KINGSTON, Jamaica — In honour of her 75th birthday, Rita Marley, cultural icon and founder of the Rita Marley Foundation, has announced the funding of the inaugural annual Rita Marley Scholarship.
According to the Foundation, the Rita Marley Scholarship is geared towards the empowerment of women from the lower socio-economic stratum of Jamaica’s society and will be awarded to three women.
The scholarship will target two women pursuing careers in nursing and a single mother who experienced teenage pregnancy. The single mother will be selected from applicants who are currently enrolled at the Women’s Centre of Jamaica (or similar institutions) who desire to pursue further education, the Foundation said.
Rita, who is known globally as an entertainer and humanitarian, was herself a nurse. Upon meeting (and later marrying) Bob Marley, their joint passions for music, spiritual self-actualization, and the upliftment of disenfranchised people, became the basis for a vision that fueled the careers of Bob Marley & the Wailers, I-Threes, and Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers. This vision also inspired the various enterprises that comprise the Marley Group of companies, including the Rita Marley Foundation.
The Foundation said a call for applications will be conducted via an online portal on the Rita Marley Foundation website (https://www.ritamarleyfoundation.org/), which will be used to guide the selection process by utilizing a means test. It said participating applicants, parents or guardians will submit applications for the programme via the online portal only.
The Foundation said interviews of the shortlisted applicants will also be conducted to assist with the evaluation of the beneficiaries and upon completion of the selection process, the Foundation will make the disbursements directly to the institutions where the awardees are enrolled.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, August 9, 2021. Full details and application are available at: https://forms.gle/jwftDnj7JjPotSaZA.
About the Rita Marley Foundation (RMF)
The Founder of the Rita Marley Foundation is Mrs Rita Marley OD. She now resides in Ghana and was several years ago enstooled as Nana Afua Adobea 1(Queen of Development) in the South-eastern Akwapim Region of Ghana.
The RMF is supported by funds from donors and collaborators. Our Foundation will work towards the alleviation of poverty for peoples of developing and less developed countries.
Its long term function will be to eradicate poverty and hunger in specific selected communities using as its tools: empowerment of those communities through the creation of economic investments, improvement of educational opportunities and the development of knowledge and proper practice in nutrition and health care.
As an NGO, the Rita Marley Foundation will administer and manage identified projects deserving assistance.
Rita Marley Foundation Ltd. (USA)
The Rita Marley Foundation Ltd. (USA) is a 501 C3 company. Serving those on the Continent as well as in the Diaspora, RMF (U.S.A) will also work in harmony with its sister NGOs, RMF (Ghana) situated at 1 French Line in Aburi, Ghana and RMF (Jamaica) located at 56 Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica. Active programs include Africa development, empowerment support through partner agencies in Jamaica, and production of educational materials.
Scholarships & Fellowships
Scholarships / fellowships for youth and other qualified individuals to attend academic and/or trade institutions/continuing education activities in the Caribbean, Africa, U.S.A or throughout the diaspora.
Refurbishing & Rebuilding
The Foundation will also engage in refurbishing/rebuilding libraries and health care facilities. It will organize programs, concerts, tours, exhibitions and other forms of artistic activities to disseminate the message of peace, justice, equality and human rights.
Indigent Musician/Artist Program
Indigent musicians are supported through various services; including, access to health care, emergency grants, educational improvement and instrument replacement. The Rita Marley Foundation will offer support mainly through community, religious and faith-based and/ or private organizations.
