“My dream has come true.” Navin Ramdoyal has received the best student award by British American Tobacco (BAT) . This prize rewards one of the BAT undergraduate students, who has not only successfully completed his/her studies at the University of Mauritius but has also been active in university life. Like Navin, ten other students were given the chance to pursue tertiary education this year.

The Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme is one item of a social programme launched by BAT to participate in the development of Mauritius. Students, with good HSC results, get a scholarship of Rs 2,500 a month for three years of tertiary education. But the academic criterion is not the only one; the interview panel also takes into account the financial situation of the candidate’s family.

As a member of Media Watch Organisation and Soroptimists International, which both militate against smoking, Manda Boolell hesitated for a long time before accepting to sit on the interview panel. But she confesses that she does not regret her decision. “If every company can allow society to make a step forward, it is positive. Anyway, it is up to each individual to decide whether he/she wants to smoke or not.” She explains with a touch of emotion. “With education, your future is in your hands. The example of these students shows that you can have brilliant results despite your bad living conditions.” These students are, according to her, the “most important people of tomorrow’s society.”