IT took a brave face and a courageous heart when the parents of late Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard officer Gawaine Alrick Peart (GAP) recently launched a foundation in his honour – 10 years after he was killed in a crash on the Palisadoes road in Kingston at the young age of 24.

The GAP Foundation – a clever use of the late soldier’s initials — will in its first year donate $80,000 to a third-form secondary school student who is part of a uniformed group.

Applicants must be a member of one of the following groups: The Jamaica Combined Cadet Force; Scouts Association; Girl Guides Association; Junior Red Cross; National Inter-secondary Schools Brigade; Ocean Blue Marine Cadets; National Cadet Force; and Royal Mission Cadet Corps.

According to the foundation, eligible candidates must have completed at least two years’ of exemplary service in his or her unit; must maintain a minimum academic average of 70 per cent; must have attained proficiency in at least one area of his or her unit’s key training objectives; and must demonstrate leadership attributes;

The first scholarship will be awarded in July 2025, and to sustain the scholarship the foundation will embark on fund-raising initiatives and solicitation. Eligibility will be confined to the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine where her son resided, Lorraine Peart, Gawaine’s mother and foundation chair, told the Jamaica Observer.

Lorraine Peart, mother of Gawaine Alrick Peart and chair of the GAP Foundation speaking at its launch, recently.

“The decision to launch the foundation came out of the awareness of the positive impact Gawaine had on others. He always wanted to see others excel. He achieved many of his goals. We saw it as an opportunity to build on the legacy he left behind and to encourage and facilitate other young persons to achieve as well.

Lt Col (Ret’d) Oral Khan, in addressing the launch at the JDF Officer’s Club, Up Park Camp, said: “Gawaine was not just a member of the Coast Guard; he was a beacon of charisma and kindness. His presence was like a light that brightened the lives of everyone he encountered. Whether in the line of duty or in his personal life, Gawaine touched the lives of those around him, leaving an indelible mark that time can never erase.”

Anniona Jones of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools said the foundation was more than an organisation – “it is a living, breathing tribute to Gawaine’s commitment to education, service, and the betterment of society”.

Anniona Jones of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools brings greetings at the launch of the GAP Foundation at Up Park Camp, recently.

“As principals, we understand the transformative power of education. We witness daily how access to resources, mentorship, and support can change the trajectory of a student’s life. The GAP Foundation’s scholarship programme will undoubtedly open doors for many deserving students, enabling them to achieve their full potential and contribute to the development of our nation.”

Born February 8, 1990, Gawaine started basic training as a member of the JDF’s Intake 99 and was commissioned as an officer on August 2, 2010. His numerous courses included: The International Maritime Officers Course; Royal Canadian Navy Fleet Diving; and United States Coast Guard Advance Boarding Officers Course.

Gawaine’s mom remains grateful for the short time he spent on earth, but will remember the pain it cause when she lost her first child.

“God is awesome. Love is powerful and dynamic. I remember clearly my initial response when the news was shared with us in the living room of our home. I said God, I can’t handle this, I am going to let myself go and you carry me,” said Peart, a dedicated Christian.