THE National Youth Service (NYS), through its Access to Higher Education Partnership (AHEP) Programme, has this year offered grants to youth between the ages of 17-24, who are pursuing undergraduate studies in national priority areas, such as agriculture, tourism and logistics.

Originally piloted in 2013/14 at Northern Caribbean University benefiting some 56 students, this year the programme is extended to include the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), and Brown’s Town Community College (BTCC), and will reach over 100 students.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna encouraged the students to work assiduously in achieving their goals. “There is no 4G to excellence. It takes time, hard work, and patience should you desire to attain your goals. With the development of this programme, the NYS has provided an avenue through which you can get one step closer to reaching your dream.”

“This financial assistance opportunity will help in a huge way so that, at the end of our programmes, we may be able to give back to our communities and our country at large,” CASE Students’ Council President Brian Townsend said.

With the cost of pursuing tertiary education still a major concern for many Jamaicans, the NYS receives a large number of applications requesting assistance. The AHEP Programme was designed to respond to this appeal to help empower the lives of Jamaica’s youth.