Many academically capable students in Bermuda cannot afford to pay for college or university every year.

But there?s hope: A local charity, Knowledge Quest, provides education to those who can?t afford it on their own.

About five years ago a small group of friends decided to help empower Bermuda?s financially challenged students by providing the necessary funding ? with the help of local investors.

Charity president Cynthia Cox said they believed promoting further education for Bermudians of limited financial means would be a wonderful contribution to Bermuda, as well as a worthy endeavour and objective.

She said they never dreamt they would find so many bright and capable youngsters in need of financial aid and therefore applied for and received charitable status three years ago in an attempt to expand their financial base.

While student profiles vary, the typical student offered a scholarship by Knowledge Quest has completed a two-year course at Bermuda College, earned B grades and is therefore not eligible for many scholarships.

Mrs. Cox said most of the students helped by Knowledge Quest end up working up to 20 hours a week in a job to help contribute financially towards their families? expenses.

?The workload encroaches upon study time, so straight A?s are elusive and because pay cheques are used for room, board and tuition, savings for further studies are inadequate,? she said.

Knowledge Quest?s goal is to attract important investors so that they can continue to make a difference to many deserving youngsters and has both a short and long term goal.

Mrs Cox said their short-term goal was to help financially needy Bermudians earn respected degrees abroad, while their long-term goal was to increase the number of qualified adults enter the workforce.

Knowledge Quest is currently helping 18 Bermudian students, aged 19 to 47, to earn their university degrees in the US, Canada, England and Scotland.

The charity has helped 30 students over the last four years, which adds up to nearly $500,000 in scholarships which have been awarded.

Fields of study range from business administration to architecture to environmental studies.

?We screen students to determine whether they are unable to pay for studies abroad and they must have applied for at least five other scholarships, since Knowledge Quest is meant to be a scholarship of last resort,? she said.

She added that most of the students work with a donor, who also acts as a mentor and these mentors tend to contact their students throughout the year.

?They listen, provide academic and other advice and assist with job placement, if possible and we also work closely with the Bermuda College for candidate recommendations,? she said.

Mrs. Cox said they did this because those with one or two-year Bermuda College degrees had already demonstrated their ability and drive and therefore tend to have a strong chance of success.

She said because these students are able to transfer credits to their university, the charity?s overall financial commitment is reduced, thereby enabling them to help more students.

Knowledge Quest incurs no overhead expenses, except for bank charges as all funding is sent directly to the universities.

For more information go to www.knowledgequest.bm