NGO provides $10 000 in grants to Lodge School girls

Ten girls from the Lodge School on Friday each received a $1 000 educational grant as local NGO, I Am A Girl marked its 10th anniversary.

On a day that was also celebrated as the International Day of the Girl Child, I Am A Girl founder and executive director, Alian Ollivierre-Skeete, returned to her alma mater to present the $10 000 in financial support to Arielle Trotman, Genesis Nurse, Ariel Maynard, Cierra Marshall, Summer Prescod, Imani Leacock, Jaraiya Williams, Zakiya Lucas, Kaliyah Devonish-Risbook, and Zakeyra Beckles.

“As a proud country girl from St John, my desire to give back has only grown stronger, making this celebration at my alma mater even more significant,” she said.

Noting the importance of financial support for students’ academic pursuits, Olliverre-Skeete added: “Sometimes we don’t always have everything we need for academics and our general basic needs. So today, on our 10th anniversary, we made sure to celebrate and gift 10 grants of $1 000 each.”

The scholarships, made possible with the support of Scotiabank Barbados and other donors, are intended to ease the financial burden on students and their families.

Ollivierre-Skeete disclosed that three of the scholarships were direct contributions from Scotiabank, with the remaining seven funded by donors from around the world. “What’s better than taking some of the burden off of your household?” she said.

The selection process for the scholarship recipients was conducted through an interactive activity that involved cups which contained questions that encouraged leadership and creativity.

Yvette Brown from Scotiabank Barbados delivered a motivational address, underscoring the importance of determination, education, and collective effort in empowering young girls to reach their potential.

(LG)