JMMB Foundation to provide up to $8 million in scholarships

Applications are now open for the 2019/2020 JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation scholarship programme. For the upcoming academic year, the foundation is expected to give up to $8 million in scholarships to mainly tertiary students.

In addition, financial assistance will be given to students at the primary and secondary levels on a case-by-case basis.

The foundation will award scholarships to individuals who are financially challenged but well-rounded, as evidenced by their involvement in extra-curricular activities or voluntary work done in their schools/communities, and who demonstrate satisfactory academic performance. Each scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, books, and/or other school-related expenses.

Persons who intend to pursue studies in the upcoming academic year, or are currently enrolled in any degree programme at a local tertiary institution, with the exception of medical sciences, dentistry, architecture, engineering and law, are invited to apply for a scholarship.

“Although the scholarship is aimed at bridging the financial gap for many ordinary Jamaicans who would otherwise be challenged to afford university, it is more than providing financing,” said Patricia Sutherland, chairman of the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation.

“The programme is aimed at positively impacting lives and transforming individuals so that they can unearth their greatness and help others to see the greatness in themselves. We are proud that over the years, we have been able to assist hundreds of individuals and cause a ripple effect in their lives,” she added.

Transformational training

In keeping with the vein of the scholarship programme, a holistic approach is taken by the foundation, whereby all scholarship recipients are exposed to transformational training, led by a trained facilitator. This transformational training workshop explores self-awareness, reflection, paradigm shifting, critical thinking and visioning, among other areas.

“We have scholarship recipients who are the first in their families to graduate from university, thereby giving hope to their siblings that challenges are surmountable. We have also seen students who were on the verge of becoming high-school dropouts, because of a lack of funding, go on to receive the prestigious UWI (University of the West Indies) Open Scholarship and qualify for other international scholarships to pursue further studies,” Sutherland said.

To apply for the foundation’s scholarship programme, individuals must complete the online application form, which can be accessed on its website at http://www.joanduncanfoundation.org/scholarships-and-educational-grants. The application period ends on May 31.

In response to the ongoing challenges in funding education, especially at the tertiary level, the JMMB Group has signalled its commitment to this area by rolling out several initiatives, including introducing a special postgraduate loan offer with the Mona School of Business and Management, increasing the amount allocated to its scholarship programme annually, and establishing endowments at the two major universities: The UWI and the University of Technology, Jamaica.

As a part of its mandate, the foundation also remains committed to the development of youth through education as a vehicle for transformation and advancement.