Jamaican students en route to France
TAFAR-I WILLIAMS has his sights set on being an ambassador, and Janique Crosdale is considering politics, being a translator, entrepreneur, and also wants to dabble in the culinary arts. These are undoubtedly attainable goals for both, and having received the 2017 Total UWIBordeaux scholarship puts them even closer.
Williams, Crosdale and 2016 awardee Jevon Dixon were the toast of Total Jamaica at Redbones Blues Café on Thursday, August 24, a reception at which the three ambitious youngsters had everyone beaming with pride.
Dixon had plenty to share with Williams and Crosdale, telling them what to expect for the next year at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques at the University of Bordeaux, France, where they will embark on the second year in their march towards a five-year master’s degree in political science.
Total Jamaica is in its third year of sponsoring the exchange programme involving students from the University of the West Indies (UWI); the Institut d’Etudes Politiques, University of Bordeaux, France; and Universite des Antilles-Guyane, Schoelcher, Martinique.
EVERY GIRL’S DREAM
“To go to France is every girl’s dream,” Crosdale said, adding that she was particularly interested in learning how to cook French food.
The Immaculate Conception High graduate said she was extremely grateful for the €6,000 scholarship, plus being able to study abroad at a world-famous university, pointing out that her single-parent mom, Julian Jeffrey, though worried about daughter being away from home, has had a huge burden lifted from her shoulders.
Williams, a Calabar High 2014 valedictorian, got some cuisine tips from Total Jamaica’s Managing Director David Ducognon, who told him to make sure he tries the
also known as cannele Bordelais, a rum and vanilla cake.
The Calabar old boy said he was really enthused on being selected, pointing out that he had eyes on the scholarship from high school.
LEARNING ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
“I was told about the scholarship by a Calabar old boy who knew about my interests. It was as if he knew me more than myself,” he said, adding that he wants to “make changes in the international arena, resolve issues, helping countries to form bonds”.
Dr Omar Hawthorne, coordinator of the student-exchange programme, said the highly competitive scholarship starts as a five-year journey at the University of the West Indies.
“It is the only programme at UWI that you get to study abroad for three of five years and get two degrees,” Dr Hawthorne said, pointing out that the second year is spent at Bordeaux, the third in Martinique, after which students earn a bachelor of science; the fourth year at Bordeaux and the final year at UWI to complete their masters.