More than 100 Jamaican students preparing to enter secondary school are set to receive financial assistance from the Usain Bolt Foundation following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The initiative will provide support to successful Primary Exit Profile (PEP) candidates from five western parishes as they begin the 2026/2027 academic year.

Students from Trelawny, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth are among those who will benefit from the programme, with the assistance intended to help with school fees and other back-to-school expenses.

Eight High Schools to Receive J$1 Million Each

The Usain Bolt Foundation will provide J$1 million to each of eight participating high schools.

The schools will work through their guidance counsellors to identify students who are most in need of financial assistance.

The participating institutions are St Elizabeth Technical High School and Maggotty High School in St Elizabeth; Godfrey Stewart High School and Petersfield High School in Westmoreland; Green Island High School and Merlene Ottey High School in Hanover; and Green Pond High School and Maldon High School in St James.

The eight school grants account for J$8 million of the Foundation’s announced support.

Waldensia Students Also Receive Grants

Additional assistance will go to students at Waldensia Primary School in Trelawny, where Usain Bolt attended primary school.

All 17 students from the school who successfully passed their PEP examinations will receive individual grants of J$100,000.

That adds another J$1.7 million to the programme, putting the combined value of the grants outlined in the Foundation’s announcement at approximately J$9.7 million.

Students Were Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

The Foundation said the beneficiaries were affected by Hurricane Melissa and are now transitioning to secondary education.

The assistance is expected to help ease some of the financial challenges associated with starting high school, particularly for families dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane.

Foundation Chairman Winsome Wilkins said the organisation remains committed to creating a legacy of happy children through educational and cultural development while encouraging young people to pursue their dreams.

Bolt Pledges Continued Support

Usain Bolt said he was pleased to be in a position to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the students.

The Jamaican sprint icon highlighted the circumstances facing the children following the hurricane and said the Foundation would continue working to support ordinary Jamaican children.

The latest initiative adds to Bolt’s ongoing efforts to use his Foundation to provide opportunities and assistance to young people in Jamaica.

For the students receiving the grants, the financial support comes at an important stage as they prepare to leave primary school and begin a new chapter of their education.