GraceKennedy's Birthright interns for 2005 pose with the company's Chief Operating Officer, Information Services Division, Brian Goldson (left), President and CEO Douglas Orane, (centre, back row) Caroline Mahfood and Errol Hall, hotel manager, Breezes Runaway Bay. The interns were feted at a reception held at Shortridge Avenue, Jacks Hill on Monday June 20. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
TO CELEBRATE the second year of its Birthright programme, GraceKennedy
hosted a reception for this year's group on Monday, June 20.
The Birthright programme was established to give second and third generation Jamaicans who weren't born here the opportunity to connect with their heritage. That means visits to various heritage sites and national monuments that they might have only heard of, or seen pictures of, is part of the package.
However, the programme is more than a sight-seeing expedition. The eight students (there were six last year) will work within GraceKennedy and its various divisions for the next six to eight weeks, gaining some valuable work experience. The programme reaches out to young persons from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some are still attending college and
university but others have graduated.
GraceKennedy's Chief Operating Officer, Information Services Division, Brian Goldson, hosted the party and was delighted with the enthusiasm he had seen from this year's group and thought the programme was going well so far.
"The ones who were here last year still keep in touch with us and they even look out for business opportunities for GraceKennedy. They are really now ambassadors for Jamaica," he said. Mr. Goldson encouraged the group to get used to their home, and hoped that by the time they left, they would consider themselves extended family.
Apart from members of the GraceKennedy family who came to welcome the young adults, representatives from Cable and Wireless and SuperClubs were also present. Cable and Wireless will provide mobile phones for all the participants while SuperClubs will provide accommodation for the team when on their heritage tours.
