Tag: GraceKennedyFoundation

Editorial | The Gap Between Research And Policy

Against the backdrop of the usual noise associated with political campaigns, a serious message may have been missed this week when the GraceKennedy Foundation renewed its commitment to research work at the University of the West Indies. The foundation funds research activities through the Carlton Alexander Chair in Management Studies and the James Moss-Solomon Chair in Environmental Management.

Chief executive officer of GraceKennedy, Senator Don Wehby, said the UWI must be known as a centre for solutions and a leader in promoting innovation and innovative thinking.

Increasingly, society is looking to tertiary institutions, like the UWI, to use their enormous human resources to bend the curve of technology in the 21st Century and deliver greater opportunities for economic growth and development to future generations.

As Jamaica faces challenges in social justice, health, agriculture, climate change and other areas relevant to national development, it is imperative that new research be undertaken to find ways of mitigating the impact of these challenges on society. These decades-old obstacles throw up numerous opportunities for academics to demonstrate the reach and impact their work can have.

Research is an expensive business and will not flourish without appropriate and consistent funding. Most of the research in tertiary institutions comes from external sources, including philanthropic organisations and private-sector entities. For these investors, it is assumed that they would be keen to measure the success of their investment by effective outcomes.

The results of such research cannot just be displayed during exhibitions at a designated time each year. This new knowledge gathered through research must be used in policy development. The results of research are critical in influencing development of policy, helping to shape legislation, and even to alter behaviours that are found to be detrimental to the common good.

UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE

It may take some convincing to get politicians to understand the science behind the research work, and even harder to get new policy implemented. However, we now have a minister of science and technology in Dr Andrew Wheatley, who has qualifications in biochemistry and chemistry and is a research scientist.

It may, therefore, be left to him to work with the scientific community to convey the idea of research-based evidence by demonstrating to his parliamentary colleagues how the findings were tested, debated and reviewed before achieving consensus.

Recent pronouncements by Dr Wheatley that Jamaica is not lagging in scientific research have been challenged by a letter writer to The Gleaner. The reader, who describes himself as a Jamaican with a scientific background, who has left the island to pursue opportunities overseas, decried the fact that “large-scale investment in scientific research is lacking”.

He suggested that there needs to be a scientific research culture in Jamaica. He lamented the lack of funding as one reason why persons passionate about science have become discouraged.

CRITICAL STEPS

It is indeed a fact that for the country’s research to serve the community well and command global attention funding, it is critical to provide qualified academics and procure equipment and infrastructure to facilitate their work.

Traditionally, policymakers tend to be heavily influenced by what is popular rather than evidence-based research, and this is why research-informed evidence is not assigned the place of importance it deserves in policymaking. It is time to bridge that substantial gap between research and policy.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20161126/editorial-gap-between-research-and-policy

GraceKennedy awards $17.5 m in scholarships

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Former head boy of Charlemont High School in St Catherine Avaughn Prendergast has won the GraceKennedy/Jamaica Scholarship for 2016, while Stephan Pitterson, formerly of Campion College, has copped the Douglas Orane award.

Both Prendergast and Pitterson are students of The University of the West Indies (UWI) where the former is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in actuarial science, while the former is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in bio chemistry.

Prendergast obtained nine grade ones in the recent CSEC examinations and completed 12 units of CAPE with 11 grade ones and one grade two. He is passionate about maths and represented Jamaica at the Math Olympiad in Nicaragua earlier this year. Pitterson, meanwhile, has eight CSEC subjects, with seven grade ones and one grade two. He has eight units of CAPE, including seven grade ones and one grade two.

The two are among over 75 students who were presented with scholarships and bursaries at GraceKennedy Foundation’s inaugural Scholars Awards Ceremony on October 20. Seven scholarships were presented to first-time recipients, while existing scholars who maintained at least a ‘B’ average, had their awards renewed. The entire package totalled $17.5 million.

Former GraceKennedy Chairman and CEO, Raf Diaz, was on hand to present a scholarship, named in his honour, to Shanike Josephs, a first-year accounting student at UWI. Her extra-curricular involvements include membership with the Jamaica Automobile Association, United Nations Club, Girls Guides and Interact (VP). Shanike has nine CSEC subjects, eight with grade ones and one grade two. She also completed eight units of CAPE, including seven grade ones and one grade two.

Other scholarships presented include the GraceKennedy/University of Technology Jamaica Scholarship, which went to Shanika Spencer; the Edna Manley College Scholarship, which went to School of Drama student Waldane Walker; and the Bruce Rickards Scholarship, specifically for former Kingston College students, went to Kadeem Campbell and Mark Lewis.

Final year student Withney DaCosta received the GraceKennedy/Caribbean Maritime Institute Bursary. The GraceKennedy Foundation also awarded several other bursaries to students attending UWI, UTech, Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, and Northern Caribbean University.

The scholarship applications open May 1 to July 15 each year.

At the awards ceremony, Grace Burnett, CEO of GK Financial Group, spoke of GraceKennedy’s investment in education through its two foundations which she said was aimed at bringing about a change for Jamaica’s future.

“All of our scholars are exceptional students with most coming from low income households and would not have been able to afford university education without assistance,” she said.

“Education is a very important area of focus for GraceKennedy, which is why our two foundations, the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation and the GraceKennedy Foundation invest so heavily in our children. We want to be the game changer- changing the structures in inner city communities, from dons to doctors or engineers or accountants and the many other professions, developing a strong workforce for Jamaica’s future,” she added.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/GraceKennedy-awards–17-5-m-in-scholarships_78753

 

GraceKennedy Donates To Hurricane-Hit Haiti

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Hurricane-ravaged Haiti is to receive a donation valued at over J$2.5 million in non-perishable food items from GraceKennedy Ltd.

This donation is bound for Haiti through Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, which recently made a public appeal for donations following the direct hit from Hurricane Matthew earlier this week.

Don Wehby, group chief executive officer of Grace-Kennedy Ltd, said that the company responded immediately to appeals for help for Haiti after seeing the extent of the destruction that occurred.

“What I have seen online and heard from Food For The Poor about the situation really breaks my heart. Jamaica escaped this storm, but several countries have really been hit and we all just have to come together and do what we can to bring relief at this time,” Wehby said.

He added: “Hurricane Matthew has again reminded us of how vulnerable our region is to the risk of extreme weather events. A different level or normal will be required of us all as we work out how to plan for these natural disasters, some of which, like Matthew, won’t follow normal or expected patterns.”

Among the items being donated are crates of porridge mixes, corned beef, sausages, mackerel, cheese, beans, juices and water products.

GraceKennedy staff are also planning to collect items of clothing and other essentials to send to Haiti through FFP Jamaica.

 

‘Needs Very Vast’

 

David Mair, executive director for FFP Jamaica, said the needs are so vast that all contributions are welcomed.

“We are touched by GraceKennedy’s response and thank the staff and leadership for this donation. This will help meet the very vast needs that are coming to our attention. While we are aware of the number of lives lost and have seen images of the damage, a full assessment is yet to be made, and so the loss of lives and damage are likely to be so much greater. We continue to be grateful to all Jamaicans who are making every effort to lend a hand at this time,” said Mair.

Other forms of contribution from GraceKennedy’s subsidiaries and partners are also under way.

Hi-Lo Food Stores has set up collection points at its 13 locations and is supporting FFP’s appeal for non-perishable items. All donations will be collected by FFP, which is organising shipment of items to Haiti. FFP’s Haiti office will handle distribution there.

 

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161008/gracekennedy-donates-hurricane-hit-haiti

GRACEKENNEDY SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY 2016

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GraceKennedy Supports Clean Up of Kingston Harbour – Volunteers who turned out in support of International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17, 2016 are jubilant after spending their morning removing garbage from a section of Kingston Harbour coastline.  The exercise, coordinated by GraceKennedy Foundation, included GraceKennedy employees, their family members and students attached to the Tourism Enhancement and Green Generation Clubs of Campion College.

 

Two hours and 130 pairs of hands led to the removal of over 2,000 lbs of waste from a small section of Kingston Harbour last Saturday.

A large group of GraceKennedy staff, their children, resident of Parade Gardens community and members of the Tourism Enhancement and Green Generation Clubs of Campion College went out in support of International Coastal Cleanup Day observed on Saturday, September 17, 2016.

They cleaned up the section of the Kingston Harbour between Hanover Street and the location of what used to be the prestigious Myrtle Bank Hotel between 7:30 and 9:30am. The yield was 521.2 lbs of plastics and 1,632.4 lbs of garbage.  Prominent among the pile were plastic bottles and bags, foam boxes and corks. There were also shoes, clothes, animal remains, discarded pieces of washtubs and even an old fridge and a toilet seat.

“We do this every year as part of our overall environmental programme – which includes public education and routine collection and recycling of plastics.  I’m glad that our contribution was effective as the area is in a better condition to what we found this morning. I estimate that we removed approximately 90% of the garbage and debris that was in that area. ” said Caroline Mahfood, Executive Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, which led the initiative on behalf of the Group.  “I was particularly impressed with the Campion students and children who came out to help today.  This will no doubt increase their awareness of the impact that poor disposal of garbage can have on the environment,” she added.

“After today, I will be taking a totally new approach to how I can reduce my personal impact on the environment,” said one of the volunteers.  “I will buy in bulk as much as possible to minimise the amount of plastic bottles I use.  I will also be carrying my own bags whenever I go to the supermarket.”

Most of the plastic collected will be further sorted and exported to be recycled, a huge area of focus of the GraceKennedy Foundation which has as part of its mandate, to preserve and protect the environment.

Contact:           Dionne Rhoden

Corporate Communication Officer

Tel: 932-3178/809-0464

Kingston Harbour Cleanup –  These volunteers are hard at work at a section of Kingston Harbour on International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17, 2016. Coordinated by GraceKennedy Foundation, the volunteers were successful in removing over 2000 lbs of plastic bottles and other waste.  The plastic bottles will be sorted, exported and recycled.  This is in keeping with the Foundation’s mandate to actively promote well-being, primarily by supporting educational and environmental programmes and processes.img_7556-coastal-cleanup-2016

 

 

 

ASPIRING DOCTOR CELEBRATES AWARD OF CARLTON ALEXANDER BURSARY

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Catherine Kennedy (right), Director of the GraceKennedy foundation, presents a Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursary to Peta-Jhay Shelly, student of Immaculate Conception High School. Sharing in the moment is Peta-Jhay’s mom Dionne Henry (left), employee of Dairy Industries Jamaica Limited.

 

 

Describing herself as a hard worker who has lofty ambitions of changing the world through medicine, Peta-Jhay Shelly has continued to make her mother, Dionne Henry, proud. Henry watched happily as her daughter accepted her Carlton Alexander Bursary Award earlier this month from the GraceKennedy Foundation.

Shelly’s consistent excellent academic performance since she was first granted the award in 2010 has merited her continued inclusion as a bursary recipient for six consecutive years.

The Immaculate Conception High School student, who started sixth-form at the prestigious school this month, has many reasons to celebrate.

The aspiring medical doctor recently received excellent results in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations, attaining nine ones in the nine subjects she sat.

“I was excited when I got my results because I continue to outdo my own expectations and I was also very happy to make my mother proud,” the student stated.

Shelly, who is focused on the sciences, was rewarded with a $60,000 bursary for her first year of sixth-form. If she continues to perform at a high standard, she could receive a similar amount in upper six. The Carlton Alexander Bursary Award offers a bursary of $40,000 to students in grades 7 to 11 while there is an increase to $60,000 per year for awardees who are in sixth-form. Students attending tertiary level educational institutions receive an award of $100,000 per annum.

The increase in the bursary has been welcomed with relief by Shelly, given the mounting expenses that come with matriculating into sixth-form at her institution. She sang praises of the Award which is in its 26th year.

“It is a great initiative and has helped my mother a lot over the years especially this year because the books are very expensive and now that I am in sixth form, my school fees have gone up,” explained Shelly who will be pursuing Biology, Chemistry and Spanish in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The 17-year-old, who says she is not daunted by the expected challenge that sixth-form will present, is optimistic about matching her performance at the CSEC level in CAPE.

“I just want to stay focused and hope that I can come out of lower sixth with straight ones,” said Shelly.