JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation Scholarships Application Now Open
The JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship programme. Final year undergraduate students, at local universities, with the exception of those pursing degrees in dentistry, medical sciences, law, architecture and engineering in the 2024/2025 academic year, are invited to apply. Scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, books and/or other school-related expenses.
Patricia Sutherland, chairman of the Foundation outlined, “The scholarship programme is in keeping with our mandate to transform lives and to empower individuals to tap into their greatness, and is an extension of our late-cofounder’s (Joan Duncan) mission to help ordinary Jamaicans to access opportunities to better themselves, their families and communities.” Adding, “Education, is one of the paths that many Jamaicans use to transform their lives as it opens the door of possibilities. We therefore see investment in human development in an equitable way, by increasing access to higher education as one of the ways in which we can help to effect social change and move our nation forward.”
Recipients of the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation scholarship are therefore selected on largely a need basis and their involvement in community activities, in recognition of the social and economic challenges and current realities with increased cost for financing higher education; as a result, many young people are severely hampered as they seek to transform their circumstances.
Interested individuals may apply at, https://www.joanduncanfoundation.org/scholarships-and-educational-grants. Applications close on May 31.
Holistic Development
Kim Mair, CEO of the Foundation notes, “The scholarship programme provides more than financial support, it is an avenue of transformation and holistic development, as we seek to nurture empathetic, innovative and ethical leaders. Since inception, the programme has supported hundreds of individuals - in some instances - helped to catapult individuals out of poverty; become first-generation university graduates; inspired others to realise their dreams, and supported the development of well-rounded individuals. Additionally, the scholarship recipients the opportunity to participate in our supplemental programme - Leadership, Involvement and Innovation, Financial Literacy & Education (LIFE) Accelerator programme, a career guidance and transformational workshop series, which helps to engender a deeper sense of self-awareness, sharpen their emotional intelligence and bolster their preparedness for the world of work.”
In explaining further about the developmental programme, Mair shared that this programme, led by trained facilitators explores self-awareness, paradigm shifting, critical-thinking and visioning, among other areas underpinned by mindset development. It also bolsters the skillset and ‘soft skills’ of scholarship recipients with a view to providing practical tools to support scholars in pursuing purposeful lives and careers and better navigate the world of work.
The scholarship initiative is in line with JMMB Group’s commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen, with keen focus on four pillars namely: education, entrepreneurship, environmental consciousness and community projects, underpinned by transformation. In the last five years, the Foundation has investment over J$60 million in scholarships to approximately 300 students.