KINGSTON, JAMAICA- Grace, Kennedy is set to start accepting applications for the second round of its Grace, Kennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme for 2005. This 8-week all expenses paid programme targets 2nd and 3rd generation Jamaicans between the ages 18 – 30 years, who have not lived in Jamaica for any period of time exceeding 6 months, and who are seeking an opportunity to learn and earn in Jamaica. Having its inaugural stint in early 2004, 6 candidates will again be chosen for the second run of the programme scheduled for June 2005.
The Programme is a cultural and professional internship geared at highlighting all aspects of Jamaican life while furthering the career goals of the selected candidates. It will give successful candidates a well-rounded Jamaican experience. In total, six candidates will be chosen from three markets (United States – 2, United Kingdom – 2 and Canada – 2)
Grace, Kennedy and Company will host the 6 university students for a two-month period, June 9 – August 10, 2005. Candidates selected will work on a rotation basis within the Grace, Kennedy group of companies granting them hands on experience in their chosen career field. The internship period will benefit the candidate in a variety of ways, including practical experience and mentorship by members of the Grace, Kennedy management team.
The Programme saw its inaugural beginning last year with Tiffany Brown, Geoffrey Hinds and Marissa Gaynor from the United States, Yasheen Harris and Sanchia Smithson from the United Kingdom and Atinuke Bankole from Canada. The interns were exposed to a diversified Jamaica through music, social activities and professional tutelage. In addition, discovering rural Jamaica and the simple life they have been told about in childhood stories by their parents or grandparents, was like a dream come true. Geoffrey Hinds even found relatives he had never heard of prior to coming to Jamaica. It proved to be an exciting discovery for him as he acknowledged having felt that he anchored his roots. The interns reported that one of the most memorable times of the experience was the opportunity granted of truly connecting with their relatives by spending time with them and finding out their how parents’ and grandparents’ were raised.
Added to the benefits to be derived under the initiative, the company expects to bridge a social gap. According to a spokesperson at the company the candidates will be hosted by families within the Grace, Kennedy and Company network and will become a part of their family for the duration of the programme. They will also be taken on a variety of weekend programmes, which will expose them to the Jamaican heritage by immersing them in our historic sites, natural and human resources inclusive of Jamaican beaches.
Among the criteria for admission to the programme, candidates must be pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree programme and must have a Grade ‘B’ average or higher and must be of Jamaican parentage or grand parentage. They should be between the ages of 18 to 30 years old.
Applications forms are available on-line at http://www.gracekennedy.com and will close on Monday February 28, 2005. For more information, you can also e-mail the Birthright programme committee at jamaicanbirthright@gkco.com.
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