A TOTAL OF 32 SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED FINANCED BY THE CANADA CLEAN ENERGY AND FORESTS CLIMATE FACILITY.

For the 2023/2024 academic year, the Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport under its Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP) awarded scholarships to seven females to pursue programmes of study at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC).

The scholarships target females and is geared toward reducing the gender gap in technical education and jobs within the energy sector. In total, 32 scholarships will be awarded financed by the Canada Clean Energy and Forests Climate Facility.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the SALCC, Human Resource Officer in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport, Ms. Grace Lyn Louis-Victorin, applauded the 10 scholarship awardees from 2022 and the seven new awardees this year.

“Today is conformation that your work has paid off and I am most pleased to induct the seven of you into the second cohort of students of the DIP-RESDP-SCP. You are deserving recipients of this generous scholarship and we hope that you can dedicate your efforts to successfully complete the programs of study and thereafter pursue employment in the energy sector. Invariably, the journey will not be without challenges, but do not be deterred. May your studies in the technical field be your pathway to lifelong success.”

Curt Harris, Dean of Academic Partnerships and Internationalization of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, acknowledged the value of the initiative.

“SALCC is extraordinarily proud and happy to be a partner with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the RESDP. We believe that the goals of this project are extraordinarily noble and we are very happy to see the impact that it has had on our female students. The energy sector is broad and this scholarship program will prepare you for the opportunities that will open up.”

The scholarships provide each awardee with tuition for the two years of study, a uniform allowance, a laptop, transportation allowance, a school supplies allowance and a tool kit.

The Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP) works at reducing Saint Lucia’s dependence on fossil fuels by conducting geothermal exploration drilling to determine if there is a viable geothermal resource of quality to pursue the establishment of a geothermal power plant.