KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fresh wave of academic funding is rolling across Clarendon and Manchester as mining powerhouse Jamalco, teamed with U.S.-based Century Aluminum, channels nearly J$25 million into scholarships, book grants, and bursaries for 450 students. Now in its nineteenth year, the programme has become a pipeline of opportunity from basic school straight through to university.
Dr Mark Smith, president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, framed the initiative as more than charity. “Education is a crucible,” he told awardees. “The degree matters, but the grind matters more. When doors shut, keep knocking.” His charge landed especially hard with first-year nursing student Jamelia McPherson, who rededicated herself to healthcare after losing her mother to cancer: “Jamalco’s backing turns grief into fuel,” she said.
Corporate Commitments
- Jamalco — Managing Director Marvin Jackson disclosed that the company has poured roughly J$100 million into education over the past five years, positioning the spend as “venture capital for Jamaica’s human capital.”
- Century Aluminum — Levi Chaffin, VP Operations (Americas), noted that the Century Aluminum High Achievers Award is only three years old yet keeps expanding: “Talent in our communities deserves compound interest,” he said.
How the Money Breaks Down This Year
| Category | Number of Awards | Value (J$) |
|---|---|---|
| Jamalco Mentee Scholarships | 6 | 1.5 M each |
| Special Grants | 12 | 2.52 M total |
| Tertiary Scholarships | 53 | 10.6 M total |
| PEP Bursaries | 10 | 40,000 each |
| Community Book Grants | ~350 students | 3 M total |
| Century Scholarships | 20 | 7 M total |
Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles Jr urged recipients to “treat every dollar as leverage” while Corporate Communications lead Donna Marie Brooks called the initiative “an investment in minds, not mines.”
Since launching in 2007, the education assistance programme has followed a simple rule: once a student earns a spot, the support follows until graduation—provided grades stay sharp. Nineteen years in, the ROI is measured in degrees, diplomas, and a growing cadre of young professionals who trace their first break to a mining company’s classroom bet.
