Students broadcast the benefits of Brighter Prospects

“All I can say is that the Brighter Prospects scholarship programme is the backbone of tertiary education in Mayaro and surrounding communities.”
This according to Chelle Borel, who is currently in Year Two of her pursuit of a Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC). Borel is focused on specialising in primary education and child psychology so that she can add value to her community. This includes plans to establish a homework centre after graduating, as well as to influence education at the national policy level. 

“Over the years, bpTT has helped so many people, including myself, and we are all grateful. They have invested in many aspects of our community, but the main things they have given young people is hope, and the opportunity to achieve our full potential. I think the best way to show our gratitude is by using our skills and experience to build a better community,” Borel added.

Open to residents of Mayaro and environs, Brighter Prospects is the flagship education programme of bp Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT), amongst its myriad social investment initiatives that cover the areas of entrepreneurship, sports, arts and culture, and community development. Started in 2003, the scholarship programme provides financial assistance to students who gain access to tertiary education at accredited institutions. 

Since inception, the programme has provided more than 850 scholarships, producing over 600 graduates. Beyond financial assistance, the company also provides additional support such as academic guidance and motivational sessions.  

This programme is an especially meaningful one for bpTT’s community liaison coordinator, Matthew Pierre. Before joining the energy company, Pierre held many local positions that advocated for the upliftment of Mayaro. Among these, he was part of a group of like-minded residents who lobbied bpTT to expand their investment in the community; a move which resulted in the company’s creation of keynote programmes including Brighter Prospects.

“The facts and figures speak for themselves, but the impact that Brighter Prospects has had on this south-eastern community goes far deeper than that. I’ve been connected to this programme from inception, and I can’t begin to explain the pride I feel when, as part of daily life, I interact with an entrepreneur, a nurse, a farmer, a lawyer, a teacher or a doctor in our community who is a graduate of Brighter Prospects,” Pierre explained.

In its initial year, only three students applied to the programme, but since then applications peaked with over 300 students applying in a particular year. For the 2024/25 intake there were 181 applications of which 35 were selected to join the 49 continuing students from the previous year.

The programme is a blessing according to Rio Claro resident, Kaleema Dindial, who is a member of the 2024/25 intake, having started her Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies at The University of the West Indies this September.

Dindial unveiled her reality, “My elder sister also benefits from Brighter Prospects, and she is pursuing a medical degree at UWI’s Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. Initially, I also wanted to study medicine, but I come from a single parent home, and I saw how many business avenues my mom had to pursue to provide for us. She works so hard and seizes every opportunity, and that inspired me to study business and pay honour to her sacrifice. It is as simple as this – without Brighter Prospects, I would not have this opportunity to learn and grow and achieve my dream.”

Applicants are selected by strict criteria including basic eligibility, academic accomplishments, community involvement, household income and personal statements of intent. Assessments are performed by a special Evaluation and Selection Committee comprising of six qualified residents, which includes Brighter Prospects graduates that are now established professionals in the community. Representatives of bpTT as well as external evaluators also oversee the process. 

According to the Committee’s Chair, Judy Monica Thomas, who is also a Ministry of Education qualified school social worker serving the community, “This programme has had a tremendous impact on the community, and my only wish is that it could be expanded to encompass more students. Because of the work I do in the various schools, I have my finger on the pulse of education in the area. I can testify that many of the students that benefit from Brighter Prospects would not have been otherwise able to attend tertiary education. This programme has transformed lives.”

She added, “Not every student who graduates is able to get an opportunity to work in Mayaro or surrounding areas. They must go where the jobs are and because of this, Brighter Prospects alumni are now spread across Trinidad and Tobago. Even though this is a community-focused initiative, bpTT is actually contributing to national development by creating a cadre of qualified and well-rounded citizens that are driving progress.”

Once accepted into the programme, there are only two main criteria to fulfil – students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5, and participation in community development through volunteer service is mandatory. As such, all scholarship recipients must complete at least 30 hours of voluntary service per year and provide official proof of such engagements.

For 18-year-old Jair Lucas, who is studying Nursing at USC, volunteerism is an essential part of the scholarship programme: “If you are receiving help then, to me, it is only obvious that you should pay it forward and help others. As part of my church, I have seen firsthand, the impact of what volunteerism can achieve. Every week we prepare meals for the less fortunate, and we also visit persons who are physically unable to attend service. I’m proud to be part of a programme like Brighter Prospects that places immense value in our ability to help build a better community. Volunteerism builds character and keeps us grounded in the reality of our responsibility to society.” 

Over the years the programme has facilitated graduates in over 60 unique fields of study ranging from medicine, engineering, business, information technology and law to agriculture and education. In order to best serve the evolving needs of students, the scholarship programme is constantly being evaluated and expanded. This is demonstrated by the introduction of a special medical-focused scholarship and the funding of post-graduate studies.
One such success story is Tesila Manoe who was a Brighter Prospects scholarship recipient straight from A’ Levels to her Master of Science Degree in Global Studies and International Relations. Manoe currently teaches at the Princes Town West Secondary School, serves on the Board of the All Mayaro Sports Foundation, and is a member of the Brighter Prospects Selection Committee.

Manoe pointed out a significant impact of the programme, “From personal experience I can say that Brighter Prospects provides financial assistance to the students that need it the most. I know of students from other rural communities that must work and study part-time to attain tertiary qualifications. This bpTT scholarship assists students with books, rent, travel and the myriad other expenses associated with higher education. This removes financial burdens and allows the students to focus their energies on studying and doing their best.”

To ensure that the programme is meeting its targets and that students are deriving maximum benefits, the bpTT leadership team often meets with students to get feedback and provide motivation through exposure to opportunities, or messages from keynote speakers and thought leaders.

bpTT’s president, David Campbell, noted that as part of bp’s global aims, focus is placed on building skills required for the future, and Brighter Prospects presents an ideal vehicle to achieve this goal. He also emphasised its importance in creating stronger relationships with the community based on mutual trust and respect and through support for advancing education.

Campbell encapsulated the significance of the programme, “Over the years, Brighter Prospects graduates have emerged as leaders in their fields and their development will help to fast-track our shared vision for the continued growth and development of their community and country.”