EMO News: CANDO Scholarship Disbursement Ceremony ft. Judge Irving Andre

Message from Rebuild Dominica President, Mr. Gabriel J. Christian, Esq.

We thank Emeline Anselm of EMO News for the featured documentary.

Rebuild Dominica shares featured interview of the nonprofit booster Judge Irving André of Canada  as he awards scholarships during this year’s Scholarship Disbursement Ceremony — held on behalf of the Canada-Dominica Scholarship Foundation (CANDO) — to deserving students in Dominica at Portsmouth.

The ceremony  was hosted by President of the Portsmouth Community Watch Foundation, Adenauer “Washway” Douglas, and  took place on March 27, 2019 at the St John’s Academy in Portsmouth.

In a 2012 interview with Brampton Guardian, André shared that his father was “forced to abandon his dream of post-secondary education because his family couldn’t pay the tuition.” This reality prompted a then-young André to make it his personal mission to nurture his father’s dream and come to the aid of students with similar financial disadvantages.

CANDO was established in 2011 and continues its support of Dominican students who are in need to fulfill its mission of assisting disadvantaged young people and helping them achieve greatness in academics.

CANDO’s membership consists of Dominicans residing in Ontario, Canada, and other persons who have some association with the island and /or its citizens. The organization has raised funds through personal donations, and since 2011, has given fifteen scholarships to deserving Canadian students of Dominican ancestry.

Such community development initiatives by local and overseas Dominicans working together have the full endorsement of Rebuild Dominica and is encouraged. It is by such self-reliant collaborative efforts among different organizations and individuals we shall rebuild our homeland.

Photo of Judge Irving André courtesy of Brampton Guardian.