Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 was a devastating event. I have vivid memories of the bleak post-hurricane cityscape of Kingston, with almost every structure broken or destroyed. I recall lining up at the ice factory for a lump of ice; living on bully beef and rice.
The Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) was seriously affected by the ravages of Gilbert. As a result, a small group of businesspeople got together to set up the Jamaica Appeal Committee, which raised enough money to keep classes and the University’s teaching hospital going. Two years later, the UWI Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF) was officially established.
Fast forward to 2013, and the Fund has much to be thankful for. I was happy to share in the celebration on October 10 at UWIDEF’s annual donor recognition and scholarship awards luncheon. The mood was focused and distinctly upbeat; but these are challenging times. Chairman Dennis Lalor, in his opening remarks, pointed to a sharp decline in donations and the negative impact of the second Jamaica Debt Exchange on donors, as well as the stultifying economic climate. He noted, however, that “creative mechanisms” were being found for giving. A broader platform is available, including the Jamaican diaspora. Mr. Lalor pointed to the JN Foundation’s excellent “I Support Jamaica” crowd-funding initiative as an example. (By the way, you can contribute to a scholarship for students with special needs here: https://www.isupportjamaica.com/project_details.aspx?pid=54). “All stakeholders must build support for tertiary education,” he concluded, on a note of urgency. “If UWI fails, our country – our region – will fail.”
The recently installed Prinicipal of UWI, Professor Archibald McDonald, stressed the significant role played by UWI in grooming future leaders. This year’s donors, he noted, have helped nurture young, ambitious Jamaican students – those who would be receiving scholarships that day. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr‘s words: “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness,” seemed most appropriate. Altruism, or selflessness, is a much under-estimated value these days.
“I hear young people saying they don’t want to hear about the past, only the future,” observed former Prime Minister and guest speaker PJ Patterson. But, as National Hero Marcus Garvey said, we must know where we are coming from. Patterson reminded us of UWI’s earliest days, when “32 brave students donned scarlet robes” as the first graduates. “There was pride in some quarters,” he observed, “but ridicule in others.” Not everyone was convinced that UWI would work. When he himself entered UWI in 1954, there were 350 students. Now, there are 43,000 “all over the region,” including students of the Open Campus.
From its inception, UWI’s goal was to “loosen colonial ties,” to venture forth independently, as an institution with a shared regional identity. It was also to uphold the principles of tolerance, peace, respect, understanding and social cohesion. Patterson cited examples of progress in many areas that UWI has spearheaded. Great strides, indeed; but “the matter of equity remains a concern,” he added. “Many students are the first in their family to go to UWI…But so was I.”
The other concern, an abiding one of the former Prime Minister’s, is this: “UWI must never lose its regional focus.” He quoted Barbadian writer George Lamming who spoke of the “organic path” that Caribbean people must follow. UWI must keep this path open, he suggested, with the Caribbean at the center of its being. When he graduated, he said, “All of us departed as ardent and unrepentant regionalists.” In that spirit, Patterson announced that he has offered to personally spearhead a drive in support of the Caribbean Integration Bursary, conceived in 2006, which enables students to spend one semester at another of the three UWI campuses (the other two are in Barbados – Cave Hill; and Trinidad – St. Augustine). He would like to see a special window in UWIDEF for this purpose. He urged UWI alumni to give back to this fund, to broaden the students’ horizons and foster Caribbean understanding.
Turning to the matter of funding, Patterson asked whether higher education should be a private concern, or one for the public good. “Simple answer – it must be both,” he said. Currently, the Jamaican Government funds 80 per cent of fees at UWI, while the student contributes 20 per cent. In the program, I read a contribution from UWIDEF’s Executive Director Sasha Parke-Lynch, which included a telling comparison with how colleges in the United States have been doing in the past year. U.S. colleges are struggling too – seeking to meet growing demands for more services against the background of economic uncertainty. Their endowment portfolios declined by 0.3 per cent, on average.
At the luncheon, twenty-three students in the Faculties of Medical Sciences, Law, Business & Management, Science & Technology and Humanities & Education received scholarships and bursaries. As one scholarship recipient, medical student André Whyte noted, students with very limited means have to make daily sacrifices for their studies. They will give up lunch in order to pay for a document to be printed. Surviving financially is always a concern for them.
The corporate donors remain loyal and generous, despite the tough economic times. Regional Manager of Tastee Limited (yes, the patty people) Jermaine Scarlett noted that his firm has been funding scholarships since 1996. This year, Tastee has added new scholarships – in Accounting and Management, Food and Beverages, and Law. Scarlett said he sees Tastee’s “giving back to the Jamaican people” – especially its support for youth at risk – as “a social responsibility.” He urged the recipients of scholarships to complete the circle by becoming donors themselves in the future.
Telecoms firm LIME received special recognition from UWIDEF for what was possibly the single largest donation by a corporate entity in Jamaica – a US$800,000 donation to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in 1995, which provided critical pieces of equipment, with some invested for the future. What an incredible boost for the region’s major teaching hospital.
UWIDEF’s purpose is not just to reward personal achievement. It has an even higher goal: simply that of lifting up society. As PJ Patterson noted: “UWI’s mission has no end.”
Please give generously for Jamaica’s future.
“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment; we can start now, start slowly changing the world!” – Anne Frank’s Diary, 1944
If you wish to contact UWIDEF, you may visit its office at 16 Gibraltar Camp Way, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7. Tel: (876) 977-6757 or 977-6758. Website: http://www.uwifundmona.org.jm You may also follow UWIDEF on Facebook and Twitter.
Petchary's Blog 
A perfect place for that Anne Frank quote 🙂
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Thanks, Aisha! Yes, it seemed to fit. One of my personal favorite quotes…
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