An award of £750 is being made available by a Trust which aims to promote all aspects of Gaelic culture as well as education in and through the Gaelic language.
Urras Foghlam Dhòmhnaill Iain MhicAidh – The Donald John MacKay Educational Trust – offers an award to mark the outstanding contribution Donald John made to Gaelic and industrial development throughout the Highlands and Islands. The award is administered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal on behalf of the trust and the 2024 call for proposals is now open with a closing date of 1 November.
Donna Chisholm of Urras Dhòmhnaill Iain said: “We would encourage senior phase school pupils or students to think creatively about proposals to deliver one or more of the broad aims of the trust, which encompass a range of topics in which my father, Donald John MacKay, was interested or had an involvement. Proposals could augment work already being undertaken, perhaps as part of a course or school studies, or aim to deliver something completely new. The application process is as straightforward as possible, with just a few questions to answer, and we hope the award will support the successful applicant’s studies or entrepreneurship.”
The competition is open to individual pupils in senior phase secondary education – S5 or S6 – and individual students in Scotland, in full-time or part-time study, at further or higher education level or working towards a doctorate. Although the award will be made to an individual, recipients may involve others in any project or research. Proposals will be assessed by a panel including a representative of the MacKay family, at least one trustee, a representative of Fèisean nan Gàidheal and up to two other individuals invited by the trust.
The successful proposal will be published on Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s website with a copy of any work undertaken retained by the organisation, as well as in the library at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, for archival and research purposes. Where possible, the trustees may support further development of successful work delivered with the award. Further information, guidelines and an application form are available at www.feisean.org/djmt/.
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For further information about the competition, please contact Arthur Cormack at Fèisean nan Gàidheal on 01478 613355/07702 674143 or arthur@feisean.scot.