​For the 2020-21 academic year, ​the NCB Foundation has awarded J$85 million in funding as part of its annual Scholarship and Grant Programme which benefits young scholars at all levels of education in institutions islandwide.

Phase one of the programme, the Level Up Grant, saw J$25 million allocated to provide financial support for persons who lost their jobs due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase two initially saw J$50 million in funding provided for students at the undergraduate level in accredited tertiary institutions across the island, however, the Foundation has since allocated an additional J$10 million in assistance toward the overwhelming needs of the beneficiaries.

The overall programme has been in motion since 2008 and is aimed at facilitating and supporting education for young people in traditional and non-traditional fields of study at institutions across the island.

The NCB Foundation team said it was extremely important that support also be given to students pursuing studies in non-traditional areas, as these emerging fields have had more and more impact on societies and economies in recent years. Among these fields are Animation, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Engineering, Fashion and Logistics.

“​Guided by the dream of NCB Group’s Chairman, Michael Lee Chin, for every Jamaican child to be able to complete tertiary education, the Foundation has made education our primary strategic focus,​” said Thalia Lyn, chairman of the NCB Foundation.

“​It is our relentless dedication to the development of Jamaica’s youth that propelled us to find innovative solutions that would still deliver value, opportunity, support and hope to our scholars through the overall scholarship programme amidst the global pandemic.​”

This year, with the nationwide disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCB Foundation said it did everything in its power to ensure the programme maintained its momentum as the team was aware that, more than ever before, students would be in need of financial support through an extremely trying time.

Despite delays to the start of the academic year due to COVID-19, the foundation recently awarded this year’s new cohort of 28 students with scholarships via their first-ever Virtual Award Ceremony, which was disguised as a Trivia Gameshow, hosted by Emprezz Golding.

“Words cannot explain the relief I feel having received this support towards pursuing my tertiary education and how much of a positive impact this will have for me and my family.”

Kimone Gordon, scholarship recipient

Scholars were grouped in teams to compete for a surprise grand prize at the end – the news that they had all, in fact, been selected as this year’s scholarship champions. The 28 parish champions, as NCB Foundation calls them, each received J$300,000 for the duration of their study—one from each parish studying in a traditional field and one from each parish studying in a non-traditional field. Of the 28 scholars, four were chosen as ‘National Champions’ who received an additional J$300,000 towards their studies.

“I am truly so grateful to the NCB Foundation family. Words cannot explain the relief I feel having received this support towards pursuing my tertiary education and how much of a positive impact this will have for me and my family,” said scholarship recipient Kimone Gordon, who is now in her first semester of university, studying Pharmacy.

“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in a field that would really help people, where I’d be able to interact with people daily and really see the impact on their lives. I was inspired by my cousin who was a Pharmacy technician and for the past few summers I’ve volunteered with pharmacists working towards this goal. Up until I got the phone call, I still wasn’t even sure how I’d pay the tuition. This scholarship has been a huge help and relief and thanks to the NCB Foundation and this programme I will really be able to realise this dream.”

The NCB Foundation Scholarship and Grant programme is one of the organisation’s many initiatives that support the growth and development of Jamaica’s youth as future leaders of the society.

Other initiatives include the NCB I.C.O.N. Lab in partnership with Trust for the Americas and The Mico University which provides development opportunities and entrepreneurial guidance for Jamaican youth.