Mother and daughter graduated with Bachelor’s degrees at the University of the West Indies (UWI) on the same day. Mother Delia Cuffy-Weekes graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, while daughter Natasha Jervier finished off in Youth Development Work with a Bachelor of Science. Both alongside other Dominicans graduated from UWI’s Open Campus in Antigua and Barbuda.
Cuffy-Weekes is a staff with the Ministry of Agriculture and Jervier teaches at the St. Martin Secondary School, both in Dominica. The mother said she embarked on the course of study at the university because she needed to be certified in the areas of women development and child abuse – an advocacy programme she is already preoccupied with.
“I already do the work, advocacy regarding women in development, care of the elderly, child abuse, I just needed to be certified,” Cuffy-Weekes said.
Jervier already commits herself to youth development since she became the CARICOM Youth Ambassador in Dominica from 2012 to 2014. She was UWI Games Committee chairperson and also the UWI Alumni Chapter chairperson between 2014 to 2016. Her decision to obtain a degree in Youth Development Work is in pursuance of her interests and work to promote youth affairs across Dominica.
UWI Chancellor Robert Bermudez and Campus Registrar Karen Ford-Warner commended mother and daughter for their achievements, saying they have set the academic example for other families to follow. Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Open Campus, Dr. Luz Longsworth, said it is heart-warming to have the duo graduate together from the same university at the same time, adding it gives credence to how the university is impacting lives in the region.
“We are proud to be empowering people who otherwise would not be able to realize their dream of a quality tertiary education,” Dr. Longsworth said.
Other Dominicans that also graduated include Novenia Norissia Isaac; Rose Romain, a teacher at Portsmouth Secondary School; Kerlin Pierre Louis, a teacher at St. Luke’s Primary School; and several others.
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