Alkanadi:Lots of people learned Esperanto just to travel for free in Europe. Imagine how many young people would try to learn Esperanto just to get a scholarship/assistantship.

The return has to justify the investment. Free travel hopefully leads to people remaining Esperantists - regrettably some users of the service have still left the movement, I mention no names. Communist countries used to give scholarships to students from the Third World to form future sympathisers of their outlook, and Cuba still does. Should we be surprised if Cuba has a high moral capital in Africa?

Miland:

Alkanadi:Lots of people learned Esperanto just to travel for free in Europe. Imagine how many young people would try to learn Esperanto just to get a scholarship/assistantship.

...Communist countries used to give scholarships to students from the Third World to form future sympathisers of their outlook.

America used to give lots of scholarships to Yemenis in order to win hearts and minds.

Right now, westerners are able to get scholarships in the Middle East for Islamic studies or Arabic. Preference goes to those under the age of 25 and those who are Caucasian.

It is a clever idea to get people on your side.

MrMosier:if we can find a nice philanthropist to fund a scholarship specifically for Esperantists to study whatever they want, I think that would be the best bet.

That would be awesome.

It is a little sad, but it is a fact: people won't do anything unless there is a tangible reward. If it pays to be an Esperantist then many people will become one.

Alkanadi:

MrMosier:if we can find a nice philanthropist to fund a scholarship specifically for Esperantists to study whatever they want, I think that would be the best bet.

That would be awesome.

It is a little sad, but it is a fact: people won't do anything unless there is a tangible reward. If it pays to be an Esperantist then many people will become one.

just as soon as I win the lotto, buddy.

MrMosier:... if we can find a nice philanthropist to fund a scholarship specifically for Esperantists to study whatever they want, I think that would be the best bet.

George Soros in 1947 escaped from Hungary to Britain via Switzerland, taking part in the 32th World Esperanto Congress in Bern

Alkanadi:

It is a little sad, but it is a fact: people won't do anything unless there is a tangible reward. If it pays to be an Esperantist then many people will become one.

Isn't the acquisition of the language, with access to the culture, a tangible enough reward? Anyone can get that with only some effort and at no real cost.

If people want the promise that money will pour into their pockets before they'll actually do something like Esperanto, they're on the wrong path and probably have the wrong sort of mentality to begin with.

The culture of pursuing learning with a view to monetising every aspect of it has destroyed learning.

Vestitor:Isn't the acquisition of the language, with access to the culture, a tangible enough reward? Anyone can get that with only some effort and at no real cost.

It is enough for me but most people don't care about that. Most people in the world are speaking English because of the financial gains, and cultural prestige.

The culture of pursuing learning with a view to monetising every aspect of it has destroyed learning.

That is right. People just care about the paper degree instead of the knowledge itself.

When people are rich, they will learn for the sake of knowledge. When people are poor they will learn for the sake of money.

Alkanadi:I think it would help Esperanto a lot if Esperantists could get scholarships. Lots of people learned Esperanto just to travel for free in Europe. Imagine how many young people would try to learn Esperanto just to get a scholarship/assistantship.

I assume for years already lot of esperantists use Erasmus Programme to study abroad. There's not much what could hinder you doing that.

Vestitor:

Miland:
However I imagine that you are a U.S. citizen, and therefore it may be easier for you to get an American scholarship.

I believe Alkanadi is Canadian.

Than Erasmus Mundus could be option.

spreecamper:Than Erasmus Mundus could be option.

Looks good but it seem incredible complicated. Anyway, I will try to figure it out. It looks promising.