Giving Jamaica’s Youth a Brighter Tomorrow: A Celebration of Opportunity and Hope

On September 9, Manchester High School in Mandeville proudly hosted the 5th Annual Giving Jamaica Chances Inc. Awards Ceremony — a powerful and inspiring event dedicated to transforming the futures of bright, deserving students through education and financial support.

This year marked a significant milestone as 25 students from six secondary institutions received 7 scholarships and 18 grants, helping to ease the financial burden of education and unlock new opportunities for success.

Represented schools included:

• Belair High School

• deCarteret College

• Mt. St. Joseph Catholic High School

• Bellefield High School

• Manchester High School

• Bishop Gibson High School

Over 100 guests filled the venue — students, principals, and guidance counsellors — all

gathered in a spirit of joy, gratitude, and celebration. The room resonated with emotion as

recipients were honoured not only for their academic achievements but for their determination in the face of adversity.

Jasford Gabriel - Principal of Manchester High School

Althea Brown - Guidance Counsellor - Manchester High School

The audience also heard powerful testimonies from two former grant recipients, who shared how the support they received changed their lives. We'll be sharing more of their stories in upcoming features on our website.

Rojuan Steadman, Former Recipient of GJCI Grant

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Manchester High School for graciously hosting the event and creating such a warm, welcoming environment.

This year also saw a dream realized: thanks to the unwavering support of our sponsors

— Pickapeppa, Pioneer Chocolate, and Don & Leonie Ashdown — we were able to

award our very first six-year scholarships, a long-standing goal of Giving Jamaica Chances

Inc.

Sponsors - Pickapeppa, Pioneer Chocolate, Don & Leonie Ashdown Trust Foundation

To the schools who continue to champion their students and collaborate with us year-round —thank you. Your dedication in identifying and uplifting deserving young people is critical to the success of our mission.

Now in its fifth year, this initiative stands as a testament to the strength of community and the power of shared purpose. From just two grants totalling JA $100,000 in our first year, we’ve grown to a JA $3 million commitment in 2025 — a reflection of the tremendous support from our donors and the growing impact of this movement.

As we look ahead, we remain deeply committed to empowering Jamaica’s youth and building a future where every child has the chance to thrive.

To all our supporters: thank you. Your generosity is changing lives.

A recap of the event below: