THE Barita Foundation on Wednesday gifted 33 recipients, at both the tertiary and secondary levels, scholarships and bursaries at its Inaugural Scholarship Programme awards ceremony held at Jamaica Pegasus hotel on the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

The foundation’s premier award, the Rita Humphries-Lewin Scholarship in Early Childhood Education — valued at $400,000 each and which is dedicated to the legacy of the founder of Barita Investments — was awarded to four recipients at the tertiary level. Also, the Cornerstone/Barita Scholarship donated up to $350,000 each to four awardees at the tertiary level who are pursuing studies in medicine and engineering.

Additionally, two high-performing team members of Barita Investments Limited received the Barita Foundation Staff Scholarship valued at $150,000 each. This scholarship was awarded as the latest demonstration of Barita’s commitment to being a force for good in the lives of their key stakeholders and the wider community.

Secondary-level awards included a Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination scholarship through which six students received up to $100,000 each to cover tuition, books, and exam fees. As a further demonstration of actions towards enhancing the future of various generations, seven students who are about to enter high school and are children of Cornerstone/Barita clients and staff received PEP Scholarships valued at up to $100,000 each.

Keynote speaker, Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams thanked the Barita Foundation for playing a role in the private sector with respect to investing in Jamaica’s youth, staff members, and clients, especially during the challenging financial climate created by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. The education minister expressed delight at the specific support being offered to students who are pursuing studies in the early childhood education sector.

Executive director of the Barita Foundation Tanketa Chance-Wilson also addressed the scholarship award ceremony.

“At the Barita Foundation we are cognisant of our role in supporting the youth of our nation. We laud their commitment to pursuing a higher education, and the Barita Foundation is pleased to do our part in helping to make this path easier for our awardees,” Chance-Wilson said.

The inaugural scholarship Programme is aimed at assisting students to obtain higher education, enhance positive values, and to create long-term relationships with talented scholars.