( left - right )FRANCIS and RICKETTS
GENERATING GENIUS, a new project offering Jamaican schoolboys the chance to become the doctors and scientists of the future, is set to begin on July 24.
The project is being sponsored by Dr. Tony Sewell, a British educator; the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), the Gleaner Company Limited, through its various publications, including the UK-based Voice newspaper, in partnership with the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. Generating Genius aims to select 10 Jamaican schoolboys and a further 10 from Britain, to participate in the scheme. The scheme is the brainchild of
Dr. Tony Sewell, and offers an annual four-week summer camp at UWI (July 24 to August 20).
The boys, who must currently be in first form or grade seven, will reside on campus and will be treated as medical students, said Dr. Sewell. Rooms will be shared by one Jamaican boy and one British boy each. Further study is to be offered to Jamaican boys on several weekends of the year and at half-term, to be taught by UWI staff.
Camir Ricketts
Neville Ricketts and his wife Consuelo have always encouraged their son, Camir, to do his best. Today his best is already paying off.
Camir is a 12-year-old student of the Herbert Morrison High School and already he is on his way to a bright future.
Camir's acceptance in the Generating Genius Programme will help him realise his dream of becoming a scientist.
"It is an excellent programme and I hope it is successful," said his mom.
Camir said he wants to seize every opportunity that he is given.
"There are no words to describe how I feel...I'm good at these things...I don't want to end up in the streets doing bad boy things," said the science enthusiast.
Neville Ricketts said his son is interested in finding cures for terminal diseases.
"The advertisement in The Gleaner was just a God sent message ...I want him to be happy," said the proud father.
Camir studies the sciences every day and currently has his own science library at home.
Xavier Francis
"It was just right"-these were the immediate words of Winston Francis when he saw an advertisement for the Generating Genius Programme in The Gleaner.
His son Xavier, a 12-year-old student of Cornwall College, has always enjoyed creating things.
Jennifer Francis, Xavier's mother, always knew that her son had a passion for science, so the programme seemed just right for the young boy.
"He likes nature, and has always wanted to use his experiences with science to help people," she said.
She believes that the programme will give her son a solid foundation, and described the shy young genius as a hardworking and capable young man. "To him, science is an everyday thing," she said.
Wendell Lindo
With a father who has a background in bio-medicine, mathematics and science, 13-year-old Wendell Lindo, a student of the St. Jago High School in Spanish Town, was destined for the Generating Genius Programme.
His mother, Mirriam Sewell-Lindo, said her son's interest in science was only natural.
"He had an interest in science from a tender age, and when I heard he was accepted for the programme I jumped for joy," she said.
Wendell said he was extremely excited to have been chosen.
"I found it a very good opportunity, as I like science and I think about the other people around me," said the soft-spoken teen.
Andie Lindo, Wendell's father, a logistics technician at the National Family Planning Board, said this is the chance Wendell has been waiting for all his life.
- Laura Matthews
