Marcel "D'Jamala" Fontaine Scholarship Fund
The Marcel "D'Jamala" Fontaine Scholarship Fund was lunched Friday, June 16th, 2006 at the Center for Teaching and Learning, City College, New York.
About the Scholarship
This Scholarship was created to commemorate and continue the work and
vision of the dedicated cultural activist, Marcel D'jamala Fontaine. Marcel's efforts and commitments covered a broad range of activities including the development of literature and media programs in Kwéyòl, creating and performing Dominican music, and promotion of environmentally responsible agricultural practices in Dominica. Marcel was a founding member of Komite Pour Etid Kwéyòl (KEK), which was set up by the Cultural Division to develop and implement strategies to preserve and promote the Kwéyòl language. He carried out full-scale surveys of language attitudes and usage within the Dominican educational system, and detailed ethnographic studies of the Kwéyòl lexicon. He made extensive use of mass media as a means of disseminating ideas and perpetuating Dominica's cultural heritage.
The scholarship seeks a student who has been admitted to the Dominica State College and who shares Fontaine's enthusiasm and commitment to cultural activism. To that end, it is designed specifically for those who express an interest and readiness to engage in cultural activism in Dominica and the wider Caribbean region. One way this will be achieved is through internships at Dominican cultural institutions and media houses. Experience gained from internships will help inform the student's end of study project.
The scholarship will provide funds ($2,600.00 EC/$1,0000 U.S. per year to one student a year) for two years to cover tuition, fees, and books at the Dominica State College. While scholarship recipients may pursue a course of study in any field, she or he will be expected to participate in an internship with a cultural institution, organization, or program for a minimum of six weeks during the two years of study at the Dominica State College. The scholarship committee will arrange internships for the successful candidates. By giving educational support to those who otherwise might not be able to pursue studies at the tertiary level, this scholarship aims to build a cadre of young people committed to pursue studies at the tertiary level and work in the arena of Dominica's cultural development.