President/Deputy Group President Andrew Cocking makes a presentation to Holy Childhood High School student, Andreen Jackson. - Contributed
SINCE 1996, the Capital and Credit Financial Group (CCFG) has been providing scholarships for Jamaican children desirous of furthering their education, but who lack the necessary resources to do so. Through its scholarship programme, 87 students have been able to pursue studies through full-time scholarships at the secondary and tertiary levels.
The Capital and Credit scholarships are awarded to successful GSAT achievers to attend secondary schools, as well as tertiary-level students, who will undertake various studies at institutions across the island.
All scholarships are granted based on academic performance and financial need and last year, 17 new scholarships were granted for the academic year 2005/06 bringing the total number of students currently under the Capital and Credit Scholarship Programme to 45, at an approximate value of J$2.3 million.
SCHOLARSHIP
AWARDS COMMITTEE
The Capital and Credit Scholarship Awards Committee is chaired by University of the West Indies' Professor Edwin Jones with other committee members being Dr. Christine Cummings, lecturer at the University of the West Indies; Mr. Dave Hutton from the Faculty of Agriculture at the UWI; Mrs. Kay Anderson, vice-principal of The Mico College; Ms. Diann Campbell, senior education officer at the Ministry of Education and honorary secretary of the Jamaica Cricket Association; and, Mrs. Michelle Wilson-Reynolds, vice-president, marketing and corporate affairs for the Capital and Credit Financial Group of Companies.
At its recent awards ceremony, the special guest speaker, the executive chairman of the Early Childhood Commission, Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, praised the achievements of the awardees and noted that their performances were all the more remarkable because they occur against a background of increasing concern about deviant behaviour among young people, especially since drug use and violence among youth have been increasing worldwide.
POWERFUL EXAMPLES
Chairman of the CCFG, Ryland T. Campbell, himself a former teacher in his early working career, urged the recipients to block out the negative influences, "despite the substantial challenges out there." He encouraged them to continue to be powerful examples of academic excellence and to be general role models for all who come into contact with them. The group chairman underscored the Capital and Credit Group's to the continuation and growth of the scholarship programme since it constitutes one aspect of Capital and Credit's commitment to Jamaica's people, as part of its corporate outreach programme.
Some of the Capital and Credit scholarships have been awarded in conjunction with organisations such as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (R.A.D.A.); The Mico Teachers' College; the Jamaica Cricket Association; the Hope United Church and the St. Andrew Settlement Programme for the children of Majesty Gardens an outreach programme of St. Andrew Parish Church; the Jamaica Paraplegic Association; the S.O.S. Children's Village in Montego Bay; the Save the Children Foundation in Kingston, as well as others involved in inner-city programmes or other areas of child development.
Since its collaboration with Capital and Credit began in 1999, a total of 20 inner-city students from Majesty Gardens through the St. Andrew Settlement programme, have received scholarships. Capital and Credit Merchant Bank has also helped to fund a homework programme to provide support for these children under this programme.
SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED
Also, since 1999, 19 scholarships for male tertiary students have been granted by Capital and Credit, in collaboration with the Jamaica Cricket Association. These young men have been able to attend UWI, the University of Technology, The Mico College and the G.C. Foster College.
For the past five years, an equal number of scholarships have been granted for the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) by Capital and Credit, through RADA's National Youth in Agriculture Programme, which culminates annually at the Denbigh Agricultural Show during Jamaica's Independence celebrations.
Five students have been able to attend The Mico College, due to scholarships from Capital and Credit, since 2003. Also, that same year, Capital and Credit began sponsorship of the major prize for the 'Most Talented' contestant in the National Festival Queen competition in the form of a scholarship, tenable at the Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts.
In recognition of the role that education plays in nation building and as a means of supporting the development of education in Jamaica, Capital and Credit says it remains committed to playing its role in helping to develop the nation's youth, especially through education. Mr. Campbell aptly puts it: "The provision of scholarships will help to empower these to not only achieve their educational dreams and become responsible individuals, but to also contribute positively to Jamaica's future and to find their place in the wider world."
