Jericho Reunion Committee Assists Students from Community

The back-to-school problems for three students from Jericho, Eastern Hanover, have been eased with bursaries from a community organisation.
A second year Bio-Chemistry student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sean Forbes; a second year nursing student at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Olivia Blagrove; and a tenth grader at Rusea’s High School in Lucea, Charlton Bucknor, have received a total of $50,000 from the Jericho Reunion Planning Committee to assist their back to school expenses this academic year.
Forbes and Blagrove each received $15,000, while Bucknor received $20,000. The presentations took place at the Jericho Community Library on Friday (August 28).
The financial grants were made possible through proceeds from a bi-annual community reunion, proceeds of which are used to implement several community projects.
Former recipient of a similar bursary, Human Resource Director at College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Charmaine Gordon, explained how the community assistance she received helped her to achieve her goals.
She said she was very passionate that the idea of scholarships and bursaries continue in the community, so that others can benefit.
She pledged a personal contribution towards the Jericho Development Scholarship Fund, administered by the Jericho Reunion Planning Committee, to continue the Dr. W. Val Chambers Scholarship, which she received in 1993.
She said that had it not been for the community assistance, through the Dr. W. Val Chambers scholarship, she did not think that she would be financially independent, today. She encouraged residents to contribute to the scholarship fund.
Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Lloyd Hill, mentioned the very rich tradition of the district of Jericho, adding that there is much wisdom in the community investing in the education of its younger generation.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sean Forbes, said that the bursaries will go a far way in assisting them in achieving their goals. He promised that the money will be spent with much thought and care.