Gracekennedy Foundation Hailed for Promoting Diaspora Youth Engagement

The GraceKennedy Foundation has been lauded for its commitment to promoting engagement with young people across the Diaspora.

The commendation came from Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, during his remarks at the recent closing ceremony for the 2024 GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme held at the company’s Harbour Street headquarters in  Kingston.

The Birthright initiative is designed to connect second and third generation Jamaicans living in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, to their Jamaican heritage. Selected candidates become Birthright Ambassadors after the internship and are encouraged to be ambassadors for Jamaica.

Four university students were recently hosted by the GraceKennedy Group for one month at various subsidiaries linked to their field of study. The students selected for this year’s programme are Romari Smith, Canada; Tariq Brown, UK; and Lauren Walcott and Madison Thomas, USA.

Mr. Terrelonge said that GraceKennedy has demonstrated sustained commitment by providing funding and empowering more than 50 interns over the past two decades.

“I am impressed by this intentional and insightful approach to youth engagement within the Diaspora…indeed, this level of dedication is truly commendable, and the Foundation deserves our heartfelt gratitude for this achievement,” he said.

He thanked the Ministry’s partners who have contributed to the success of the initiative.

Mr. Terrelonge also hailed the contribution of GraceKennedy to the staging of the biennial Diaspora conference, which saw an unprecedented turnout of young people at this year’s staging.

“The Group’s sustained efforts to engage the youth in the Diaspora remains an important feature of our whole-of-society Diaspora engagement programme and I am sure that it helped to influence this high level of attendance and participation,” he contended.

The State Minister used the opportunity to invite the interns to participate in the ‘Summit of the Future: Youth Dialogue’ in September 2024.

The event, which is being arranged by the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will be held in hybrid format, with in-person sessions at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

He said that the dialogue will offer a unique platform “to amplify the voice of young Jamaicans through their perspectives, ideas and solutions to the challenges we face today,” noting that “this forum may provide an opportunity for our Birthright interns to get involved.”