Rationale

Rationale seeks to improve access to education for youth by building community-driven scholarship programs and supporting collaborative research projects.

Our scholarship programs are built by providing direct scholarships for secondary and university students while simultaneously investing in community-run projects. These projects provide training and experiential learning for students while also generating income to provide additional scholarships. Our collaborative research projects encourage youth to 'own' their own representations and those of

their communities, to become active producers of knowledge, and to take part in larger, global conversations that directly affect their livelihoods. Rationale takes a holistic approach to education by directly supporting students in the classroom while also establishing a foundation from which the community’s future leaders can gain valuable skills.

12/20/2019

A very heartfelt thanks to all of you who were able to attend our fundraiser at IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge on Wednesday night! We're very happy to announce we raised $1,115 in Chicago which, paired with the $500 we raised in Boston three weeks ago, will cover most of the remaining costs for Gloria's final year in her Degree in Nursing! None of this would have been possible without your help, and there's still time to make an end-of-year donation to help us finish raising the remaining funds. More updates to come!

12/18/2019

TONIGHT we gather for our annual fundraiser at IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge: Rationale Annual 2019 Fundraiser. Tickets are available in advance or at the door and include two Tito's cocktails, light appetizers, and a complementary raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes. As always, 100% of funds donated go to university scholarships, mentorship, and collaborative research. We couldn't do this without you and can't wait to see you tonight!

12/11/2019

In just one week from today we will hold our annual Chicago fundraiser! This year's event will be a happy hour at IO Godfrey which includes two complementary drink coupons at the door along with light appetizers and a free raffle ticket. All funds raised will go to covering educational costs for our current University student and our reserve fund for future scholarships and collaborative research. Advance tickets available now! Full details here: Rationale Annual 2019 Fundraiser. Looking forward to seeing you there!

11/13/2018

A very happy (belated) birthday to Rationale scholar Piloya Emily! Sunday she celebrated a special birthday along with a great surprise: two jobs! Emily has been hired by the Ministry of Health at a government health facility and, in the month leading to that placement, will work assisting at a pharmacy here in Gulu. Congratulations to Emily and happy birthday!

01/20/2018

Rationale had a lovely day today with Emily celebrating her sister's wedding in Lamogi. Congratulations, Susan!

12/31/2017

2017 was a momentous year for Rationale: two of our scholars completed their programs, one accepted a new job at a reputable clinic in town, and one is entering her final semester of university. Next year, we will launch of our first collaborative research project and, with your support, enroll one additional scholar into our educational program. Will you consider contributing to our 2018 fund as part of your end-of-year giving? Donate today as we continue partnering with young people in northern Uganda to open up new pathways to educational transformation! (And read our year-in-review in the comments below.)

12/18/2017

Thanks to everyone who made it to Rationale End of the Year Fundraising Dinner last night! It was a great success and we had a wonderful evening sharing our latest work with a group of people we are honored to call friends and supporters. Keep a look out for a full update coming soon but for now, our sincerest thanks for your ongoing support for education and research in northern Uganda!

12/14/2017

Our next board member has been with Rationale from the beginning: Jaclyn Tabbert!

Jaclyn is currently a school social worker for students with Autism and related special needs. Jaclyn has been a volunteer at Pan-African Association and Trilogy Behavioral Health Inc., and has conducted research on mental health disparities among vulnerable populations. At Rationale, Jaclyn assists in managing volunteer efforts, supporting our programs, and planning our fundraising events. She holds a bachelors in International Studies and Psychology from DePaul University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago.

In addition to being on Rationale's board, she has also long been our assistant director, supporting our programs from behind the scenes and especially helping coordinate our fundraisers. Along with Peter and Malik, Jaclyn will be at our dinner tomorrow night. Don't forget to introduce yourself to all three of our amazing board members who will be present!

12/13/2017

Next up: Tamkeenat Syed!

Tamkeenat is currently completing her medical studies and will soon be practicing psychiatry with a focus on public and community health, advocacy, and trauma. She is working on research pertaining to urban-related violence patterns and prevention, collaborative models of care in vulnerable populations, and structural barriers to mental health care. At Rationale, Tamkeenat has assisted with our annual events and has provided support to our scholarship recipients. She holds a bachelors in Theater and Neurosciences from Emory University and a Masters of Health Sciences from Meharry Medical College.

Thanks, Tamkeenat, for all that you do for Rationale!

12/12/2017

Our next board member spotlight is also our newest addition to the team: Peter O'Keefe!

Peter currently works as a Quality Assurance Analyst for SapientRazorfish, in Chicago, IL. Peter has served on the board of the Chicago Burmese Community Center, co-chaired World Refugee Day Chicago, worked as a Refugee Case Manager with Catholic Charities, and served in Thailand as a Peace Corps Community-Based Organizational Development Volunteer. Peter holds a Bachelor of Law, Letters and Society from the University of Chicago and a master's in Migration and Displacement from Witwatersrand University (Johannesburg, South Africa).

Peter has been one of our most dedicated supporters at our annual events in Chicago and this will be his first year lending a hand behind the scenes. Be sure to say hi to him on Friday at Rationale End of the Year Fundraising Dinner!

12/08/2017

Next up for our board member introductions: Malik!

Malik is currently working as the lead WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) career coach and case manager serving refugee, immigrant, and low-income populations in the Northern Chicago Area. He also does small business consulting. Previously, Malik worked as the grants and communications coordinator for the Howard Area Community Center and as a volunteer and development coordinator for Refugee One and Pan-African Association. Malik holds an Associates in Hospitality Management, a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies and Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Master's in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University.

Malik plays a big part in planning each annual event with the rest of the team, so be sure to say hi to him next week at the Rationale End of the Year Fundraising Dinner!

12/06/2017

Leading up to our end of the year fundraising event at Ethiopian Diamond in just 9 short days, we'd like to spotlight all of the amazing board members who make Rationale what it is from behind the scenes. And what better person to start with than Aatifa Sadiq, whose birthday is today!

Aatifa currently serves as a program officer for East and Southern Africa at International Medical Corps in Washington, DC, managing a program portfolio for Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan for health interventions and emergency response programming. Prior to her experience, she worked as a program coordinator at Zakat Foundation of America for Africa and Asia and served as a program intern at the International Organization for Adolescence (IOFA). She holds a bachelors in International Studies from DePaul University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago.

Join us in wishing a very happy birthday to Aatifa!

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