“The DDL Foundation makes our dreams possible”, were the words of gratitude uttered by Nicholas Mohabir of Hyde Park, Mahaicony River, and a student of the Bishops’ High School.
Nicholas was at the time delivering a thank you message to the members of the DDL Foundation on behalf of his colleagues who are beneficiaries of the 2018 awards.
This year’s awardees are Somira Dainty of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); Natalia Squires of Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); and Deevina Chan of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who gained places Queen’s College.
Anasie Fredericks of Tapakuma Lake, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Garnett Bristol of Kuru Kururu, East Bank Demerara, and Nicholas Mohabir of Hyde Park, Mahaicony River, Region Four, who gained places at the Bishops’ High School.
These six First Form students were selected after having met the criteria by
Chairman of the Demerara Distillers Limited, Komal Samaroo and members of the Foundation along with the beneficiaries
excelling at the National Grade Six Examinations (NGSA) and will join more than 20 other students who are currently benefiting from full scholarships under the DDL Foundation.
The DDL Foundation is now in its ninth year and, since 2015 when the first awardees graduated high school, the Foundation now accepts new awardees and recognises graduates each year. The scholarship covers the main costs associated with attending school. This includes books, uniforms, transportation, and meals where necessary. All students who have excelled in the NGSA, and who have demonstrated their need for assistance because of their financial or social constraints, can apply to the Foundation.
The Foundation was launched in December 2010 with the goal of advancing the education of students who have excelled in the NGSA and have demonstrated a need for assistance.
At a simple ceremony held last Thursday in the Boardroom of Demerara Bank, Chairman of the DDL Foundation, Harryram Parmesar welcomed the recipients and congratulated them on their successes in the NGSA.
He challenged that to take full advantage of the opportunities, they are being afforded and advised that they remain focused on their goals. He warned them that it is easy to get distracted now and they “must be very careful to avoid the distractions that are all around.”
The Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited, Komal Samaroo, in his remarks to the recipients noted that the awardees “arrived where they have as a result of past effort.” He added that “the company recognises your talent and effort and we like to help those demonstrate that they are willing to help themselves but need additional help.” Samaroo closed by saying “It was therefore a joy to able to support their hard work and determined efforts.”
The Foundation comprises mainly volunteers from the DDL staff body and includes a mentorship programme where each child is linked to a mentor who will monitor the performance of the child and provide the necessary moral and other support during the period of their relationship with the Foundation.
While the initial funding was set up by the company, income also comes from employee fundraising activities and donations from employees who donate amounts from their salaries monthly.
Mohabir pledged that he and his “fellow awardees intend to continue to work very hard to remain on top by the time they get to the end of high school.”
