ABWU Continues Investments in Education | Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union

Students who are members of the UWI Cave Hill Debating Society will have an opportunity to access financial assistance through a newly established partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU).

The UWI-DS CARES Grant was launched in March 2024 and provides two grants of BDS $500 each for members of the debating society.

ABWU General Secretary, David Massiah, said the Union is pleased to sponsor the grants, both as a goodwill gesture and as part of its commitment to investing in education. “Antiguan students have a long tradition of attending the Cave Hill Campus and being actively involved in campus life; we want to encourage that through this grant,” Massiah explained. “However, we also see this grant as an opportunity to connect with the younger generation as they prepare to enter the world of work,” Massiah added.

President of the UWI Cave Hill Debating Society, Trent Luke, is an Antiguan student who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws Degree. Luke said the Society and the Union were well aligned through their shared values of unity, diversity and inclusivity.

“The Debating Society prides itself on training students to find their voice...and using it for positive change in the world,” Luke explained. “Similarly, the ABWU has always used its platform for community improvements through initiatives such as educational development in languages and other courses, and community empowerment through active representation in labour disputes,” Luke continued.

The UWI-DS Cares Grant 2024 is the first of its kind in the UWI Debating Society. According to Luke, the grant further reinforces the society’s commitment to investing in the education and future of its members, by providing a safety net for those in financial need.

Individuals interested in applying for the grant can connect with the Debate Society on Instagram @uwids.cavehill.