Research into elderly affairs in Barbados is getting a major boost through the ongoing partnership between the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus and the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) Charitable Trust.
The trust grants scholarships to Barbadian students at the Cave Hill Campus who are pursuing full-time postgraduate studies related to ageing.
The charity recently awarded UWI Cave Hill post- graduate student Melony Shoye with this year’s scholarship valued at BDS$5,000. She is pursuing an MPhil degree in Social Work with a focus on resilience of the elderly affected by flooding, specifically in the communities of Holetown, St. James and Belleplaine, St. Andrew. Shoye also intends to make a case for electronic mapping as a tool for disaster management during her course of study
Speaking at the scholarship presentation ceremony held in the Sydney Martin Library of the Cave Hill campus, she expressed her gratitude to both the Cave Hill campus and the BARP Charitable Trust for supporting her research and work in this area of elder resilience.
“I am cognizant of the initiative of the university in putting forward my name and the generosity of the trust in considering me, a part-time student, for this award. I am immensely thankful to both,” Shoye said.
Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill campus Professor Winston Moore also attended the presentation ceremony and used the opportunity to thank the trust for its support of students and the university.
“For donors like the BARP Charitable Trust today we are very happy that you are helping us to provide support for our students and you are also providing direction for our students as well. One of the requirements of the BARP Trust is to look for students who are doing research on the elderly and I think that’s a useful initiative for support and direction for a really important issue.
“One of the things you might notice about the Barbadian economy is that we have a fairly elderly population where the average age is over 40. We are therefore very thankful for the role that our donors play not only in the lives of our students but also for the university as a whole,” Moore said.
Acting Secretary to the Trust, Clyde Williams echoed Moore’s sentiments.
“The trust is pleased to share this moment with the UWI in the knowledge that we are both providing assistance to a very worthy student whose research will strengthen the capacity of professional practitioners, carers, and students of the discipline to better deal with the issues that confront them as they face the challenges of an ageing society,” Williams shared.
He also congratulated Shoye on being chosen for the award and wished her success in her undertakings.
“We take great pride in the knowledge that the fruit of her effort will be of benefit to others,” Williams said.
Dr Sharon Marshall, a Trustee of the BARP Charitable Trust was on hand to present Ms. Shoye with the scholarship. The scholarship is normally $10,000 for full-time students, however, Ms. Shoye is pursuing part-time studies.
Previous winners of the scholarship are Juliet Cumberbatch in 2016, Wasim Worrell in 2017 and again in 2018 when he upgraded from an MPhil to a Ph.D. Jamie Hinds was the 2019 awardee.
The scholarship provides financial support for studies in gerontology, whether medical, economic, or social and is intended to assist in covering the cost of books, materials and tuition. (PR) ]]>
