GraceKennedy seeks Jamaican diaspora students for 2027 Birthright Programme
GraceKennedy 2025 Birthright Interns. From left to right:- Kyrah McIntosh,
Abigail Ralph, Lauren Roach and Josiah Royes.
Key Points(5)
- GraceKennedy has opened applications for its 2027 Birthright Programme, offering four young Jamaicans in the diaspora an all-expenses-paid opportunity to spend six weeks in Jamaica gaining professional experience and reconnecting with their heritage.
- The programme is open to second- and third-generation Jamaicans between the ages of 18 and 25 who are enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.
- Four students will be selected for the 2027 cohort — two from the United States, one from Canada and one from the United Kingdom.
- The GraceKennedy Birthright Programme combines internship placements within the company's Jamaican operations with cultural experiences across the island.
- Participants will gain professional experience while learning more about Jamaica's history, culture and traditions.
GraceKennedy has opened applications for its 2027 Birthright Programme, offering four young Jamaicans in the diaspora an all-expenses-paid opportunity to spend six weeks in Jamaica gaining professional experience and reconnecting with their heritage.
The programme is open to second- and third-generation Jamaicans between the ages of 18 and 25 who are enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.
Four students will be selected for the 2027 cohort — two from the United States, one from Canada and one from the United Kingdom.
The GraceKennedy Birthright Programme combines internship placements within the company's Jamaican operations with cultural experiences across the island. Participants will gain professional experience while learning more about Jamaica's history, culture and traditions.
"This is more than an internship. It’s an opportunity to discover where you come from while shaping your future," GraceKennedy Ltd. CEO Frank James said.
"Through the Birthright Programme, GraceKennedy is investing in the next generation of leaders who will carry Jamaica’s story into communities and industries around the world."
Launched in 2004, the programme has hosted more than 60 young people from the Jamaican diaspora.
Kyrah McIntosh, a Liverpool Hope University student who participated in the 2025 programme, said the experience allowed her to connect with Jamaica in a way she had not previously experienced.
"Working with GraceKennedy gave me valuable professional experience, but what stood out most was the opportunity to experience Jamaica firsthand through its people, culture and history," McIntosh said. "It helped me connect with my heritage in a way I never had before, and for the first time, it truly felt like coming home."
The 2025 cohort also included Abigail Ralph of McGill University in Canada, Lauren Roach of the University of Miami and Josiah Royes of Hofstra University.
GraceKennedy said the 2026 edition of the programme was postponed because of Hurricane Melissa.
Shortlisted applicants for the 2027 programme will be invited to in-person interviews in Miami, New York, Toronto and London in spring 2027. Successful candidates will be announced before the programme begins in June.
Applications opened Sept. 1 and will close Nov. 30, 2026. Students can apply through GraceKennedy's website.
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