Sixteen future leaders were recently given valuable insight into the worlds of finance and fine art, courtesy of Scotiabank and the Scotiabank Foundation. The Grade 9 students from Kingston Technical High School participated in a field trip that included visits to the Bank’s Scotia Centre Head Office on the Kingston waterfront and the National Gallery of Jamaica.

The students are participants in SEEP, the Student Education and Empowerment Programme, which is being financed by the Scotiabank Foundation and delivered by Project STAR. The activity marked the successful close of the SEEP summer term.

The field trip created an opportunity for the students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences in banking, leadership, community development and the arts. During the visit, the students toured the Scotiabank Centre branch in downtown Kingston, where they were hosted by Branch Manager Conrad Wright and had the opportunity to engage with Audrey Tugwell Henry, President and CEO of Scotia Group Jamaica.

The session at the branch exposed the students to the role of financial institutions in supporting individuals, businesses and communities, while also allowing them to hear directly from Scotiabank leaders about the importance of education, discipline, confidence and preparation in shaping their future pathways.

The students also visited Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection at the National Gallery of Jamaica, an exhibition presented by Scotiabank in partnership with the Gallery. The exhibition brings together works from the Scotiabank Jamaica Collection alongside selected pieces from the National Collection, inviting viewers to reflect on Jamaica’s landscape, history, identity and transformation.

Speaking on the initiative, Yanique Forbes-Patrick, Regional Director, Caribbean Corporate Affairs, said the visit reflected Scotiabank’s broader commitment to supporting young people and expanding access to meaningful cultural and educational experiences. “At Scotiabank, we believe that investing in young people is an investment in Jamaica’s future,” she said. “Through initiatives like this, we are helping students see what is possible, connect with positive role models, and experience institutions and spaces that can inspire their personal growth and aspirations.”

Project SEEP, executed in collaboration with Project STAR, is an evidence-based human capital development intervention within specified vulnerable communities in eastern downtown Kingston. The Student Education and Empowerment Programme got underway in January 2025 and will run for three years. The programme is focused on two schools, Holy Family Primary and Kingston Technical High, and is designed to enhance the resilience of selected cohorts of students academically, behaviourally and psychosocially, while also supporting their parents and teachers. The field trip served as a culminating activity for the term, celebrating the students’ participation and reinforcing the value of community partnerships in supporting education, empowerment and youth development.

During the session, the students were recognised for their consistent participation in the programme, while the top-performing students in the initiative were also highlighted for their commitment, engagement and achievement throughout the term.

Scotiabank’s partnership with the National Gallery of Jamaica also forms part of the Bank’s continued investment in cultural preservation, creative expression and public access to Jamaican art. The Bank’s Global Art Program manages more than 6,000 works of art across its international footprint, with Jamaica accounting for approximately 1,600 pieces, making the local collection one of the largest within the program.

Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection remains open to the public at the National Gallery of Jamaica until September 13, 2026. Children and students with valid student identification are able to enter the Gallery at no cost, providing an important opportunity for more young people to experience Jamaican art, culture and storytelling through the exhibition.