Clean Harbours Jamaica Limited's Michael McCarthy (left), Ocean Cleanup's
Erik Holmbom ( center) and The Visioneers With Zay Harding host, Zay Harding on
Kingston Harbour during filming of the series.
PHOTO- Elena Garcia
NEW YORK – The GraceKennedy Foundation has again done Jamaica proud with the news that the two episodes of the television series The Visioneers With Zay Harding on CBS- which featured the foundation’s Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project- attracted a total of over 2.6 million viewers across the USA.
The series, broadcast on Saturday mornings as part of the CBS WKND educational /informational programming block, is currently in its second season.
The Grace Kennedy Foundation appeared in the show’s season 2 premiere- titled From Plastic to Power– which aired on Saturday October 4 of last year. In addition, they appeared again in episode 4 -titled The School Of The Sea- which aired on October 25. Both episodes were re aired later on in the season. As a result, there was a total cumulative viewership of 2.6 million across four national broadcasts.
Season 2 Episodes
Clean Harbours Jamaica Limited’s Michael McCarthy (left), Ocean Cleanup’s Erik Holmbom ( center) and The Visioneers With Zay Harding host, Zay Harding on Kingston Harbour during filming of the series. PHOTO- Elena Garcia
From Plastic To Power
From Plastic To Power opened with an extensive segment about The Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project (KHCP). This is a collaborative initiative funded by the international nonprofit organization The Ocean Cleanup, in partnership with the GraceKennedy Foundation and local marine waste management company, Clean Harbours Jamaica Limited.
Together, the partners are jointly spearheading the KHCP, an ambitious effort to reduce domestic solid waste flowing into the island’s Kingston Harbour- the seventh deepest natural harbour in the world. The harbour has suffered decades of severe pollution.
During the feature, audiences learned about the innovative floating barrier solution known as “Interceptors™,” which have been deployed at nine of the most polluting gullies in the Kingston Harbour. These devices trap and prevent waste from entering the harbour.
The School of the Sea
The School of the Sea once again featured the work of the GraceKennedy Foundation, this time highlighting the project’s environmental, education and awareness initiatives through its outreach to schools, community groups, private sector companies and government agencies.
Both episodes were heavily promoted to Jamaican and Caribbean audiences throughout the US.
GraceKennedy Foundation CEO, Caroline Mahfood PHOTO CREDIT- GraceKennedy Foundation
According to CEO of the GraceKennedy Foundation Caroline Mahfood, “The Grace Kennedy Foundation is extremely proud that the hard work of the foundation has now been seen by over 2 million viewers on national broadcast television throughout the USA, including our own people. Anecdotally and through social media, we know that many made a deliberate effort to watch both episodes in which we were featured. We are honoured and grateful for the viewing support of the Caribbean diaspora.”
In the four years since the GraceKennedy Foundation formed its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup and Clean Harbours Jamaica Limited, The Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project has removed over 5 million kilograms of waste from Kingston Harbour, including not only plastics, but also motor vehicles, mattresses, refrigerators, washing machines and other discarded appliances.
The Foundation has also engaged and educated over 3,800 children and youth through school presentations and tours of the offloading site. Moreover, in partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, it has raised close to J$1 billion in support for The KHCP.
Zay Harding and GraceKennedy Foundation’s Jade Ashley Carberry (far right, back row) with children from the Rose Town community in Kingston during filming of The Visioneers with Zay Harding. PHOTO CREDIT- Zay Harding
Produced by Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) in an exclusive partnership with VoLo Foundation, The Visioneers with Zay Harding is a 30-minute weekly series hosted by international explorer and veteran adventure presenter Zay Harding. Each episode highlights innovative initiatives around the globe, led by scientists, engineers and everyday people. These initiatives offer real-world environmental solutions.
Season Premier
The series premiered in April of 2025 with season one ending last September. During season 2, in addition to featuring Jamaica and the GraceKennedy Foundation twice, the show expanded its coverage to a dozen U.S. states and such international destinations as Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Kenya and the U.K.
