A pioneering group of young Saint Lucians is expected to begin studying medicine in Venezuela in July 2015.The scholarships are the result of collaboration among Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the Grand Mariscal of Ayacucho Foundation.
The students will study Community Medicine at the Salvador Allende University of Health Sciences, funded by the ALBA group of Latin American and Caribbean nations. This area of study is considered a priority for the Saint Lucian government, as it seeks to strengthen rural and community health. The scholarship includes tuition fees, air travel, medical care, lodging and a monthly allowance. Talks began in August 2014 and the partners are in the processing of finalizing the list of students expected to take up the medical scholarships.
The duration of the programme is six-and-a-half years. According to the requirements, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 24 and from low income households. The successful applicants will undertake an intensive Spanish language course.
