The Grace, Kennedy Jamaican Birthright interns reading about the history of Grace, Kennedy's products and services during their orientation session.
-Contributed photo
Barbara Ellington, Senior Gleaner Writer
SANCHIA SMITHSON, Yasheen Harris, Geoffrey Hinds, Marissa Gaynor, Tiffany Brown and Atinuke Bankole arrived in the island last Friday. They are the second and third generation Jamaicans in the diaspora who are here as guests of Grace, Kennedy & Company, as part of the "Birthright Programme".
They will live, work, socialise and learn about authentic Jamaican lifestyle even the 'Passa Passa' experience. The initiative is strictly for second and third-generation Jamaicans who have never lived in Jamaica, and want to reconnect with their Jamaican heritage.
THE BIRTHRIGHT PROGRAMME
During the next two months, they will work with the Grace, Kennedy group of companies and reside in the homes of members of staff.
Pat Robinson, executive director of the Grace, Kennedy Foundation told The Sunday Gleaner that the group will have a hectic schedule which began with a reception, sampling the culture, calling on the Governor-General, attending the diaspora conference and by the end of the first week, visiting several community outreach projects sponsored by Grace, Kennedy & Company Limited. And, at the end of the two months, they will all have gained five new friends.
Mrs. Robinson said the idea for the programme came to Grace's Chief Executive Officer Douglas Orane via his young relative who, being born and raised overseas, suggested it to him on a visit with the family. He put it to his staff and, after making contacts through the company's overseas network, more than 200 applications were received from persons eager to participate.
FUNDING
Their visit is fully funded by Grace and although the six have visited Jamaica many times during their lives, it is the first time that they will experience this level of cultural immersion.
In an interview with The Sunday Gleaner, they revealed some interesting observations.
At age 24, Sanchia Smithson has completed a BSc in Politics and Sociology and will begin a masters degree in politics in October. The London-born Sanchia made her first trip home at age 17. She works as an administrator for the Mayor of London and has her roots in Clarendon.
"I grew up hearing positive things from my family about Jamaica but there were others who said they wouldn't allow their children to come to Jamaica out of fear they would be mugged or shot. On the contrary, I was mugged in London, not here. My first visit was good and I instantly loved it (Jamaica), Sanchia said.
HOSPITABLE
This is Sanchia's first time in Kingston and she says what she will gain from the experience is more knowledge of her heritage but so far, she has been exposed to enough to convince her that she would love to live in Jamaica even for a few years.
Twenty-one year-old Yasheen Harris is a statuesque and fashionable Londoner who could easily be mistaken for a model in the making. Her roots are also in Clarendon and, by the age 15, she had visited the land of her parents' birth five times. The Arts major has worked in the advertising field.
For Yasheen, the Jamaica she heard of was a distant country with inaccessible borders but she still had a blind allegiance and loyalty to it. In less than a week and particularly after having attended some of the sessions at the diaspora conference, that perception has changed to respect for a country that has such worldwide respect.
"I already have an upgraded sense of identity with the place and that is what I will take with me," she told The Sunday Gleaner.
The sole male in the group, Geoffrey Hinds' roots go back to St. Mary and Trelawny. Now 18, he has completed his first year of study towards a business management degree at Howard University.
This is his third time home and he's from a big family who hold regular get-togethers and he's used to hearing both the good and bad about Jamaica.
Residents of New York, his family maintains good, strong values; they are strict, hard-working and conscientious people.
'I don't read the papers because the news is always bad but I keep an open mind and form my own opinions about Jamaica. I would like to gain as much as I can from this experience, see what the country has to offer and tell everyone about the good things when I return," he said.
Marissa Gaynor is 21 and her parents are from St. Ann and Kingston and this is her first trip to Jamaica. A Political Science and Philosophy major, she lives in New Jersey and attends Rutgers University. After this degree, Marissa plans to go to law school.
WORK ETHIC
"I grew up hearing many things about Jamaica from my mother and grandmother, especially about the work ethic of the Jamaican male and female, how appreciative people are of what they have, how they take care of the little they have and how ambitious they were to have what they did not have," she said.
From the two-month experience, Marissa wants to leave with a better perspective of the culture and wants to learn more about both ends of the economic spectrum. She has never espoused any negative perspectives about Jamaica and where they intruded, she always obliterated them when she comes home.
"On previous visits, I gained a deep sense of appreciation for the culture and this time I am getting a better understanding of what life is like here. I now feel a strong connection with my country and have a heightened sense that this is my country," Marissa told The Sunday Gleaner.
Tiffany Brown is an 18 year-old Business major at Rutgers University; she also lives in New Jersey. Growing up as the daughter of Jamaican parents, she always heard about the importance of education and how her grandmother worked hard to achieve her dreams.
"I heard positive things about Jamaica; my folks always said the food was better, it's not processed, it's fresher, the mangoes are sweeter and the positive was stressed so I grew up feeling proud of my Jamaican ancestry. I carry a flag in my car and keep one in my dorm room and everyone calls me Jamaica as a result," Tiffany said.
She came to Jamaica on many previous occasions but mainly when she was much younger. This is her first time in Kingston and she tells everyone at home there is no difference between the two places.
FARM LIFE
"This is so similar to home, I am used to the farm life in the country but now get to be a tourist and immerse myself in all aspects of the country. I would love to give back something to the country so I will be looking at ways to help when I return home. We take so many things for granted in the United States but I am looking forward to working here. I will talk about the wonderful experience, the warmth of the people and the progress being made," she said.
Atinuke Bankole is now 23 and working towards a second Bachelor's degree. Now majoring in Education, she lives in Ontario, Canada, but her parents are from Kingston and St. Mary.
She benefited from her grandmother's stories of Jamaica being a place of struggle. She works part-time as a teaching assistant and volunteers with a Jamaican-Caribbean campus group.
"She said you only got to wipe the sweat from your brow at the end of the day and she always encouraged me to go back and give back something to my country. My mother says there are problems but I should open my eyes and recognise my privilege," Atinuke said.
