The Dominica SiFoCol Alumni Association (DSAA) has donated an unprecedented $10,000 in awards to the Dominica State College (DSC to be disbursed evenly among 6 deserving students who are experiencing financial hardship. DSAA’s President, Mr. Wayne Liburd proudly lauded its membership for the unwavering commitment and passion “to give back to our alma mater, and by extension, the country, which was so influential in not only shaping our formative years, but influenced our careers and life achievements!” President Liburd went on to say that “one of the best ways we have found to do so is to make it a bit easier for the students who now attend the DSC to achieve their educational goals – a stepping stone to greater heights.”
The awards were presented to the DSC Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Trudy Christian, MPH, by DSAA’s Treasurer Mr. Nicholas (Eddie) Bruno, and 2nd Vice President Mr. Keith Benjamin, who are longstanding Board members of the association. In their remarks, both Mr. Bruno and Mr. Benjamin felt honored to represent DSAA and echoed the President’s sentiments of commitment and dedication to the college and Dominica and praised the students for following in their footsteps by attending the DSC.
Ms. Christian was visibly elated and expressed heartfelt appreciation for DSAA’s generosity and partnership. She articulated that “here at the Dominica State College we endeavor to provide a quality education to our students and to make our programmes accessible to all. Through the tremendous support of the Dominica SiFoCol Alumni Association (DSAA), we’ve been able to enhance the ability of some students to benefit from what is offered here. The provision of six (6) needs-based scholarships by the DSAA to our students is a true Godsend. We trust that this sort of necessary outreach by the alumni of this institution will continue and will improve the educational trajectory of our students in the years to come.”
It is significant to point out that this was not the first time that DSAA has been so thoughtful and generous to the college and its student body, and, to other schools. In fact, for the past 3 years, DSAA donated subject prizes to DSC graduates, raised funds to support St. Vincent and The Grenadines College Volcano Relief Fund, and awarded scholarships to Dominica’s primary and secondary schools (Convent, Concord, and St. Martin’s schools). The college students were equally inspired by the association’s accomplishments thus far and look forward to mentorship opportunities that are in the works.
The awards today come on the heels of DSAA’s remarkably successful 2nd Annual White Sunset signature charity fundraiser that was held last October (2023) during Dominica’s renowned World Creole Music Festival. According to Mr. Paul Philip, Chair of the White Sunset Fundraising Committee, “I feel honored to be a part of such an organization of my esteemed peers who are prioritizing giving back.” He continued to share that, “we are also eternally grateful to so many local sponsors and patrons at home and abroad who supported us and made the event the success that it was.” Mr. Philip further signaled that “we are pumped and inspired by the overwhelming support, and we are already pivoting to making White Sunset with a Hint of Creole 2024 an even greater success.”
The other beneficiary of DSAA’s 2023 fundraiser is Operation YouthQuake, and the 2022 fundraiser beneficiary was The Home for the Aged.
The relatively young alumni association initiated its fundraising efforts to benefit Dominica just about 3 years ago when it formally launched a dialysis fundraising campaign in December 2021. DSAA delivered on its promise, raised about USD 100,000, and donated two dialysis machines to the island’s main hospital in Roseau, thus aligning its efforts to prioritize dialysis care with similar goals already underway locally by the Ministry of Health, the Dominica Hospital Authority, and the Dominica China Friendship Hospital.