the Scholarship’s mechanisms, and the motivations of the original donors, is available upon request.
Contributions to this Fund are tax-deductible.
