A landmark educational initiative has been unveiled to support the academic aspirations of Jamaican students with family ties to Canada’s agricultural sector. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA), in collaboration with Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), has established a scholarship program valued at $115,000 for the 2024 academic year.
This pioneering program will provide financial assistance to ten secondary school students whose parents are participants in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme (SAWP). The scholarships are designed to cover comprehensive educational expenses including textbooks, school uniforms, examination fees, transportation costs, and daily lunch expenses.
Benjamin Murray, Communications Adviser at OFVGA, emphasized the program’s significance during Thursday’s launch event at the MLSS headquarters in Kingston. “This scholarship represents our deep appreciation for the sacrifices Jamaican workers and their families make annually,” Murray stated. “Supporting education is our meaningful way of giving back while investing in the next generation’s future.”
The scholarship announcement coincides with the 60th anniversary of the agricultural partnership between Jamaica and Canada. Murray highlighted this milestone, noting that Jamaican workers have been instrumental to the program’s enduring success and describing the scholarship as both a gesture of gratitude and a commitment to continued collaboration.
Eligibility requirements specify that applicants must be children of Jamaican seasonal farm workers employed in Ontario, enrolled in local secondary education, and maintaining at least a ‘B’ grade average. Additional criteria require the parent-worker to have completed three consecutive years of service in the SAWP without any unauthorized absences.
Andrea Miller-Stennett, Director of Employment Services at MLSS, outlined application procedures requiring submission of completed forms alongside supporting documentation including proof of parental employment in Ontario, birth certificates, and academic records. Application forms are available at MLSS offices in Kingston or through Jamaican Liaison Service offices in Canada.
Jamaica’s Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. welcomed the initiative as a strategic partnership that alleviates educational financial burdens while recognizing farm workers’ contributions. The application window opens April 1 and closes June 30, 2026, with inquiries directed to MLSS Family Services or Jamaican Liaison Service offices in Canada.