The next step begins for sixteen Belize Bank scholarship recipients
The Belize Bank is sending sixteen more students to school this year. Through its scholarship program, both high school and sixth form recipients will not have to worry about the costs of books and tuition – and they will also be supported with mentors. This is the sixth year the Belize Bank is assisting students with the opportunity to pursue their studies. News Five’s Andrea Polanco was at today’s award ceremony and has more.
Deianeira Flores, High School Scholarship Recipient
“This scholarship is a blessing and it is an opportunity for me to further my studies and it is helping me a lot because I know that this doesn’t come easy; not everybody gets this. So, I thank Belize Bank for giving me an opportunity to get this.”
Uziel Tzib, Sixth form Scholarship Recipient
Uziel Tzib
“I am so thankful to Belize Bank that I get this scholarship. I applied to UB.”
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Deianeira and Uziel are two of the sixteen Belize Bank Scholarship recipients; ten of whom are going to pursue high school studies and six will start sixth form education with full scholarships covering books and tuition – thanks to the Belize Bank. As a part of their scholarship package, Chairman of the Belize Bank, Lyndon Guiseppi, explains that the students will also be supported in a number of ways, including mentorship support – a key part of the scholarship program.
Lyndon Guiseppi
Lyndon Guiseppi, Chairman, Belize Bank
“From the very inception of the program, we’ve identified mentorship as a key component of the scholarship program. So, what we did essentially, we identified in each district, manager or officers in the branches, who these students can speak with. They can speak with them for a variety of different reasons. If they have problems in their homes, if they need additional support in school or additional lessons; or if they just need a big brother or big sister to speak with, they can go to those mentors. if they need tutoring, we also pay for the tutors as well. So, if they are falling short, we bring them in to speak with them. From time to time, I have parents in my office with students who have fallen below the grade point average that we have set for them, to see how we can intervene to make sure that they get back on track. Because we do not want of any these children not to complete the five years or the four years as the case may be.”
The scholarship recipients are selected by a committee. Every year the students who get a scholarship are those who have done well in school, but who may also find it difficult to pay for their education. And covering those costs mean that young people in Belize get to achieve their goals.
Deianeira Flores
Deianeira Flores
“It’s a household of six. I have three other siblings. I have a brother that’s going to go to fourth form and two brothers that are still in primary school. And it is a lot of expenses because my dad is the only one bringing income to the house and my mother is a house-wife, so it was kinda hard to find expenses to cover all.”
Uziel Tzib
“I hope I can do well and achieve my goals in the future.”
Andrea Polanco
“What are you going to study at UB?”
Uziel Tzib
“Business Science. My future goal is to become an accountant.”
Andre Polanco
“And you think this scholarship will definitely get you on the way there?”
Uziel Tzib
“Yes. I believe so. I hope that my goals can become a reality.”
Andrea Polanco
“What does this mean for your family?”
Uziel Tzib
“They are so happy. We didn’t expect it but when we received the call we all got so excited.”
Over one hundred scholarships have been awarded since the inception of the program in 2012. From among those who have completed their education, many of them have gone on to pursue higher studies, while others have joined the workforce – with some now working at the Belize Bank. Chairman Guiseppi says the scholarship program is a way the Bank contributes to Belize’s development:
Lyndon Guiseppi
“I would say it is for good reasons and selfish reasons. What I mean by selfish reason? We are large employer in Belize and we recruit continuously. The Belize Bank have, perhaps, over three hundred employees and we are constantly looking for good employees. Our goal at the Belize Bank, from an HR perspective, is to hire the best and the brightest people in Belize. And we believe that by facilitating this program we are creating for ourselves a potential pool of employees, not just for ourselves, but for the Government and other banks, as well. We think an educated nation is a nation that can go beyond the call and we felt that this was a good way to contribute to the development of Belize.”
And these kinds of philanthropic programs by corporate entities help to support the Ministry of Education’s goal to see more young Belizeans in school.
Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer, MOE
Dr. Carol Babb
“We are always very grateful when entities like the Belize Bank, or any other entity, support scholarships. You know that our main goal is to ensure that every child has access to education. So, we are indeed very grateful to the Belize Bank for making it happen for sixteen students today. Education is key for our students and if we want to build Belize then it must begin with education.”
Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.
