One of Guyana’s latest medalists at the 2018 CARIFTA Games, Joanna Archer, 18, is now on her way to achieving her academic dreams thanks to intervention of junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes.

Archer was recently awarded a full scholarship to attend the Monroe College in New York to study Criminal Justice but is facing financial difficulties and was, up until now, unable to purchase a plane ticket for her trip.

On Tuesday, she told the media of the disappointment she faced which eventually gave way to gratefulness after the matter was brought to Broomes’ attention by manager of Delight Travel Service, Adriana Onoja.

Onoja is an acquaintance of Archer’s grandmother, the teen’s guardian in place of her late mother, who would often visit the travel service for assistance for the family.
Her grandmother Rosalene Giddings visited Onoja once again after Archer won Bronze in the 800m and silver in 4x400m at the recent CARIFTA Games and scouts pursued her for a scholarship which did not include travel fees.

To assist the young athlete, Minster Broomes presented her with the funds for a plane ticket which was provided through her children’s organisation, the Broomes Foundation.
Telling of the events which led up to this moment, Archer said: “I chose to go to Monroe College since they have a very good Criminal Justice programme along with a very good middle distance programme, everything that I need.”

“I was offered a full scholarship but air fare was not included in that package. My family can’t afford it since air fare to the US is very much expensive so I was seeking sponsorship and God showed me Minister Broomes.”

In handing over the funds, Broomes said: “I want to really wish you well… I thank God for putting me in the position that I can be able to meet your desire. So I wish you well, you will do well, you will do extremely well.”

She also commended Giddings on doing a wonderful job of raising Archer who has already begun to make her proud and thanked Onoja, too, for bringing the matter to her attention.
Archer is now following in the footsteps of her aunt who studied law and told the media that she is mentally prepared to study just the same.

She still has plans to continue her athletic career as she hopes to represent Guyana in the 2024 Olympic Games in the 800m but, in the meanwhile, will prepare herself to qualify for such.

“Athletics [in Guyana] is really improving. In the past three years, athletics is really doing good because first we just used to run but now we have reasons to run. We run to earn scholarships, for people that can’t afford to study that are gifted with both academic and athletic ability. So, it’s very purposeful currently,” she said.

The youngster graduated last year from the West Demerara Secondary School where she wrote seven subjects gaining favourable passes and will now head out to her new college on August 13, 2018.

“To young persons, especially persons that can’t afford it; continue pursuing your dreams because you don’t know who God will put into your path,” she encouraged.