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July 31, 2008
Jamalco Rolls Out $1 million Back-to-School Programme - Fourteen get $350,000 in Scholarships
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Fourteen children from Manchester and Clarendon will take their places in high schools come September, courtesy of scholarships from Jamalco.
The scholarships, valued at $350,000, were presented to the 14 at an awards ceremony held on Thursday, July 24 at the Halse Hall Great House, Clarendon; and is the first phase of a $1 million Back-to School Assistance Programme which the company will sponsor this year.
The Jamalco Community Scholarship Programme is another component of the company’s Educational Assistance Programme and targets children from the company’s operating areas, who are in need of assistance to pursue their secondary education.
The children were selected each of the seven operating Community Councils by their principals, grade teachers and guidance counselors based on their need and academic performance. The scholarships are to assist with non-tuition costs and the funds will be disbursed through the schools the students will be attending come September.
Jamalco’s Corporate Services and Government Affairs Manager Leo Lambert, in his overview of the programme, explained that the scholarships will be renewed annually for five years, once the student maintains a B+ average, remains disciplined, and is involved in at least one extra-curricular activity. The student is also required to show continuous improvement.
He said that other back-to-schools initiatives will be hosted by Jamalco for 400 primary, secondary and tertiary level students in Clarendon and Manchester in August.
Labour and Social Security Minister the Hon. Pearnel Charles, who was guest speaker at the awards ceremony, told the students that they can move mountains if they work hard, remain focused and respect their parents and teachers. Using his own humble beginnings as a point of reference, he encouraged the recipients to tackle the mountains they face one shovel of earth at a time. He said, “I’m saying to all of you, there is no mountain that you can’t move; there is no problem that can’t be solved; there is no hardship that you can’t get over if you are willing to throw the “picker” in it , take up the first shovel (of earth) and throw it behind you.”
Jamalco’s Managing Director Jerome Maxwell, in his remarks, encouraged the children to make the most of the opportunity they had received, adding that the company would make every effort to give them the support they need to succeed. He noted that the scholarship programme was only one of several supporting education in Clarendon and Manchester. These include the company’s 20 year old Book Programme which supplies new books to schools and colleges in support of their curriculum and the creation of the Breadnut Valley Tools and Engineering Institute in collaboration with the HEART Trust/NTA.
Senior Education Officer, Esmilda McKenzie, Member of Parliament for South West Clarendon Noel Arscott and Jamalco Refinery Community Council co-chair Lorine Cousins also spoke at the function and encouraged the children to strive for excellence, emulate good role models and to love themselves.
The scholarship awardees received letters of commitment and packages with some of their text books from Jamalco.
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