For five pre-teens, the next worry after excelling at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) was being able to afford secondary school.
Like many in Guyana, it was a dream that seemed out of reach but five years later, with the help of beverage giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), the five have successfully written the next major test, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, and are moving on to the next stage of their lives. Every year, the DDL Foundation awards five students who excel at the NGSA and who are in dire need of financial assistance, with a five-year scholarship so they can complete their secondary education without being burdened by financial issues
Beneficiaries Meriesa Nascimento, Amrita Ghandatt, Alicialall Hiralall, Leshanna Bindah, and Prechand Rampersaud recently wrote their CSEC exams and in recent interviews with Stabroek Weekend – apart from Rampersaud who lives in Essequibo – the awardees spoke of the large role the scholarships played in their success.
Meriesa, who obtained 10 Grade One and three Grade Three passes at the CSEC examinations this year, expressed her thanks to the foundation. Meriesa, who hails from Moruca, completed her primary school education at the Santa Rosa Primary School in Region One. According to her mother, Sherron Nascimento, Meriesa was the top performer of her class throughout her years at the primary school and was very confident that she would excel at the NGSA and would be offered a position at a secondary school in the city.
However, when Meriesa asked if she would be enrolled at the school, her mother said no, aware that as a single-parent she would be unable to afford the expenses. “She was very sad and cried,” Sherron recalled.
As expected, Meriesa was the top performer of the school and with encouragement from her sister, Sherron decided to enrol her at the Bishops’ High School. Before leaving the community, Sherron’s cousin, Mosa Adrian, encouraged her to apply for a scholarship which was being advertised by the DDL Foundation in the newspapers. During her time in Georgetown, with the help of Adrian’s husband, they applied for the scholarship and kept their fingers crossed.
“We didn’t expect to get through with the scholarship, so we went back to Moruca and a month after, we got a call and we come out. I was happy and she was happy. A lot of people applied so we didn’t expect to get through,” Sherron recalled. For Meriesa, it was a relief. She was glad that most of the financial burden was lifted from her mother’s shoulders. Over the past five years, the family of two welcomed the support of the members of the DDL Foundation, who advised and
assisted Meriesa in whatever way they could.
“I’m so grateful for everything they have done for me. I appreciate it a lot,” Meriesa commented. She credits her success to her mom and the DDL Foundation.
According to Sharda Veeren-Chand, one of the foundation’s directors, Meriesa has performed excellently throughout her time at the Bishops’ High. “She has always been the top performer in the class and is just one of the students that we are very proud of and one of the students who represents what the foundation was set up to do. We were able to see how well a child can thrive when they are in the right environment,” she said.
Another scholarship awardee, 17-year-old Amrita Ghandatt, who gained 14 Grade One and one Grade Two passes at this year’s CSEC examinations, credited her success to her mother and the DDL Foundation.
“It’s been comforting to know that there are people out there that cater for less fortunate ones. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the members of the foundation on behalf of myself and mommy for the support that I have received for the past five years,” an emotional Ghandatt said. During the five-year duration of the scholarship, Ghandatt said, the support and assistance she received from the foundation’s members motivated her to do her best and study harder, which, in the end, resulted in her success.
The teenager revealed that the essay she wrote in her scholarship application played a huge part in her gaining the scholarship as she detailed how her only parent would not be able to afford all the forthcoming expenses on her own since she also had to provide for Ghandatt’s brother, who was also in school. “I needed this scholarship badly and I know I would not have been successful if it wasn’t for the foundation,” Ghandatt concluded. Ghandatt attended Queen’s College after passing her NGSA with 522 marks.
For 17-year-old Alicialall Hiralall of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, her parents’
main concern after she was offered a place at Queen’s College was the transportation cost. Her mother, Seeta Hiralall, was the sole breadwinner for the family of four as her husband was diabetic and also had a visual impairment.
“It was a relief when we got through with the scholarship,” Seeta recalled. Alicialall said that she was grateful that she didn’t have to worry about transportation costs even though her mother still contributed $500 every week. For her, being part of the DDL Foundation scholarship programme was “a really good experience” because she received good advice and support throughout the five years.
“They helped me plan my future and it was great help,” she added. Further, she said, they each had a mentor, who was “really nice.” Alicialall expressed her gratitude to the foundation especially since they covered textbooks and transportation costs. “I use the textbooks a lot and that played a great role in my success which, of course, is all thanks to the foundation. The burden of not having these textbooks would have stressed me out and if that was not there, I wouldn’t have succeeded in my examination,” Alicialall explained.
‘Fulfilling’
Leshanna Bindah, of Newtown, Kitty, began living with her aunt soon after her parents divorced. She said that being awarded the scholarship was a relief for her as she did not want to inconvenience her aunt and she knew that the woman could not afford to put her through secondary school.
Bindah was overjoyed when she was informed by the foundation that she was awarded a scholarship. Her experience on the scholarship programme was wonderful. She related that her mentor was very friendly and would advise her and buy her gifts during the Christmas holidays or on her birthdays. She expressed her gratitude for the clothing they provided for her and the books that they bought.
Since her scholarship ended, Bindah disclosed, she had to take up part-time jobs in order to buy uniforms and other textbooks which she needs as she is continuing her studies at Queen’s College. “The foundation was a great help. I know I couldn’t do a part-time job then because of my age so they helped a lot and I’m really grateful,” she added. Bindah gained 15 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and two Grade Threes.
“I really want to thank them for helping me with my studies and for giving me a fulfilling life at Queen’s College. Without them, I couldn’t have afforded it so I’m very grateful,” she said. Bindah added that without the financial assistance, she believes that she would not have succeeded at the CSEC exams.
Bindah graduated from the scholarship programme a year ago while Hiralall, Ghandatt, Nascimento and Rampersaud graduated this year. Ramersaud attended the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary and secured 15 Grade One and three Grade Two passes at the CSEC examinations.
‘Made us proud’
The DDL Foundation was launched in December 2010, with the goal of advancing the education of students who have excelled in the NGSA and have demonstrated a need for assistance. It comprises mainly volunteers from the DDL staff body and includes a Mentorship Programme, where each child is linked to a mentor who will monitor his/her performance and provide the necessary moral and other support during the period of the scholarship.
While the initial funding was set up by the company, income also comes from employee fund raising activities and monthly donations from employees. “The foundation is a joint employer-employee partnership. The employees contribute a lot,” Veeren-Chand said.
She recounted that company officials had visited communities across the country and were surprised at the number of children dropping out of school because they could not afford school-related expenses. Consequently, the company decided to find a way to select students who are excelling but need financial assistance.
In terms of selecting awardees, the foundation’s Board of Directors comprises the selection committee which interviews the applicants and selects the five students to be awarded scholarships. Their main job is to find out about the financial situation of the parents which ultimately decides whether the applicant will be awarded a scholarship. Veeren-Chand revealed that the most difficult task is narrowing down all the applicants to only five.
This year, six students were awarded scholarships. They are Alana Lewis, Sharon Persaud, Tyrese Beete, and Taruna Harripaul, who are currently attending the Bishops’ High and secured 515, 514, 513 and 515 marks at the NGSA respectively, along with Pawan Etwaroo, who secured 520 marks and who is attending the Berbice High School. The final recipient is Ruth Larson, who secured 530 marks and who is attending Queen’s College.
The scholarship covers the main costs associated with attending school and includes books, uniforms, transportation and in special cases meals, or any costs associated with school including examination fees. Veeren-Chand revealed that there are a number of students in the scholarship programme who have no parents and for those students, meals are provided. She said that parents who cannot afford meals for their children can approach them and depending on evidence, they would provide meal allowances for the children. However, she said, the main focus remains on school expenses. “The goal is that we take the financial obstacles away from them so they can focus on their studies and not worry about financial burdens,” she commented.
She revealed that all the children who have graduated from the programme have been successful and remain in touch with the foundation. Some of the former students have opted to join the company while others went on to enrol at the University of Guyana. The students who are currently on the programme also continue to excel. “Everyone has made us proud,” she added.
The students meet once per term so they can discuss the problems and difficulties they are facing with their mentor. Tutors are provided if the students are not performing and if needed, the students are provided with a guidance councillor.
Veeren-Chand added that when NGSA results are out, they immediately send letters to the head teachers of every school in the country informing them about the scholarship programme. They also place ads in the newspapers. Parents are given four weeks to respond before the application closes. Applicants are then called in for an interview and asked to write an essay stating why they are eligible for the scholarship.
Once selected, the awardees are required to provide receipts for school-related items they have already purchased and are reimbursed. Transportation fees go directly into the awardee bank account.
The foundation currently has 26 students on scholarships. Twenty-one students sponsored by the foundation have already graduated from secondary school.
