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    Study AbroadHistory & Arts

    Roots, Rhythms & Resistance

    Kingston & Manchester, Jamaica
    14 Days
    10-25 Students

    Trip Overview

    Jamaica is a cornerstone of the African diaspora and a living archive of Black resistance, from Maroon freedom fighters to Marcus Garvey, from Rastafari to the global reach of reggae. For students of Black history and culture, few destinations connect the past and present so directly or so powerfully.

    This fourteen day program moves from Kingston's heritage sites and university lecture halls to the Maroon communities of the interior and the rural calm of Manchester. Students trace the arc from enslavement through emancipation to independence, engage Maroon and Rastafarian traditions on their own terms, and contribute to local communities through meaningful service. The result is a deep, respectful immersion that links Jamaica's history of struggle to its present resilience and the wider diaspora experience.

    Cultural Competence

    Develop intercultural awareness through African heritage, Maroon and Rastafarian traditions.

    Historical Understanding

    Analyse Jamaica's history from enslavement to independence within the diaspora.

    Community Engagement

    Contribute through service projects built on mutual cultural exchange.

    Social Justice Awareness

    Examine resistance and empowerment through Garvey, the Maroons and present challenges.

    Critical Reflection

    Connect personal and diaspora experience to Jamaica's living history.

    Heritage Stewardship

    Understand cultural preservation as an act of community resilience.

    Program Highlights

    Black History Walking Tours: Downtown Kingston heritage sites, Emancipation Park and the National Heroes monuments.
    Academic Exchange: University of the West Indies, Mona lectures on cultural change and diaspora history.
    Musical Heritage: Tuff Gong Studio and the Bob Marley Museum, the birthplace and legacy of reggae.
    Maroon Immersion: Charles Town and Accompong Maroon communities with drumming, dance and resistance history.
    Rastafarian Experience: Cultural exchange and organic farming with a Rasta community, with Ital cuisine.
    Community Service: Service projects with Mustard Seed Communities, children's homes and a rural school.
    Rural Immersion: A restorative stay at Tan y Bryn Estate in Manchester rooted in agricultural and community life.

    What's Included

    • Welcome orientation and health and safety overview
    • Airport pick up and drop off
    • All accommodation, 13 nights
    • 13 breakfast, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
    • All ground transportation
    • 24/7 in country support
    • UWI lectures and heritage tours
    • Tuff Gong and Bob Marley Museum
    • Charles Town and Accompong Maroon experiences
    • Rastafarian cultural exchange
    • Community service projects
    • YS Falls and Appleton Estate
    • Capstone facilitation

    What's Not Included

    • Round trip international airfare
    • Passport and visa fees
    • Travel insurance
    • Meals not listed as included
    • Optional tips and gratuities
    • Personal expenses and souvenirs
    • Optional add on activities
    • Beverages not included with meals

    Accommodation

    Four Seasons Hotel, Kingston

    Four Seasons Hotel, Kingston

    Tucked away on Ruthven Road in the heart of New Kingston, Hotel Four Seasons is a charming hotel that has been a beloved Kingston landmark for decades. Step through the gates and the busy city falls away, replaced by lush tropical gardens and two sparkling pools where students can unwind after a day of discovery. Just minutes from Emancipation Park, Devon House, and the Bob Marley Museum, and secured behind a gated entrance with attentive staff, it offers a safe, restful, and welcoming base for the Kingston phase of the program, complete with warm Jamaican hospitality and comfortable spaces for group gatherings.

    Tan y Bryn Estate, Manchester

    Tan y Bryn Estate, Manchester

    A GSA homebase in the cool highlands of Manchester. Tan y Bryn offers a warm, family run setting where students live close to the rhythms of rural Jamaican life, with hearty home cooked meals, communal space and direct access to the surrounding farming community.