“THE DDL Foundation makes our dreams possible.” These were among the words of thanks from Nicholas Mohabir of Hyde Park, Mahaicony River and The Bishop’s High School.

Nicholas was at the time delivering a thank you message to the members of the DDL foundation on behalf of his fellow beneficiaries of the 2018 batch. This year’s awardees are: Somira Dainty of Linden, Natalia Squires of Georgetown, and Deevina Chan of Pouderoyen, WBD, who gained places at Queen’s College, and Anasie Fredericks of Tapakuma Lake, Essequibo Coast, Garnett Bristol of Kuru Kururu, and Nicholas Mohabir of Hyde Park, Mahaicony River, who gained places at The Bishop’s High School.

In a release, DDL said these six first-formers were selected after having met the criteria by excelling at the National Grade Six Examinations and will join more than twenty other students who are currently benefitting from full scholarships under the DDL Foundation. The DDL Foundation is now in its ninth year and, since 2015 when the first awardees graduated from high school, the foundation now accepts new awardees and recognises graduates each year. The scholarship covers the main costs associated with attending school. These include books, uniforms, transportation, and meals where necessary. All students who have excelled in the National Grade Six Examination 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 National Grade Six Examination and have demonstrated a need for assistance. At a simple ceremony held last Thursday at the boardroom of Demerara Bank Limited, Chairman of the DDL Foundation, Mr. Harryram Parmesar, welcomed the recipients and congratulated them on their successes in the National Grade Six Examination.

He challenged them to take full advantage of the opportunities they are being afforded and advised that they remain focussed 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, Mr. 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 that “It was therefore a joy to [be]able to support their hard work and determined efforts.”

The Foundation comprises mainly volunteers from the DDL staff and includes a mentorship program 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 fund-raising activities and donations from employees who donate amounts from their salaries monthly. The Foundation is being managed by a board of directors under the Chairmanship of Mr. Harryram Parmesar. Other directors of the Foundation are: Mrs. Sharda Veeren-Chand, Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton, and Ms. Sylvia Conway. Mr. Vasudeo Singh is the treasurer to the Foundation, while Ms. Allison Thorne is the legal adviser and Mrs. Sharon Sue-Hang serves as secretary to the Board. Nicholas 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.”