About Us

OUR STORY

The Chosen Scholarship Foundation was established in response to a challenge faced by far too many tertiary students across Jamaica.

The inspiration for the Foundation emerged while its Founder was a second-year law student at The University of the West Indies. During that time, a fellow student with strong academic performance was struggling to remain enrolled because of the overwhelming cost of tertiary education. Annual tuition alone exceeded J$1.5 million, excluding housing, transportation, books and other essential living expenses.

Despite working while pursuing his studies and actively seeking financial assistance through scholarships, bursaries and other available avenues, the support he needed never came. His experience highlighted a troubling reality: academic potential and determination are not always enough to overcome financial barriers.

That experience raised an important question: How many capable students are prevented from achieving their dreams simply because they cannot afford the cost of higher education?

The answer became the driving force behind The Chosen Scholarship Foundation.

Recognising the need for a more sustainable and accessible approach to educational support, the Foundation was created to connect generous individuals, professionals, businesses and organisations with students whose ambitions should never be limited by financial circumstances. Through scholarships, mentorship, strategic partnerships and student support initiatives, the Foundation seeks to remove barriers to tertiary education and empower the next generation of leaders, professionals and changemakers.

Every scholarship awarded represents more than financial assistance it represents an investment in talent, opportunity and Jamaica's future.

Our mission

To expand access to tertiary education by providing financial assistance, mentorship and student support while fostering partnerships that empower students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.

Our vision

A Jamaica where every deserving student has equitable access to tertiary education, regardless of financial circumstances, creating a future driven by opportunity, excellence and service.

MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

Dear Students, Donors, Partners, Volunteers and Friends,

Welcome to The Chosen Scholarship Foundation.

It is my honour to serve as Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Governors. In this role, I have the responsibility of providing strategic oversight, supporting effective governance and ensuring that the Foundation remains true to its mission, values and legal obligations.

I accepted this responsibility with a clear understanding that every charitable organization must be built on a foundation of trust. Trust is not established through words alone. It is the silent harvest of consistent leadership and a duty performed best when no one is watching.

As Chairman, it is my duty to ensure that the Board governs with independence, fairness and integrity. Every policy we adopt, every decision we make and every resource entrusted to the Foundation must be managed with care and with respect for the confidence placed in us by our students, donors, partners and the wider community. Transparency and accountability are not simply values that appear in our governance documents; they define how we intend to operate.

We are committed to being open in our decision-making, responsible in our financial stewardship and accountable for the outcomes of our work. I believe these principles are essential to preserving public confidence and ensuring that the Foundation remains worthy of the support it receives.

While the Foundation exists to expand access to higher education, my responsibility is to help ensure that it does so with sound governance and uncompromising integrity. Lasting impact is achieved when compassion is matched by responsibility and when ambition is guided by strong leadership. It is a privilege to serve alongside a Board of Governors, chief executive officer and team of directors who share these convictions. Together, we are committed to building an organisation that is respected not only for the opportunities it creates, but also for the way in which it conducts its affairs.

Thank you for visiting our website and for taking the time to learn about our Foundation. I hope the values reflected in these pages inspire confidence in our work and in our commitment to serving every stakeholder with honesty, fairness and accountability.

ONEL BAILEY

A Message from Our Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Dear Students, Donors, Partners, Volunteers and Friends,

The Chosen Scholarship Foundation was established with a simple but unwavering belief that no student should be denied the opportunity to pursue higher education because of financial hardship.

The idea for this Foundation was inspired by witnessing first-hand the challenges faced by students who possessed the determination to succeed but lacked the financial resources to continue their education. That experience made one thing abundantly clear, that ability alone is not always enough. Too often, opportunity is determined by circumstance rather than potential.

I founded this organisation to help change that reality. Our mission is not simply to award scholarships. It is to create a sustainable network of professionals, businesses, institutions and communities who recognise that investing in education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in Jamaica's future.

By connecting those who are willing to give with students who are striving to achieve, we are building a culture where opportunity is shared and success is multiplied.

One of the principles on which this Foundation was built is trust. When you invest in a student's education, your scholarship donation goes directly to their tertiary institution. Every contribution is tracked, managed with accountability and focused on changing lives. Financial integrity is our bedrock. We believe donors should have complete confidence that their generosity is managed responsibly and used for the purpose for which it was intended.

While financial assistance remains at the heart of our work, our vision extends beyond scholarships. Through mentorship, strategic partnerships, advocacy and student support initiatives, we seek to equip students not only to graduate but to lead, serve and create meaningful change within their professions and communities.

Whether you are a student searching for opportunity, a professional looking to give back or an organisation seeking to make a lasting impact, I invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can remove barriers, unlock potential and ensure that the next generation is defined not by what they can afford but by what they are capable of achieving.

Thank you for believing in the power of education to transform lives.

JAHEIM STENNETT

Meet Our Directors

The success of The Chosen Scholarship Foundation is driven by a dedicated team of Directors who provide strategic leadership across the organisation. Each Director is responsible for overseeing a key area of the Foundation's operations, ensuring that our programmes, partnerships and initiatives are delivered with integrity, accountability and excellence.

Working collaboratively, our Directors provide strategic leadership across administration and governance, finance and fundraising, operations and programmes, communications and outreach and advocacy and public policy. United by a shared commitment to educational opportunity, they work to strengthen the Foundation, cultivate meaningful partnerships and deliver programmes that empower students and create lasting impact throughout Jamaica.