GRENED’S Award Ceremony & Community Building Event

On Friday 28 August 2025, at Rainbow Inn Grand Bras St Andrew’s, the Grenada Education and Development Programme (GRENED) held its 2025 Scholarship Award Ceremony and Community Building Event. In Attendance and Participation in the event were education officials, philanthropic donors, community persons, alumni of GRENED, diaspora persons, students and their families.

GRENED is a non-profit organization committed to empowering rural youth and fostering leadership development to support Grenada’s sustainable growth. Through education and leadership training, GRENED aims to cultivate informed, socially engaged citizens and future leaders, driving sustainable economic, social, and environmental transformation—especially within rural communities.

For the academic year 2025-2026, GRENED will provide 51 students with scholarships, mentorships, social and cultural opportunities and other support.  Our students originate from various parishes such as St. Patrick’s, St. Andrew’s, St. David’s, St. Georges, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  After Hurricane Beryl last July, in an effort to alleviate the financial buren on some of the families on the sister isles, the organization took in 17 new students from the islands, 10 from Carriacou and 7 from Petit Martinique. During its 29 years of existence, three hundred rural sons and daughters have completed secondary and tertiary education, with several now working as medical and health professionals, education officials, teachers, farmers and scientists.  Some students are currently pursuing medical studies in London and educational studies in the USA with partial support from GRENED.

Features of the celebration included students’ participation in the program, remarks by Mr. Ali Carmichael, a member of GRENED local Board of Directors, and remarks by Mr. Kwame Hypolite the principal. of GSS. This was followed by a presentation on the work of the organization by Dr. Dessima Williams, the founder and Executive Director of the organization. A compelling testimony was delivered by Ms. Charmaine Joseph who is currently doing her clinical rotations  in the UK.

A total of 51 financial disbursements awards were given to students at the event, Additionally, some students were given awards for outstanding scholastic achievement and performance in the program.

 A similar ceremony is scheduled to take place in Carriacou for 17 students in Carriacou and Petit Martinique.