JERICHO, Hanover — Attendees at last week’s Jericho Primary and Infant School’s annual graduation exercise, held at the Campbell’s Memorial Church, were left in a state of euphoria after a group of Jericho natives now living in the Diaspora donated $42,000 to each of the nine grade six students leaving for high school.

The 10 graduating basic school students were also provided with $10,000 cheques, respectively, while the nine primary school graduants received $40,000 in cheques and another envelope containing $2,000 for pocket money. The school has a cohort of 76 primary and 15 basic school students.

Marverlyn Grant, mother of Tiandra Telwell, one of the nine primary school graduates, was grateful for the well-needed funds which she said will go a very long way.

“My daughter will be going to high school so getting that scholarship will put her a far way in helping me because I am a single parent and it is kind of tough. So with that scholarship money, trust me I will ensure that she gets everything educational wise that she deserves,” a delighted Grant told the Observer West.

Zeandre Morris, a budding entertainer, whose child was among the 10 early childhood school students who will, come September, be attending primary school, was also appreciative.

“This grant is a big improvement and it is good to have something to aid in the school process because it rough all around on everybody. So getting a little assistance anywhere it can stretch. It can really motivate you to continue to carry on to feel that you are not alone,” Morris expressed.

The scholarships were largely conceptualised by Eric Allen, who packed his bag and left his beloved closely-knitted Jericho community, nestled in the deep rural parts of Hanover, some 50 years ago, for America in search of greener pastures.

Allen, a retired real estate agent, has been ably supported by Dr Lincoln Roo McKenzie and his family members in their mission to support the upliftment of their alma mater.

Allen recollected that in 2017 he was invited to be guest speaker at his boyhood school’s graduation ceremony by community stalwart Lolly Brown, a retired principal of the nearby Cascade Primary School. The following year when Brown died, Allen said while at the funeral the idea was hatched “to do something to keep her memory alive”.

“At the funeral I announced that I was going to set up a trust fund,” Allen said.

Then with the assistance of Dr McKenzie, and his eight siblings, the thought generated from other Jericho natives in the Disapora to assist with the scholarships.

“I contacted my family and I said we need you to adopt Jericho School. So all nine children, six of us are here today (Friday), of my parents, and 20 grandchildren contribute to this fund every year. They make it their charity to contribute to this fund. Eric Allen contributes generously to the fund to make sure that the money is to help finance the scholarships from year to year, ” Dr McKenzie said.

In fact, Dr McKenzie, who committed to continuing the scholarship programme “as long as we live”, noted that when they contacted Dr Arlene Braham Wilson, a Jericho native now living in California, she said the $25,000 that was provided to each of the primary school graduates in 2018 was insufficient and needed improvement.

Even though there was no graduation for the past two years due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the group still provided the scholarships.

“When I contacted her she said, ‘No, no! They need more money than that’. And so she sent a gift of US$5,000 to boost ours. We were going to move ours up anyhow. And so that was what was able to make it $40,000, plus the $2,000 pocket money for the children,” he explained.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Allen announced that already the fund for the 2023 graduation class is already in place.

“The scholarship money for grade five has already been secured for next year. We also want to let you know it won’t be one cent less that what those this year received,” declared Allen to deafening cheers.

“I also want to let you know that we are now working on 2024 scholarship money,” he added.

Principal of the Jericho Primary and Infant School Pamelia Dixon was also ecstatic about the assistance that the school – which at one stage was under threat of being shut down by the Ministry of Education as a result of low enrollment – had been receiving from the Diaspora group.

“They came on board to assist tremendously with their time, their resources, their finances and each one help one. It is spearheaded by Mr Eric Allen and the McKenzies and because they are influential, they got others on board. And when they ask for assistance because of the dignified persons that they are, others in the Diaspora say yes. So they give of their finances to help the needy students of Jericho and I tell you I am very elated,” an enthused Dixon said.

“Thanks is an understatement. These persons they are so organised that even when they have assisted this group, they always have reserve for the next year. So I tell you they are strategic in their planning.”