200 Students to Benefit From JSIF Scholarship Programme

Some 200 students attending tertiary and vocational training institutions are slated to benefit from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s (JSIF) 2015 Scholarship Programme.

The programme, to be launched in three weeks, will provide up to $350,000 to bright students, who are in need of financial assistance to complete their education, said Programme Manager for JSIF’s Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP), Dr. Eleanor Henry.

“We have been able to locate resources and this is in response to the expressed demand based on the number of applications received last year… a maximum of $350,000 is likely to be disbursed to each individual, based on their tuition and maintenance fees,” Dr. Henry informed, while addressing a recent JIS News Think Tank.

The scholarship programme comes under PRP III, funded by the European Union (EU), which is being implemented by JSIF in 40 communities in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. James.

It aims to improve living conditions in underserved communities by providing infrastructure such as roads, schools, and police stations, and undertaking social development activities, including training, scholarship awards, internships, and behaviour modification and parenting workshops.

The scholarships are open to students in the 40 communities served under PRP III, who are attending Government-assisted tertiary institutions. The three main criteria for the award are: level of contribution to community, financial need, and academic performance.

“We are focusing primarily on persons in their second-to last and final year. The process is quick. We have a selection committee that assesses applications based on the criteria and selects who gets the assistance. The funds are then paid over to the institution,” Dr. Henry explained.

She noted that the scholarship assistance will be provided for tertiary and vocational areas of study.  For the vocational areas, focus is being placed on skills that are in demand, based on national priority.

“We are putting funds in place to assist persons in areas such as computer maintenance and repairs, and other areas (identified) by the hotel industry. Therefore, we know that once they are trained, there are spaces for them and there will be no frustration of having certification and being able to use it,” she pointed out.

Dr. Henry also told JIS News that scholarship recipients will also benefit from personal development workshops.  She noted that “since the focus is on final year students and their next step would be the working environment,” the workshops will assist them to transition into the working world.

Applications for the JSIF Scholarship Programme 2015 will be published in the daily newspapers and on the JSIF website.

The eligible communities in Kingston and St. Andrew are:  Allman Town, Arnett Gardens, Campbell Town, Central Downtown, Cockburn Gardens, Delacree Park/Union Gardens, Denham Town, East Downtown, Fletcher’s Land, Franklin Town, Greenwich Town, Hannah Town/Craig Town, Jones Town, Majesty Gardens, New Haven, Penwood, Rae Town, Rema, Riverton City, Rose Town, Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse and Whitfield Town.

The St. Catherine communities are: Bog Walk, Central Village, Clifton, De la Vega City, Dallas, Ellerslie, Grange Lane, Lakes Pen, Lime Tree Grove, Lower King Street, Old Harbour, Quarry Mountains, Railway Lane, Rivoli, Salt Pond Road, Spanish Town, Spanish Town Central, Tawes Pen, Twickenham Park, Upper King Street and Villa Palms.

Eligible communities in Clarendon are: Four Paths, Palmers Cross, York Town, and Lionel Town.

In St. James, the communities are: Flanker, Norwood, Granville, Adelphi, Anchovy, Barrett Town, Lilliput, Retirement, and Tucker.