Newtown Primary student is first female recipient of ICWI scholarship

Janiyah Irving, a student of the Newtown Primary School, has become the fourth recipient of a scholarship from the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI), to attend secondary school.

Janiyah Irving is a former student of the Newtown Primary School who attained a Pass in the June, 2022 Grade Six National Assessment. She will attend the Dominica Grammar School.

The $10,000 scholarship was awarded at a press conference on Friday, August 12.

Country Manager of ICWI, Earl Edwards said Janaya was the first female recipient among the four who had been awarded so far.

“In July 2020, only nine months into our operations here in Dominica, we launched a scholarship program with the award of two scholarships. At that time, they expressed the hope that in the ensuing years we would be able to increase the number of scholarships granted,” Edwards revealed. “ In 2021, we awarded an additional scholarship. And now in 2022 it gives us great pleasure to be here today for the award of another scholarship to take our tally up to four. This year’s award is to Miss Janiyah Irving who attended the Newtown Primary School. Coincidentally she happens to be our first female awardee.”

He told Janiyah’s mother that while the student’s name is the name written on the cheque, the assistance that ICWI is  providing is really to her because the financial responsibility of getting Janayah to and through secondary school, is hers.

Edwards said it is hoped that ICWI’s contribution will relieve her mother of the major part of that financial responsibility.

“Continue to support her by staying involved in her educational journey through secondary school. Guide, encourage and if and when you have to push her to do better, then do so,” he stated. “To Janiyah, today we are committing to invest $ 10,000 into your 5-year secondary school journey. The greater part of the investment in your journey has to come from you if you are to successfully complete that journey.”

He said the investment required on her part is time and effort.

“Be diligent in your studies. Be attentive to your teachers and to the knowledge that they will be imparting to you and while beating the books is the most important part of that journey, it is not the only part. Get involved in the areas of school life which seek to build your social skills and make you a more rounded person,” Edwards advised the primary school student.

The grant will be disbursed in 5 installments of $2,000 for the five years Janiyah will spend in high school.

Edwards thanked the Dominica public for their support and patronage pointing out that t is because of their continued patronage that ICWI in turn, have been able to increase the number of scholarships that are offered.

“ It is one of our ways of giving back to the people who have made us their insurer of choice,” he stated.