FOURTEEN schools across Jamaica, one from each parish, have been awarded $300,000 each through Wata’s ‘Hydrate to Educate’ recycling initiative.

The programme, powered by Wisynco Group Limited’s flagship hydration brand Wata, is designed to support developmental projects and strengthen educational institutions while affirming Wisynco’s long-term commitment to national development.

The grants were awarded based on participation in a recycling challenge, which encouraged schools to collect and recycle the most Wata bottles.

The initiative not only promotes sustainability and environmental consciousness, but also channels the proceeds back into the schools to improve infrastructure, learning environments, and student welfare.

This year’s winning schools will be directing their grants into a wide range of projects, from upgrading science labs and purchasing computers to enhancing sanitation facilities, repairing classrooms, and building recreational spaces.

The grants are designed to have a lasting impact on the schools’ communities, helping to create more supportive environments for teaching and learning.

The winning schools are St George’s College, Portsmouth Primary School, Golden Valley Primary School, Camperdown High School, Boundbrook Infant, Avondale Preparatory, Porus Infant, Green Island Primary School, Hazard Primary and Infant School, St Joseph’s Infant School, St Alban’s Basic School, Grange Hill High School, Edwin Allen High School, and Louise Bennett-Coverley Primary School.

Speaking at the luncheon held to recognise the recipients, Wata’s Brand Manager Brittany Thwaites commended the schools for their innovation and commitment to recycling, noting that the Hydrate to Educate initiative goes beyond financial support and is intended to also promote sustainability among students.

“Through the Hydrate to Educate programme, we are not only supporting schools but also building awareness and encouraging action. A major part of this programme is to drive our recycling numbers over 70 per cent, and play our part in helping communities and schools increase their recycling efforts”, said Thwaites.

The Hydrate to Educate programme also awarded 42 students islandwide with individual grants of $175,000.