A United Kingdom university student will be in Jamaica this summer to participate in the 2016 GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme.
Karis Edwards, a final year student at Brunel University in London, who is of Jamaican Heritage, will join Casey Daley, a Junior at Florida State University; Kimberly Ann Stephenson, who is pursuing post-graduate studies at New York University and Natasha Allen, a Senior at the University of Toronto.
During July and early August, they will experience firsthand the birthplace of their parents or grandparents. During what promises to be a life-changing experience for the participants, they will benefit from a professional internship at GraceKennedy, giving them practical exposure to their chosen fields on weekdays, and on weekends they will get the chance to explore Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage through its people, music, food and attractions.
The main aim of the programme is to provide an opportunity for second and third generation Jamaicans to reconnect with their Jamaican heritage. In order to qualify, the applicants must never have lived in Jamaica.
“Our customers in the Jamaican Diaspora have been faithful to GraceKennedy throughout the years and this programme is one way of saying that we appreciate their contribution and support,” said Don Wehby, Group CEO of GraceKennedy. “Through our Birthright programme, the children and grandchildren of these Jamaicans will get a chance to experience for themselves what they have been hearing about most of their life. What better way to do so than through this programme,” said Mr Wehby.
Applications from people wishing to participate in the 2017 cohort will be accepted from September 1 to November 30, 2016. Application forms will be available online at www.gracekennedy.com/birthright. For further information, please email [email protected].
