Bordeaux bound - TOTAL scholars off to France

APART from their love of the French language, Samantha Powell and Gabrielle Buddoo share a common bond as they head off to France. They are recipients of scholarships from TOTAL Jamaica, which will enable them to complete year two of their master's degree in political science and international cooperation at Sciences Po Bordeaux.

"I have never been rich and the scholarship will help to ease some of my financial woes," 22-year-old Buddoo emotionally told The Gleaner at a send-off luncheon which TOTAL Jamaica's new managing director, Chris Okonmah, and senior managers hosted for the 2018 recipients at Devon House on Friday, September 14.

"It's all things that I love - French, politics and international relations. It was like a dream come true. This scholarship will help so much. I am grateful for it. It will ease some, if not all, of my worries, being in a foreign country, away from my relatives," the Holy Childhood High School graduate added.

Powell, 21, who travelled from Lucea, Hanover, where she attended Rusea's High School, will leave for Bordeaux, France, with the financial burden eased from her slender shoulders, but still carries a heavy weight of expectation from a single parent and five siblings.

"I adapt to change very well. I am sociable, but I love my family. I will cry but, being the eldest, I am setting a path for my siblings, the first from my family to attend university.

"It is indeed a wonderful opportunity. My mother has mixed emotions, but she is super proud knowing her eldest child is at university. When I took up the programme, she was worried about how she would find money. Since the scholarship came into being, she is more relaxed sending me off," Powell added.

COURSE OF STUDY

The young women completed their first year at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, and will move on to Bordeaux for the second year of a tripartite student exchange involving Sciences Po Bordeaux, partnering with UWI, Mona, and University des Antilles, Martinique.

Powell and Buddoo will complete their third year in Martinique before heading back to Sciences Po Bordeaux and UWI, Mona, for years four and five, respectively.

Lisa Vasciannie, lecturer, international relations and coordinator, French-Caribbean Programme, UWI, said the course of study provides many opportunities.

"To attend university is a privilege, more so in three countries," Vasciannie pointed out. "It allows them to learn a foreign language and opens international opportunities. A lot of students tend to do Spanish, instead of French, but we're trying to sensitise them to broaden their language skills.

"The basic requirement is that the awardee must be proficient in French. It's really a programme that speaks about cooperation and I really want to thank TOTAL for the support so far," Vasciannie added, commenting on TOTAL Jamaica's fourth year of awarding two Jamaicans scholarships for the programme, which started in 2008.

Managing Director Chris Okonmah said this initiative, among many others, is part of TOTAL's values and interest in investing in young talent, ensuring they gain the skills to be successful. He added that TOTAL will always look to support programmes which enhance the socio-economic development of any country in which the French multinational company operates.