Students of the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) who were impacted by Hurricane Melissa received care packages donated by the Victoria Mutual Foundation during a handover ceremony held on November 7, at Lecture Theatre 50 at the Shared Facilities Building, Papine Campus. Participating in the handover ceremony were Karen Haughton-Blair (left), director of student financing (acting), UTech; Saschaye Thomas (second left), welfare assistant, Department of Student Financing, UTech; and Terry-Ann Rhule (second right), student welfare officer, Department of Student Financing, UTech. They are pictured with Orlando Maynard (right), branch manager of the Victoria Mutual Foundation located at UTech, Jamaica’s Papine campus, along with students who benefitted from the donation. In expressing gratitude, Rhule sincerely thanked the Victoria Mutual Group for their timely support. She also empathised with the affected students, acknowledging the challenges many continue to face in the aftermath of the hurricane. Maynard emphasised the Victoria Mutual Foundation’s commitment to student welfare, stating, “we find it important to share with you our little token because without you as the future for us, we have no existence and we want to ensure that during this catastrophe, we show you that there is hope.” He encouraged students to “keep pushing, whatever your situation, things will get better”.
