Usain Bolt Foundation gives nearly J$10M to students affected by Hurricane Melissa
Key Points(5)
- More than 100 students across western Jamaica who were affected by Hurricane Melissa are receiving nearly $10 million in back-to-school assistance from the Usain Bolt Foundation (UBF) as they begin secondary school.
- The students, from Trelawny, St.
- James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St.
- Elizabeth, recently completed the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and will receive assistance with school fees and other education-related expenses for the entire 2026-2027 academic year.
- The foundation announced the initiative on Wednesday, saying the support is aimed at easing the financial burden on families still recovering from the hurricane.
More than 100 students across western Jamaica who were affected by Hurricane Melissa are receiving nearly J$10 million in back-to-school assistance from the Usain Bolt Foundation (UBF) as they begin secondary school.
The students, from Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth, recently completed the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and will receive assistance with school fees and other education-related expenses for the entire 2026-2027 academic year.
The foundation announced the initiative on Wednesday, saying the support is aimed at easing the financial burden on families still recovering from the hurricane.
Eight high schools across four parishes have been selected to partner with the foundation, with each receiving J$1 million to assist students in need.
The participating schools are St. Elizabeth Technical High School and Maggoty High School in St. Elizabeth; Godfrey Stewart High School and Petersfield High School in Westmoreland; Green Island High School and Merlene Ottey High School in Hanover; and Green Pond High School and Maldon High School in St. James.
Guidance counselors at the schools will identify students with the greatest financial needs to receive assistance.
Additional support will be provided in Trelawny, where all 17 students from Bolt's alma mater, Waldensia Primary School, who successfully completed their PEP examinations will each receive a J$100,000 grant.
The grants for the Waldensia students total J$1.7 million, bringing the foundation's overall commitment under the initiative to J$9.7 million.
Winsome Wilkins, chairman of the Usain Bolt Foundation, said the initiative reflects the organization's mission of creating a legacy of happy children by enhancing their lives through educational and cultural development and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams.
Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt said he was pleased to be able to provide meaningful assistance to the students, particularly given the impact Hurricane Melissa had on their families and communities.
The latest assistance continues Bolt's support for students at Waldensia Primary, where the retired sprint legend began his own education.
Earlier this year, the Usain Bolt Foundation donated J$1.7 million to graduates of the Trelawny school, further extending the foundation's longstanding relationship with Bolt's alma mater.
The foundation has made education and youth development central to its philanthropic work, with Bolt saying he intends to continue using the organization to make a difference in the lives of Jamaican children.
The latest initiative broadens that support beyond his former primary school, providing assistance to students entering high schools across five western parishes as families continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Melissa.
