THE philosophies and teachings of Jamaica’s first national hero, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey inspired Jamaican/American businessman Carlos Daley to introduce a scholarship for students at Trench Town Polytechnic College (TTPC) in St Andrew.

On Thursday, the Marcus Garvey Scholarship was launched and awarded to three second-year students of the college who have demonstrated Garvey-like attributes and academic excellence in their associate degree programmes.

The scholarships, valued at just under $70,000 each, will cover the tuition fees for the three students this academic year. They have the option to apply again next year once they maintain a high grade point average.

Only one of the three awardees, Venice Johnson Francis, was present to accept her scholarship at the ceremony.

According to Johnson Francis, although the college is one of the most affordable, some students still experience financial challenges and struggle to come up with all their fees. She is therefore grateful that Daley has presented such an opportunity for her and the two others.

“I am extremely elated. The reason I chose polytechnic was because it was affordable. Even though it is affordable more than other institutions, you still have financial constraints nonetheless. Getting the scholarship is a major boost. The programme isn’t easy, so getting this is like an accomplishment and it gives you the extra push to continue and finish the programme.

“I am doing an associate degree in social work. Marcus Garvey spoke about education as the way to uplift ourselves. We have to encourage our human resources to make the best of everything. If our human resource is not educated, we can’t exploit any other resource. We have to ensure that we are able to uplift ourselves and uplift those around us to break out of the curse of poverty,” Johnson Francis told the Jamaica Observer.

As a youth who lived in a troubled community, Daley was exposed to many negative influences, but he told the Observer that the teachings of Garvey proved to be a saving grace.

“I was saved by the knowledge, ideas and philosophies of Marcus Garvey. There are important things that came out of Marcus Garvey’s life; his consistency, determination and love of race. That was the key thing. During his time you had racism and black people were insulted, oppressed and dehumanised. His job during that time was to elevate us to let us feel like we are somebody.

“My background in Jamaica, I am from the inner city and my parents took me to America. Remembering Garvey’s concept about education, I never stopped going to school. People used to tease me and say I am like a thermometer because I have too many degrees. Coming back home, what surprised me is that he [Garvey] is not pronounced and not in the forefront.

“It was just by chance I met a member of the staff here. When I came to the school, I couldn’t believe it. The students were well behaved. I listened to the principal and I said, ‘This is the school I want to help’.

“When I went back to the US, my brother, who was still here in Jamaica, said he would jerk some chicken and help put up some money towards what I was putting up. We were able to sponsor three students. What I want to implore is that we have to take our heroes, especially Garvey, serious. We also have to help out the school. Let us stick together and unite. We have to pass these teachings on to the younger generation. That is why we have all this infighting and hate. We need to bring back love as Bob Marley said. There is too much hate and division,” added Daley.