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Jerome Cowans - Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP) Petra – Ann Campbell – Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP)

Scholarship and Internship Recipient Scholarship Recipient

I am from Parade Gardens where I lived in a single parent family. My name is Petra – Ann Campbell from the community of Bog
When I got accepted to do a Bachelors in Economics at the Walk and I am a final year student at the University of the West
University of the West Indies, the reality was that I could not Indies, pursuing a full time Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine
afford the tuition. I applied for the PRP Tertiary Scholarship and Biology. I am also a science teacher (Integrated Science, Human
was successful. The support went far beyond the scholarship, and Social Biology, Physics) at the Meadowbrook High School.
the staff at JSIF became mentors, providing motivation, This couldn’t have been possible without the assistance of the
encouragement and even assisted with complex assignments. Jamaica Social Investment Fund in the form of a Scholarship
This support enabled me to complete my BSc with honours that I received in 2015. This covered my tuition in its entirety for
from the UWI. the entire school year which was a relief, since I would have had
to take a student loan otherwise. This saved me the trouble of
But JSIF didn’t stop influencing my life there. The PRP incurring a financial burden that would’ve taken years to repay.
addressed another major problem facing school leavers- the I am grateful for this assistance and as such I try my best to
lack of experience. I applied for the internship programme give back to others in the same way I have been shown such
to garner experience in the working world. This was a major kindness. Presently I am a marine biologist, who tries her best
development point for my life. to inspire her students to do their best and carry on my mantra
believing that, “I am as good as any, better than many, inferior
As a result of these programmes, I stand as a true testament to none”.
over adversity showing that you can achieve greatness; and
organizations like JSIF are out there to assist. From my work
I have received both the Prime Minister and Governor General
Awards in Jamaica. Internationally I have received awards
from Canada, Sri Lanka, the United States of America, the
United Nations, Colombia and the Commonwealth for youth
leadership and work in development. I also copped the Nelson
Mandela Award in South Africa. One of the things that stands
out the most for me was when President Barack Obama offered
high praises for my work in a speech to the young people of the
Caribbean. This was the same year I met and was awarded by
Her Majesty the Queen in Buckingham Palace.

I have completed my Masters in Operations Management at Petra Ann attending a JSIF event.
the University of Birmingham through a Chevening Scholarship.
Before all of this, it was JSIF that saw the potential and decided
to invest their resources and time in my development. I am
forever grateful.

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