Kingston, Jamaica – September 1, 2026 — For young Jamaicans growing up in the diaspora, connecting with their heritage can sometimes mean more than simply knowing where their parents or grandparents were born. It can mean understanding the culture, history, traditions and people that helped shape their family story. The GraceKennedy Birthright Programme 2027 is offering university students in the Jamaican diaspora an opportunity to do just that while gaining valuable professional experience in Jamaica.
The GraceKennedy Foundation has opened applications for its 2027 Birthright Programme, an all-expenses-paid, six-week experience designed for second- and third-generation Jamaicans between the ages of 18 and 25 who are currently enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.
The programme combines professional development with an immersive Jamaican cultural experience. Participants are placed in internship positions within GraceKennedy’s Jamaican operations, allowing them to gain practical workplace experience and develop valuable career skills. At the same time, they are given the opportunity to explore Jamaica beyond the typical visitor experience, with activities that expose them to the island’s history, culture and traditions.
Since its launch in 2004, more than 60 young people from the Jamaican diaspora have taken part in the GraceKennedy Birthright Programme. For many, the experience has provided an opportunity to develop professionally while forming a stronger and more personal connection to Jamaica.
GraceKennedy 2025 Birthright Interns. From left to right:- Josiah Royes, Kyrah McIntosh, Lauren Roach and Abigail Ralph.
For 2025 participant Kyrah McIntosh of Liverpool Hope University in the United Kingdom, the programme offered an experience that went beyond professional development.
“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.”
That sense of connection is at the heart of the Birthright Programme. While students gain experience that can contribute to their future careers, they also have the opportunity to better understand the country that forms an important part of their family identity.
GraceKennedy Ltd CEO Frank James described the programme as an investment in both the personal and professional development of young Jamaicans living overseas.
“This is more than an internship. It’s an opportunity to discover where you come from while shaping your future,” 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.”
Four students will be selected for the 2027 programme, with two coming from the United States, one from Canada and one from the United Kingdom. Shortlisted applicants will participate in in-person interviews scheduled to take place in Miami, New York, Toronto and London during spring 2027. Successful candidates will be announced ahead of the programme’s scheduled start in June 2027.
To be eligible, applicants must be second- or third-generation Jamaicans living in the diaspora, between the ages of 18 and 25, and enrolled at a university in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. The programme is particularly suited to students who want to explore their Jamaican heritage while gaining international professional experience.
The 2025 cohort included McIntosh, as well as Abigail Ralph of McGill University in Canada, Lauren Roach of the University of Miami in the United States and Josiah Royes of Hofstra University in the United States. The 2026 programme was postponed following Hurricane Melissa.
Applications for the GraceKennedy Birthright Programme 2027 opened on September 1, 2026, and will remain open until November 30, 2026. Interested students can visit GraceKennedy’s official website for application information. Additional information about the programme is also available by contacting gkfoundation@gkco.com.
For a young Jamaican in the diaspora, the GraceKennedy Birthright Programme represents an opportunity to experience Jamaica in a way that can be both personally meaningful and professionally rewarding. It is a chance to walk beyond the familiar stories of parents and grandparents, experience the island firsthand, meet its people, explore its culture and perhaps discover a deeper connection to what it means to call Jamaica home.
