Gabrielle Rajkumar is almost your average 13-year-old girl. She is smart and enthusiastic but somewhat reserved, and loves pop music and fashion.
But the Form Two student of Barrackpore East Secondary also has a gift for singing that has blossomed after three years of scholarship with the Daren Ganga Foundation. The Foundation was established in 2007 to lend assistance to deserving youngsters from Barrackpore. It has since extended to schools in the Victoria, St Patrick and South East districts, and provides many avenues of support beyond just scholarships.
Rajkumar is one of the 13 talented young students that graduated last month, having benefitted from the Foundation's support as the first batch of scholarship winners, a release from the Foundation said. The scholarship programme–the first instalment of which was sponsored by RBC Royal Bank–identifies youngsters who show potential in both their academic life and extracurricular activities, not restricted to sport, but in areas of arts and culture as well.
In addition to the life skills they have gained through exposure to etiquette training, self-esteem, financial planning, motivational speaking and more, students are also financially supported in terms of both academics and their chosen discipline. They are provided with a travelling allowance and nutrition, and a stipend during the July-August holidays. For Rajkumar, those were not the only gains she made in the programme.
"When I first came into this scholarship programme, I was this tiny little shy girl, and I wasn't so good at singing," the well-spoken young woman explained. "When they put me into the Love Movement choir, my singing experience, it was an opportunity, being trained by professionals, and I learned to accept myself, because I was commended by a lot of professionals."
With encouragement from her family, especially her dad Gavin, and her newfound understanding of how to manage her time and balance activities and school, Rajkumar herself has seen changes in her life.
"When I sing on stage, I am confident. First I feel nervous, and when I get on stage and I start to sing, all those nervous thoughts, they all just go away." A subsequent demonstration of her talent at the graduation bears this out with her silky rendition of Justin Timberlake's Mirrors.
Daren Ganga Foundation (DGF) development officer Anisah Hosein has watched Rajkumar, and several other students involved in the first three-year programme, grow from shy to assertive and confident, from raw talent to well-rounded teens with a platform that can help them turn their potential into success. Although admitting that it has not been all positive–two of the students did not graduate, as one migrated and the other was unable to complete the programme due to unfortunate personal circumstances–Hosein is happy the Foundation has been able to have a great impact on the development of the children.
RBC's Regional Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Caribbean Banking, Anna-Maria Kurbanali, said her company sponsored the Foundation because it gives children a chance to develop to their "fullest potential," through exposure to mentoring and coaching.
"It's very important to support initiatives like these that benefit children," Kurbanali said in the release. "It's making a difference in the youth, helping to nurture, develop and shape future generations, future leaders."
She is also happy about the success stories that have emerged from the first batch of graduates.
"One success story is always cause for celebration, so many success stories are absolutely phenomenal. It gives hope for the future."
Executive chairman and founder of DGF, former West Indies opening batsman and ex-T&T cricket captain Daren Ganga, said he felt "motivated and inspired" after watching the youngsters graduate, and said the results have brought him a sense of fulfilment.
"We have touched over 500 kids outside of our scholarship programme, and we have been able to show real and meaningful support for the young children who are talented and may not have the resources to develop themselves from an academic and extra-curricular standpoint," The T&T sports ambassador said. As chairman of the Daren Ganga Foundation I feel very proud of what we have done so far."
Ganga also thanked RBC for their contributions, which he said facilitated the level of support needed to make the scholarship programme a reality.
"I'm very fortunate...I pitched (the idea), and within a week's time they were excited to get on board," Ganga related. "Their corporate social responsibility is really second to none. Their focus is on the youth and this particular programme deals with that...
"I'm really proud to associate with an entity like (RBC), and they have showed their weight class in supporting something that is really touching the heart and soul of the family, the heart and soul of the community, and the heart and soul of the next generation."
Ganga, who admitted he became "very emotional" when he was serenaded by Rajkumar during the graduation ceremony, insisted the programme is about much more than just cricket, a notion that may have been created due to his association with the sport. He wants to ensure all youngsters who qualify for the programme, whatever activity they are selected for, are impacted in a positive way.
"There are no restrictions and discrimination towards talent and ability," Ganga stressed, "and that basically is the mantra of the scholarship programme–to recognise talent and harness it and make it powerful and meaningful in our community."