Scotiabank gives grants to students

Primary school students across the country are enjoying the first week of the summer holidays but parents and members of the business community are already making plans for the upcoming academic year. Scotiabank today announced that it is embarking on an initiative to assist needy children to cover school expenses. This afternoon representatives from the bank presented a number of students with grants to defray the cost of books and tuition come September.  Branch Manager Karen Lewis says the program is in its fifth year.

Karen Lewis, Branch Manager, Scotia Bank

“Initially the fund had started with a grant that we received from our head office in Toronto from the Bank of Nova Scotia to initially start us of.  But I’m proud to say that it has been an initiative that continues to happen because of the staff at Scotia Bank.  Each bank makes a contribution towards this fund on an annual basis just to keep it going to make sure that it’s something that is sustainable.  So we’re very, very proud of the initiative and we’re very, very proud of our staff for the contribution that they continue to make.”

Isani Cayetano

karen lewis

“Can you speak to us how the selection process for students, how does that work?”

Karen Lewis

“Well actually we sent out the applications directly to the principals of various schools.  Because we are in Belize City we try to concentrate on this area, likewise each district concentrates on their particular area.  And we basically follow up with the principals for the submission of applications by a particular deadline.  Now inclusive in these applications is that the students have to present their report cards because we want to make sure that we give to deserving students who are doing good in school.”

Since its beginning in 2005 the grant program has assisted two hundred students with primary school expenses across the country.