350 Students Receive Assistance From JAMALCO

More than 350 students currently enrolled in a number of educational institutions in Clarendon and Manchester have received much needed back- to-school assistance in the form of bursaries and books from Jamalco.
Speaking recently at a ceremony held at the Jamalco Lands Office in Williamsfield, Manchester, Public Relations Administrator, Pamela Whyte noted that the donation is valued at $1.1 million.
“This is part of an on-going programme which we have had running for more than four years now, and while we are providing assistance for, in some cases, most of the books, we do expect parents to also join with us where there is a shortfall and do their part in helping to outfit their children in the best possible way for school,” she said.
Mrs. Whyte commended the community leaders who had identified the neediest students for assistance.
“We will be going forward with this programme next year, in keeping with our commitment to all our stakeholders, as we do believe in the importance of a solid educational base,” she said.
For his part, Jamalco’s Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Brian Doy said he was happy with the assistance, which would help the students with their preparations for the start of the 2007/08 academic year.
“Education is the key, make it your priority.education gives you choices in life,” he said.
Mr. Doy encouraged the recipients to respect their parents, teachers and school and to do their best.
“The Jamalco Book Programme is also an integral part of the company’s efforts to support education and in 2006 alone the company gave some 40,000 books to schools across Jamaica,” the Public Affairs and Communications Manager noted.
The 19 year-old book support programme has been made possible through a partnership with Brothers Brother Foundation in the United States, which sources the books from US publishers; the Alcoa Foundation, which underwrites the cost of shipping to Jamaica, and Jamalco, which sorts and distributes the books to schools.