12 benefit from Barclays-funded scholarships |23 September 2017
Twelve young men and women are benefiting from a three-year scholarship sponsored by Barclays Bank Seychelles.
The three-year full-time degree progamme will be run by the University of Seychelles as from October 2017.
The programme is aimed at motivating young, talented students to fulfill their potential and reinvest their knowledge in ways that will positively benefit the country.
Based on their potential, students were selected by Barclays Bank Seychelles in conjunction with the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD).
They will be studying in different fields such as environmental science, business administration, law and computing and information systems.
The scholars are Angelique Dine, Ramgie Pillay, Oceanne Adeline, Evita Delpech, Dave Talma, Anastasia Montano, Heather Lafleur, Leeroy Charlette, Maryam Majah, Samira Legaie, Reuben Pierre and Alvin Rosalie.
The scholarships are costing Barclays a sum of R6 million.
It was the managing director of Barclays Bank Seychelles Johan Van Schalwyk who revealed the amount during a ceremony on Thursday at the Eden Bleu Hotel to launch the new Barclays Bank Scholarship Programme.
During that same ceremony, Mr Van Schalwyk and Professor Dennis Hardy, vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to seal the finalised programme.
Present were staff and board members of Barclays Bank Seychelles, staff of ANHRD, parents and the students.
Coming from the Barclays Scholarship Fund, R1.9 million has been set aside for yearly tuition fees and it will be renewed every year. The students will also receive R3350 per month as allowance for other expenses.
Mr Van Schalwyk said Barclays Bank Seychelles invested R1.5 million in community-based initiatives in 2016 and that the scholarship programme is part of Barclays’ continued corporate social responsibility to invest in the youth to create young leaders of tomorrow who will create capacity for the country to prosper.
“We understand the concept of shared prosperity. We understand as an organisation, if the communities in which we operate prosper, we also prosper,” he said.
Noting that the programme is about making a difference in the lives of people, he praised the students for their given opportunity, wished them success and reminded them of their responsibility to succeed in their studies.
Professor Hardy congratulated the students and said, “Seychelles needs people like you. People who are informed about their subjects but who are good citizens too, with clear understanding of how knowledge and critical faculties are essential to keep pace with global change.”
He added that they will also be looked upon as role models to others. With such huge investment, he said, Barclays Bank Seychelles must be warmly congratulated for showing the vision to initiate the generous programme and that UniSey is proud to be a partner and welcomed the new students at UniSey.
On behalf of his fellow students, Ramgie Pillay thanked Barclays Bank Seychelles for providing them the generous opportunity by putting its trust and investment in them.