The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) will host its second annual Kitchen Table Talk forum this Saturday (September 25), for the benefit of at-risk final year students at the regional institution.

This year, the forum features PJ Patterson, former Jamaican prime minister and Distinguished Patron of The UWI Global Giving Programme; Angela Yee, US media personality and entrepreneur; as well as Oliver Samuels, Jamaican comedian, actor and playwright.

In addition to sharing his views at the table, entertainment will be provided by international reggae artiste Richie Stevens.

Distinguished Patrons are CCH Pounder, actress, activist and artist and Lorraine Toussaint, actress, advocate and producer.

The conversation at the table will also include past AFUWI scholarship awardees Joel Dunn, now a senior engineer and Oshane Langley, a financial auditor will cover a variety of issues including the role of higher education in national and regional development as well as commentary on current social topical issues pertaining to culture, lifestyle and well-being.

Ann-Marie Grant, Executive Director of the AFUWI said that the forum, which is a feature of the annual, “UWI Global Giving Programme under the theme ‘Donate to Educate’ is especially critical this year since the COVID-19 pandemic has created even greater  financial challenges for many students.”

“The pandemic has severely impacted the ability of many families who were already in difficult circumstances to earn and final year students are especially anxious that having come this far, their education path would be derailed. We are inviting all alumni of The UWI, friends and benefactors to tune in to Kitchen Table Talk and donate generously for the education of this very deserving cohort of students. Let’s get them graduated and ready to join the world of work and help to build our economy,” Grant added.