CLARENDON, Jamaica— Over 300 students within the South East Clarendon division received grants and book vouchers totalling more than $8 million from Member of Parliament of the area, Pearnel Charles Jr.

The grants, 150 of which were given to tertiary level students and 100 to students at the secondary level, are to assist with tuition and back-to-school supplies.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony at the Wembly Centre of Excellence in Clarendon on Sunday, Charles Jr reaffirmed his commitment to developing youth in his constituency.

“We are focused and committed to ensuring that our youth have opportunity and that they’re given a platform to be able to rise above their circumstances,” he said.

“We are living in the toughest times. Tough times create tough people and tough people are the ones who can push us through the challenges, find creative ways, invent solutions for the challenges that we have and make sure that Jamaica will play her part in this world. I believe in you, that’s why I’m here. I believe in you and I hope that you believe in yourself,” the MP reaffirmed.

Describing education as the equalizer, Charles Jr charged the beneficiaries with making the most of the support.

“It [education] is the most powerful tool that you will have to change the world, to change your world, and as your Member of Parliament, I am here just with the responsibility of giving you that support. And for you it may not be all the support, for some we’ll be able to give partial, for some complete, but I want to encourage you as students,” he said.

Noting that his office had a shortage of scholarship applicants, Charles Jr encouraged both students and parents to seize all opportunities.

“I want to encourage you as students, particularly those who are in university to make sure that you explore the opportunities. Too many young people in South East Clarendon and across Jamaica are not applying for scholarships that are available. This year alone, we put out, in several groups, information for scholarships from Jamalco, from Monymusk, from Carreras, from other places, other corporate citizens, Diaspora groups that are willing, that are ready to help and we still have a shortage of applicants for scholarships,” the MP explained.

“Parents, students, I encourage you, get up, get out, find the opportunities. Do not sit down and say that there is no hope. There is hope but the hope rests in your action. You have to find it, you have to grab it and make the most of it,” he continued, adding that his team will continue its scholarship drive next year.

Delivering the vote of thanks during the handing over ceremony, grant recipient Shamir Martin said the initiative was proof that the government cares about youth.

“I would like to thank Mr Charles and his team for having using precious time and effort to give back to the community. It shows that our government cares. On behalf of every beneficiary here, every single person who would have benefitted, we want to give you a big thanks. We all appreciate it and we hope that we can be here next time around. We feel reignited and ready for youth greatness,” Martin shared.

Meanwhile, Sammer Parchment, a student of Church Teachers’ College, in Mandeville, said the $100,000 grant would go a long way in paying her tuition.

“I want to extend special thanks to Honourable Pearnel Charles for this grant. It means so much to me and it will help with my tuition. It will go a far way so I just want to say thank you,” Parchment said.

Moia Dallas, a student of the University of the West Indies majoring in Banking ,Finance and Economics, who also received a $100,000 tuition grant added, “I was lucky enough to be one of the recipients of the Honourable Pearnel Charles’ back-to-school grant and I must say I am very thankful. I am elated because this grant will help me to go further in pursuing my studies.”

The project was supported by the Constituency Development Fund and the All4JA Foundation, funds were also sourced through other donations and fundraising activities.