The Dunia Path Scholarship — Up to $14,000 for Certification in Orlando / Kissimmee
Dunia Path Scholarship · 2026 · Apply by June 15

We're funding your next chapter.

Dunia Path is offering full tuition support — up to $14,000 USD — for accredited certification programs in the Orlando / Kissimmee area. This scholarship is for people the traditional system often overlooks — and who are ready to turn their craft into a career and a business.

$14,000 up to, per scholar · full-cert funding
Request your application →
Key Dates
Applications Open
Now
Request your application any time
Deadline
June 15, 2026
Full application must be submitted
Interviews
July 2026
30-minute virtual conversations
Decisions
Early August
Scholars notified & programs begin

Who this is for

This scholarship exists for people the traditional system has often overlooked — people with real talent, a story, and something to build. You're eligible if any one of the pathways below is true for you.

You were previously incarcerated

Your own lived experience with incarceration qualifies you on its own.

Incarcerated immediate family

A parent, sibling, child, or spouse was previously incarcerated — that qualifies you, too.

FAFSA EFC under $5,000

Your Expected Family Contribution on your most recent FAFSA is less than $5,000. We'll ask for your Student Aid Report.

Free or reduced-price lunch

You (or your household, if you're a recent high school student) currently qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

Beyond the checkbox: we're also looking for people who love the craft they're applying for and are hungry to learn the tech tools — booking apps, social, design software, basic business tools — that will help them run it like an entrepreneur. We'll hear about that in the application.

What we fund

Your scholarship covers tuition, required tools, and certification fees for any accredited licensed beauty or wellness program in the Orlando / Kissimmee area — the careers where your hands, your eye, and your presence are the product.

Covered fields of study

Cosmetology Barbering Nail Specialist Facials & Skincare Massage Therapy

Not sure yet which one is for you? That's fine — we'll ask you about it in the application, and you can tell us what's pulling you in. There are no wrong answers.

How the application works

This isn't a standardized form designed to filter you out. It's a two-step process built to get to know you — your story, your taste, your instincts. Take your time. Use your voice.

Step 1 · 2 minutes

Request your application

Fill out the short form below — just the basics and your eligibility pathway.

Step 2 · By June 15

Check your email & apply

We'll email you a personal link to the full application — creative prompts that let you show us who you are.

Step 3 · July 2026

A short conversation

If your application resonates, we'll invite you to a 30-minute virtual interview. No gotchas.

Step 4 · Early August 2026

You start your program

Scholars are announced in early August. Funding goes directly to your school to cover tuition and certification.

⏱ 2 minutes · Step 1 of 2

Request your application

Tell us a bit about you and your eligibility. We'll send a personal link to the full creative application straight to your email within a few minutes. You have until June 15, 2026 to complete it.

Why does this feel like the right moment for you? No wrong answers.

By submitting, you'll get a personal link by email to complete the full creative application. We review every submission by hand.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live in Orlando or Kissimmee already?
You need to be able to attend an accredited program in the Orlando / Kissimmee area. If you're not local yet but planning to relocate, that's fine — tell us in your application.
Can I apply if I'm still incarcerated?
Yes. If you're applying for release in the next six months, go ahead and request an application. We can work with you on timing so the scholarship lines up with your re-entry.
What if I haven't filed FAFSA yet?
FAFSA is only one of four eligibility pathways, so you don't have to file it to apply. That said, if you plan to pair this scholarship with other federal aid, we recommend filing — it's free at studentaid.gov.
What if I've already enrolled in a program?
Still apply. If you're in the early weeks of a program and haven't paid your full tuition yet, we may be able to cover the remainder. Mention this in your application.
How do you verify eligibility?
Honor system at the first stage. If you're invited to the interview, we may ask for a document — a FAFSA Student Aid Report, a free-lunch approval letter, or a court or re-entry record. We only verify the pathway you check, not all four.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Applications are only seen by the Dunia Path review committee, and we never share anyone's story outside the review without explicit permission. Documents you upload live in a private Drive folder, not a public database.
What if I don't get in — can I apply again?
Yes, every cycle. A "not this year" doesn't close the door.
How is the scholarship paid?
Directly to your accredited school, so tuition and certification fees are covered without the money ever passing through your hands. Required kits and tools are reimbursed with receipts.

Know someone who should apply?

Many people in this community won't put themselves forward — but a friend, a sibling, a parole officer, or a social worker might. Forward them the link or share it directly.

Not ready this cycle?

Drop your email and we'll let you know when the next round opens — plus occasional news about scholars and the community we're building.

"There is no darkness anywhere, only light not yet seen."

We can't wait to meet you. Whatever you're building — we're rooting for you.

— The Dunia Path team

Dunia Path · Scholarship inquiries: info@duniapath.com

Applications close June 15, 2026 · Decisions announced early August

Awards are paid directly to your accredited Orlando / Kissimmee school on behalf of selected scholars.