Centre for Research on Latin America & the Caribbean (CERLAC) invites applications for new graduate award and fellowship.
This is the first call for applications for the Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Award and for the Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Fellowship, both part of the Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Fund.
The Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Fund supports York graduate students engaged in research on human rights and social justice issues related to the situation of indigenous 
people and/or people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The deadline for this year’s applications for both the award and the fellowship is Monday, Feb. 4.
York political science Professor Emerita Liisa North of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies named the award and fellowship after her parents
What is it?
The Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Award functions as a cost fund to support a number of graduate students’ research and academic training costs, for complementary activities central to the completion of their research. The award(s) will be granted to one or more graduate students annually to provide support for discrete, concrete activities, such as fieldwork expenses, specialized equipment or software, and specialized training (language instruction). Multiple awards of varying amounts will be granted annually, drawing from a maximum total of $10,000.
The Paavo and Aino Lukkari Human Rights Fellowship is intended as a general support fund, to cover general research and related costs (fieldwork, equipment, book purchases, specialized training or software). It may also be used for tuition and general living expenses, to relieve the student from financial pressure so they can focus on their project. One fellowship valued at $10,000 will be granted annually to an eligible MA or PhD student.
Who can apply?
York graduate students in good standing who are:
- engaged in research on human rights and social justice issues related to the situation of indigenous people and/or people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean;
- citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
- registered in the CERLAC Graduate Diploma Program (fellowship requirement only).
How to apply?
- Submit a complete application package as detailed on the Award and Fellowship forms.
Questions can be directed to cerlac@yorku.ca.
For more information about the fund, visit the CERLAC website.