Rhodes Scholar, Tiana Dinham: Championing safe drinking water for every Jamaican household

Moments after 22-year-old Tiana Dinham was named Jamaica's 2026 Rhodes Scholar, she called her mother - on speakerphone. What followed was a moment overflowing with tears and emotion.

Her mother screamed, "Oh my God!" 13 times - the words tumbling out in disbelief and joy - before finally catching her breath long enough to say, "I'm so proud of you, Tiana."

Dinham's selection was formally announced by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honorable Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony at King's House on November 13.

For her, the Rhodes Scholarship represents more than a personal triumph - it stands as a beacon of hope for the communities that shaped her and are now grappling with loss and dislocation in the wake of Category Five Hurricane Melissa.

"They lost their homes, they don't have food, they don't have water. So, even just a small thing as winning this scholarship, I think, will bring joy to some people," Dinham tells JIS News.

Her Rhodes Scholarship will fund postgraduate studies in Water Science, Policy and Management at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, a choice deeply rooted in the environmental realities of her upbringing.

The Hanover native, who attended Mount Alvernia High School in St James, shares that she grew up in a community where access to piped and potable water was a constant struggle.

"A lot of my projects growing up have been focused on trying to educate people on the importance of treating the water that they drink, whether it's by boiling, adding bleach or adding chlorine. Many people just go to the river, drink water and don't think about the contaminants that could be in the water," she explains.

In January 2025, Dinham launched the Rainwater Initiative for Sustainability and Empowerment (RISE), a community-based rainwater harvesting programme aimed at improving water access and quality in Hanover, for which she successfully secured more than $300,000 in funding support.

Dinham partnered with the Hanover Health Department to provide training on safe water collection and treatment for residents and school staff.

Additionally, she coordinated the donation of water tanks and chlorine compactors to seven vulnerable households and three rural primary schools across the parish.

Dinham has already secured $350,000 in funding from Hanover charities for phase two of the project, which she hopes to launch in May 2026.

She emphasises that the Rhodes Scholarship will enable her to further her mission of ensuring that every Jamaican household has access to safe water.

Currently, Dinham is completing her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is pursuing a double major in Geological Sciences - with a concentration in Earth Science, and Geography - with a focus on water quality in North Carolina. She brings to this academic journey a compelling record of leadership and service.

"I was Head Girl of Mount Alvernia from 2021 to 2022, and I served as the President for multiple clubs, including the Speech and Drama, Debate, Interact, and Key Clubs, because I've always believed in giving back to my communities," she tells JIS News.

Her years at Mount Alvernia High School were marked by distinction and a steadfast commitment to academic excellence.

"I was on the Honour Roll for all my years. I was a Gold Report Scholar, I won multiple awards at graduation and I was a Principal Award recipient," Ms. Dinham outlines.

Throughout her journey, Ms. Dinham has carried her grandmother's wisdom as a guiding compass: "When the system fails you, don't fail yourself. Find a way."

"I think that's what I've been doing all my life. When I feel like [things haven't] been going my way, I don't give up. I try and find another way," she reflects.

To young Jamaicans aspiring to become Rhodes Scholars, Tiana Dinham offers a grounded and empowering reminder:

"I just want to emphasise that I'm not an anomaly. I'm not the exception to the rule. I believe that everyone out there has a chance to be in my exact position. I don't have a unique story. A lot of us have grown up in rural parishes in Jamaica, who've gone through hardship, who are trying to persevere, and I believe that you can be in my exact position today. Just keep believing in yourself. Keep dreaming big."

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