A scholarship fund to honour the memory of former Manpower & Maintenance Services Ltd Group (MMS) employee, Kareen Foster-Jones, was today launched as part to the annual activities to mark International Women’s Day by the M’Power Women’s Group, an MMS entity dedicated to the “upliftment of women through work and education”.

The scholarship fund was launched as part of the seminar, ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, staged in keeping with the theme for International Women’s Day.

The Group was addressed by keynote speaker Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn and Dr Paulette Feraria, who spoke on the topic, ‘Upskilling Your Personal and Professional Development’.

APPLICANTS MUST BE OVER 18

According to Monica Young, director, human resources management at MMS, “the scholarship, which has a present value of J$250,000, will be awarded annually to MMS female employees who wish to study at the tertiary level”.

Young noted that, “applicants must be over 18 years old and already enrolled in a tertiary institution, with at least two years remaining in the programme”.

She added: “The programme of study must be commensurate with their current job post or career aspiration within MMS as outlined on the career aspiration form.”

She said the award will be increased over time.

The brainchild of Audrey Hinchcliffe, MMS chairman and CEO, Young said “careful thought has been given to this scholarship award which begins this year – 2022″.

Through the programme, Manpower aims to encourage and motivate recipients to reach for and accomplish the goals that were dear to Foster-Jones’s heart.

Said Young: “She believed in self-actualisation and that, with dedication one could achieve at the highest level, ultimately developing the aptitude and skills needed to embark on and forge worthwhile careers and realise lifelong ambitions.”

The first award was made to Foster-Jones’s daughter, Amanda Jones, to pursue a course of study of her choice.

“It was Kareen’s greatest wish that her daughter receives the finest education possible, excels academically and takes her place among the world’s accomplished and responsible citizens,” Young said.

“With this award, we would like to believe that the road is being paved for Amanda to take another meaningful step in that direction.”

MANDATE TO ADDRESS ISSUES AFFECTING WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE

The scholarship fund, Young noted, “not only demonstrates Manpower’s generosity but the value it places on its employees, on lifting the standards in the workplace, and underscores the company’s commitment to ensuring that women are given every opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential and to excel”.

The M’Power Women’s Group’s mandate is to address issues that affect women at the workplace and motivate them to improve their education and upgrade their skills while on the job, either through the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED) a Manpower affiliate, or other educational institutions.

The Group strives to provide a context for women to continue to grow and develop and to be a motivator for the female children of employees. One of the Group’s tasks is to raise funds, organise educational programmes and provide scholarships to benefit women both in and outside of the organisation. The Group will also recognise the male MMS employees who are achievers.