On Friday, May 8, 2026, the Dominica SiFoCol Alumni Association (DSAA) held its annual Beneficiary Handover Ceremony and Dominica State College (DSC) Scholarship Awards at the UWI Open Campus Auditorium, where the group distributed a total of EC$32,000 in student scholarships and community development grants. This initiative marks the association’s ongoing dedication to advancing educational access, empowering young Dominicans, and strengthening local communities across the island nation.
The largest portion of funding allocated to individual learners saw EC$12,000 distributed in merit- and need-based scholarships to six currently enrolled DSC students, with each recipient receiving EC$2,000. The awards recognize not only strong academic performance but also the remarkable resilience and determination each student has displayed while pursuing higher education despite significant financial barriers. Recipients were jointly selected by DSC administrative staff and the DSAA leadership, representing a diverse cross-section of the college’s academic departments. The 2026 award recipients are Shakira Brown, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences; Kenan Nwijal, a Business Administration student concentrating in Management, Finance, and Tourism; Osani Nengen, an Auto Mechanics major; Khadisha Joseph of the Faculty of General Studies; Rishanda Henry, who is studying Paralegal Studies; and Jess Vidal, a trainee in the Primary Education program.
In his remarks to ceremony attendees, Dr. Dumansey Eugene Zamo, Dean of Academic Affairs at DSC, offered warm congratulations to the selected students and commended the DSAA for its consistent, long-term investment in the island’s higher education sector. “Today we honor individuals who have demonstrated academic vigor and perseverance while overcoming financial challenges in pursuit of their education. Because of your contribution, many students have been given the opportunity to continue their studies with greater confidence,” Zamo said.
Beyond supporting post-secondary students, the DSAA expanded its community outreach through its new Community Social Impact Grant Initiative, awarding two EC$10,000 grants to local non-profit organizations following a rigorous competitive selection process. The evaluation was conducted jointly by DSAA board members and the initiative’s platinum sponsors, National Bank of Dominica and Do It Center.
The first grant recipient, Lifeline Ministries Inc., will use the funding to expand its survivor-centered support system for people across Dominica affected by gender-based violence. The organization’s programming provides critical services including emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safe accommodation placements, and 24/7 after-hours support for survivors and their dependent family members.
The second grant was awarded to the Anse Kouanari Tourism Association Inc. for its Community and Youth-Led River Stewardship Project based in Castle Bruce. This six-month environmental initiative will engage local young people in hands-on river conservation work, native tree planting, public environmental awareness campaigns, and broader community-led sustainability efforts designed to protect the island’s critical freshwater ecosystems.
DSAA President Wayne Liburd reflected on the long-term value of the association’s investments in people and local communities, emphasizing that the impact of these grants extends far beyond the formal award ceremony. “Meeting the individuals behind these projects reminded us that every investment in our students and communities creates impact far beyond a single event or ceremony. Their passion, commitment, and vision inspire the work we continue to do as an organization,” Liburd noted.
Since the DSAA was formally incorporated in 2020, the alumni-led organization has built a track record of supporting cross-sector initiatives that benefit Dominicans living on the island and across the broader Caribbean region. Over the past five years, the association has donated two dialysis machines and six dialysis chairs valued at roughly US$70,000 to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, contributed US$14,000 to humanitarian relief efforts following the 2021 La Soufrière volcanic eruption in St. Vincent, sustained annual scholarship programs for DSC students, and steadily expanded its community grant portfolio to support local organizations advancing youth development and public good.
The association’s flagship annual fundraising event, *White Sunset with a Hint of Creole*, now in its fifth consecutive year, remains the primary source of funding for all of the DSAA’s scholarship and community outreach programming. The 2026 initiative received broad support from a cross-section of corporate sponsors across Dominica. Platinum sponsors included OYO Construction and Do It Center, while gold sponsors were National Bank of Dominica and Vibes Sky Lounge. Silver sponsors included Belfast Estate Limited, Big Edge Financial, Fine Foods Inc., Legal Mart, and Flow Dominica. Bronze sponsors were Opti Precision and HHV Whitchurch Company Limited, and additional corporate sponsorship was provided by Tropic Trading, Fresh Market, and Unicom Dominica.
Special recognition was also extended to Paul Philip, Chair of the *White Sunset with a Hint of Creole* Organizing Committee, and Valerie Honoré for their exceptional leadership and contributions that made the 2026 funding initiative possible.