Former state ward hails COJO scholarships as ‘symbol of belief in our potential’
18 tertiary students benefit as New York-based charity continues outreach in Jamaica
Published:Thursday | May 22, 2025 | 12:12 AMMickalia Kington/Gleaner Writer
Eighteen bright and determined university students received life-changing support at this year’s Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon, held yesterday, with awards ranging from US$2,000 to US$5,000.
The event, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, celebrated not only academic achievements, but the many admirable qualities of Jamaican youth who were wards of the State and have conquered and embraced their hardships.
Students attending institutions across Jamaica, including the University of Technology Jamaica, The Mico University College; G.C. Foster College; the College of Agriculture, Science and Education; Northern Caribbean University; the Caribbean Maritime University Western campus; Edna Manley College; and Shortwood Teachers’ College, were honoured. Among the recipients was Christopher Dawes, a student pursuing a bachelor’s in human ecology at Shortwood Teachers’ College.
Dawes shared the emotional journey that led to his selection.
“I remember seeing this application in a group chat and without great expectation, but with steadfast fire, I submitted,” he said. “When I received the call last week, I broke down in tears ... overwhelmed not by grief, but the grace that met me in that moment.”
Having previously benefited from a four-year scholarship, Dawes faced financial uncertainty in his final year.
“I didn’t want to take a student loan, so ... I just decided to apply for it. They said, ‘first come, first serve’. I didn’t know I was going to get it because there was one criterion ... the scholarship is meant for somebody who has never gotten a scholarship yet, somebody who is just starting school,” he explained in an interview with The Gleaner. “But nothing tried, nothing done. I applied for it and I got it.”
Dawes, who hails from Bethel Town in Westmoreland and was supported by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), was quick to credit the individuals and systems that uplifted him. He said he was one of only two in his family and community to pursue tertiary education.
A DIFFERENT ANSWER
In his address, he affirmed, “This COJO scholarship is a different answer to the uncertainty ... a symbol of belief in our potential and a beacon of hope on our academic journey.”
Meanwhile, CPFSA CEO Laurette Adams-Thomas shed light on the agency’s support system.
“The CPFSA has a Transitional Living Programme ... it allows children in state care to have an opportunity, once they are at the stage where they would have graduated from high school, to pursue their educational goals and dreams.”
She also explained the agency’s involvement in the selection process.
“We would have asked the students to submit an essay or some form of narrative to indicate why you think you should be a scholarship recipient ... but the CPFSA focuses on building education, focuses on ensuring that children have hope.”
The CPFSA also provides them with other essential services.
“We also provide living accommodations for them. We pay the utilities, we pay the rent, we pay for all the miscellaneous fees that they would need,” Adams-Thomas said.
SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIONAL
For Dawes, the support has been transformational.
“I always tell myself, and it’s very evident, that I’m a blessed child,” he said. “[It’s] not like I did not have any family member or anything when I ended up in a childcare facility. I spent a short while there, but God knew what he was doing, because if I didn’t end up in that space, I wouldn’t have a degree.”
He cited the scripture as his anchor during difficult times, reciting Isiah 46:4.
“Even to your old age I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you,” he said. “These words are not just scriptures, they are a reflection of this very moment.”
Meanwhile, COJO’s mission, said Gary Williams, the charity’s founder and chairman, is rooted in giving back.
“The inspiration is giving back to underprivileged kids and to see the joy on the faces of the kids over the years,” he said of the charity which is celebrating its 30th year. “The success story starts when they are lawyers, some are doctors; we have dentists, we have nurses, we have some in the government services.”
Williams emphasised COJO’s growing impact.
“Last year we gave 15 scholarships ... . Over the years, we started with three; now this year we’re doing 18, and we’re giving $60,000 in scholarships.”
He added that COJO’s support extends to homes.
“We’re going by a girl’s home on Friday to hand over a stove, a washing machine, a dryer and a blender.”
Funding for COJO’s initiatives largely comes from two major events held in New York.
“We have a gala that’s normally held in December and a soirée in the summer. The gala is our signature event; the summer soirée is a poolside garden party with a fashion show,” Williams explained, also highlighting the support he receives from Sandals Resorts, JetBlue, Bahia Principe, and others.
As Dawes put it, “Responsibility comes with rank. And as a result of this opportunity, to whom much is given, much is expected; an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”