Author Archives: JN Foundation

The JN Foundation has continued its tradition of giving, reaffirming its commitment to Mustard Seed Communities through its Comfort for Christmas initiative. From essential food items to diapers for daily care, find out how this year’s donation is supporting residents at Jacob’s Ladder in St Ann and bringing hope during the holiday season. 

For the fourth consecutive year, the JN Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to Mustard Seed Communities, spreading holiday cheer and delivering much-needed practical support through its annual Comfort for Christmas initiative. 

This year’s donation, delivered to the Mustard Seed-managed facility at Jacob’s Ladder in St Ann, included diapers and food items to support the daily care and nutritional needs of residents, many of whom are chronically ill, physically challenged or without family support. 

According to Candice Nichols, social impact assessment officer at the JN Foundation, the initiative underscores the Foundation’s sustained commitment to supporting the welfare of children.   

“This really came from a place of acknowledging the need to support our vulnerable communities across the island,” Ms Nichols said. “Mustard Seed is a very established organisation with 11 apostolates islandwide, and while they manage their operations very well, the need is always significant.” 

She explained that residents at Mustard Seed range from newborns to the elderly and include persons who are fully or partially dependent on medical and nutritional care. 

“We wanted to continue with our donation of diapers, but we also extended the range of donations to include food items based on the request from the administrator at the home,” Ms Nichols noted. 

Assistant mission manager at Mustard Seed Communities at Jacob’s Ladder, Reanna Simpson, said the donation would have an immediate and meaningful impact on residents, particularly those with special dietary and medical needs. 

“The food items are especially important because many of our residents have multiple disabilities and specific nutritional requirements,” Ms Simpson said. “Having items tailored for conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure makes a real difference in how we care for them, and it also eases the financial burden of purchasing food and essential supplies.” 

Ms Nichols pointed out that the initiative aligns directly with the Foundation’s broader mission of supporting vulnerable children and adults, a focus it has maintained for decades. 

“Mustard Seed is home to residents of all ages, and they are all vulnerable,” she said. “Supporting them made perfect sense for us, and it’s not something we are hoping to abandon anytime soon.” 

She added that the impact of Hurricane Melissa heightened the urgency of continued support, as donations to Mustard Seed slowed while national relief efforts were concentrated in other hard-hit areas. 

“With the passage of Hurricane Melissa, there was an increased need for support,” Ms Nichols explained. “Even if we weren’t able to do as much as we would want to, we could not turn our backs on them this Christmas.” 

Miss Simpson echoed the importance of sustained support beyond the holiday season, noting that Mustard Seed provides a permanent home for persons who are often abandoned or forgotten. 

“This is a community that cares for persons who have no one,” she said. “What we offer here is dignity, care and a second chance at life, and support from organisations like the JN Foundation helps us ensure that no one who comes here is ever abandoned again.” 

Miss Simpson encouraged members of the public to support institution. 

“It does not necessarily take much,” she said. “If you can’t give financially, you can volunteer your time or help identify a need. What matters is the willingness to give.” 

Jacob’s Ladder, which is home to 155 residents, sustained minor damage from Hurricane Mellisa, but its greenhouses, which are used to grow the institution’s vegetables and ground provisions, were damaged, and as such, they have to purchase these items.  

The Comfort for Christmas initiative continues to be a cornerstone of the JN Foundation’s outreach efforts, providing not only seasonal cheer but meaningful, year-round support to institutions serving Jamaica’s most vulnerable populations. The initiative is funded by members of staff of The Jamaica National Group. 

Strengthening early childhood education in Latin America and the Caribbean will require better financing, stronger data systems and more inclusive services, experts addressing a recent panel discussion on early childhood development in the region have said.

The panel of experts, which included specialists in global financing and early childhood education, were speaking at a recent colloquium organised by the JN Foundation and The University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Education in partnership with the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre.

Dr Emre Ozaltin, lead economist for the Caribbean at the World Bank, noted that sustainable support for early childhood development (ECD) will require a diversified financing approach. He called for long-term financing strategies that foster coordinated support from development partners and the private sector to ensure continuity and effective services, even in the face of disasters.

“A diversified approach to funding in this area may be best – a combination of public budgets, targeted subsidies and innovative financing mechanisms, such as public private partnerships and targeted taxes,” he said. “Sustainable ECD financing is not a one-size-fits-all. Approaches tailored to social, political and economic realities, and critically, the flexibility to be able to respond quickly when disasters do strike are needed.”

He also underscored the need to invest in robust data systems, “to be able to observe the actionable information to improve the [existing] systems that we have.”

Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark, professor of early childhood care and education at the UWI School of Education, also emphasised the need for greater monitoring and evaluation in the sector to ensure programmes and actions are effective. Using the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica as an example, she also said by integrating evaluation with comprehensive support services, stakeholders can better meet the needs of children affected by crises to, among other things, ensure equity and continuity of care.

“We really need to be using that monitoring and evaluation to make the key decisions that are needed to guide the sector. We understand that many young children and their families are vulnerable, especially now, and this highlights the need to provide the kind of support they require. As a region, perhaps we can start thinking about ‘wrap-around services’ for our children and their families,” she said.

Adding to the conversation, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, education specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), also highlighted the need for improved learning environments, including more sensory based spaces and programmes in early childhood institutions (ECIs), to support children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.

“It’s important that we find ways to replicate more of those spaces, following a model created by UNICEF with the Rockhouse Foundation at Savanna-la-Mar Infant Academy- one of the schools badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa. That model included clinical support through a partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness,” she said.

“You heard the Minister [of Education] speak about a research screening centre [to come] in Portland to complement the one that exists at Mico [University College]. We had about eight of the sensory or clinical spaces before the hurricane and we need more such support at the early childhood level to enable the necessary follow up along the National Early Screening Pathway, which starts with the Child Health Development Passport and moves through multiple assessments, including the Jamaica School Readiness Assessment developed by UNICEF and the UWI Department of Child Health and administered by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). These sensory spaces, if strategically placed around the island, can be a possible way to bridge a key gap in the pathway,” she added.

Dr. Tortello said the way forward should also include improved infrastructure at ECIs, such as ramps and accessible toilets, to make facilities more inclusive. As she handed over the Pathway document, she also emphasised the need to expand access to teaching resources, including accessible digital textbooks (ADTs) now available on UNICEF’s Learning Passport Jamaica website at jamaicalearningpassport.org, as well as professional development programmes like the UNICEF-developed Inclusive Early Childhood Education course offered by the ECC and the Jamaica Teaching Council annually.

Dr Tracy-Ann Morgan-Smith, senior director of regulations and monitoring at the ECC, noted that along with ensuring that services are fully inclusive to accommodate children with disabilities and other special needs, improving the early childhood sector, particularly for Jamaica, will also mean reviewing legislation, implementing teacher licencing and enhancing disaster mitigation measures.

“We’re looking at putting in the legislation for system strengthening [to cater to] the whole aspect of the licencing and mandatory areas for teachers to do their professional development. Areas like toxic stress and the trauma children deal with after a disaster. That is critical. We also have to look at our climate resilience, how we now respond to education in emergency situations,” she said.

She noted that with the recent passage of Jamaica’s Data Protection Act and the evolving digital age, attention will also turn to how the early childhood legislation can protect children and others whose data is collected and used.

The two-day JN Foundation and UWI School of Education Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre Colloquium was held from November 27-28 at the UWI Regional Headquarters, under the theme: Let’s shape tomorrow, together. It brought together educators, policymakers and sector leaders to examine the state of early childhood education in the region and chart the way forward.

Photo Caption: Parris Lyew-Ayee (second left), Chairman, JN Foundation exchanges pleasantries with Dr. Tiou Clarke (left), lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica; Dr Ricardo Anderson (centre), lecturer in the Department of Computing, The University of the West Indies; Dr Dawn DiPeri (second right), interdisciplinary design leader and faculty trainer, and, Ava Marie Reid, curriculum development specialist. All were present at  a panel discussion at the recent colloquium on early childhood education hosted by the JN Foundation and the UWI School of Education’s Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre. The session, titled Opportunity or Distraction: Technology and Early Childhood Education, explored the role of AI in shaping the future of learning.

Educators with knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) are urging their colleagues at the early childhood level to move past scepticism and embrace the technology as part of modern teaching methods. While advocating for its integration, they cautioned that young children should not have direct access to AI tools, emphasising the importance of developing their own analytical and critical thinking skills first.

The call came during a panel discussion at the recent colloquium on early childhood education hosted by the JN Foundation and the UWI School of Education’s Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre. The session, titled Opportunity or Distraction: Technology and Early Childhood Education, explored the role of AI in shaping the future of learning.

Dr Ricardo Anderson, lecturer in the Department of Computing, reminded the audience that AI is no longer a futuristic concept, but a technology embedded in everyday life.

“AI has become ubiquitous. Almost every device we use today, every digital piece of equipment, has artificial intelligence built in,” he explained. “What we need to do is ensure those tools are appropriate for the skills we want to develop. For example, if we’re focusing on motor skills, the devices we provide must align with those objectives. Many of these devices already use AI to enhance development and provide support mechanisms for teachers and students.”

While acknowledging that some AI applications may not be suitable for very young learners, Anderson warned against resisting progress.

“We cannot afford to have a generation that isn’t literate in using appropriate technologies,” he said. “Imagine if we had rejected calculators because we feared them. Technology changes how we do things, we must remain inclusive and ensure these skills are taught.”

Dr Taio Clarke, lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, highlighted that scepticism often stems from limited exposure.

“Some of my colleagues still think AI is bad,” Clarke noted. “But I ask them, ‘Have you really interacted with it? Have you attended forums or explored what’s available before passing judgment?’ Let’s not rely on TikTok opinions; let’s engage with the technology ourselves.”

Dr Clarke also stressed that technology in early childhood education should complement holistic learning philosophies.

“Technology should follow the child as they grow, not the other way around,” he said, while advocating for play-based environments where teachers moderate sessions that balance free play, guided play, and hands-on activities.

Dr Dawn DiPeri, a New York-based interdisciplinary design leader and faculty trainer, echoed the need for caution with young learners.

“AI should not be directly for young children, they shouldn’t be interacting with AI tools at that age,” she said. Instead, she recommended using AI to assist teachers, particularly in content creation.

“In my school district, only tools that meet strict data security standards, known as ‘2D compliance’ are allowed,” DiPeri explained. “For policy, I suggest creating a clear list of approved tools. And when educators ask me to teach them AI, I start with pedagogy. I ask, ‘What problem are you trying to solve?’ Sometimes technology isn’t even the answer. Identify the pain points first, then find the right solution.”

As Jamaica begins the road to recovery from the emotional, economic and infrastructural fallout caused by Hurricane Melissa, two education psychologists are calling for an urgent overhaul of Jamaica’s education system, starting at the early childhood level. They say the revamp will strengthen resilience and better prepare children and other stakeholders in the face of rising disasters.

Delivering the first of two keynote addresses on the opening day of the JN Foundation and The University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Education Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre Colloquium on the topic, Nurturing Well-Being and Building Resilience, the specialists, Professor Loraine Cookand Dr Sharline Cole, from the School of Education at UWI Mona, argued that Jamaica must reshape how it educates and protects children and their educators, both during crises and in the classroom before and after events.

They noted that as the country remains vulnerable to climate-driven disasters, children should be empowered as “agents of protection in disasters”. They called on authors to write textbooks and storybooks featuring disaster-management techniques so children can process risk and prepare through familiar characters and culturally relevant storytelling. “Present it so that children from as early as three can start understanding what vulnerabilities they will face in society,” said Professor Loraine Cook.

The education psychologists also stressed the need to continue improving school infrastructure across the country to be hurricane resilient, as many remain vulnerable to high-impact weather systems. They also pushed for a stronger national remote learning strategy, built on both online and offline methods to ensure continuity of education when schools are damaged or inaccessible. Citing an effective model from another disaster-prone country, Belize, Professor Cook said, “they utilise transistor radios to bring learning into the homes and I think that’s fantastic. It is so flexible, you don’t just rely on the internet.”

The Cuban Model

Beyond that, the psychologists urged education stakeholders in Jamaica to adopt international best practices that teach young children practical disaster preparedness skills. Using Cuba as a case study, Dr Cook shared how early childhood schools integrate a “culture of prevention” into their curriculum, preparing children for disasters. Using age-appropriate activities like drills, storytelling and themed games, the schools teach young children to recognise risks and react to emergencies with calmness and safety. She added that in primary schools, students from grades one to six also study their natural surroundings and learn about the environment through daily observation.

“The goal is for children to become agents of change by applying and sharing what they learn both within their families and across their communities,” Professor Cook shared.

Dr Sharline Cole added that in the redesign of the education system, children must be encouraged to express and validate their emotions as part of disaster recovery.

“Children have a say, and we should provide them with an opportunity to say what they feel and understand their emotions. Let them share exactly what is happening to them because if they don’t, it’s going to create problems later on. We have to listen to what they have to say and help them to talk about it,” she said.

The psychologists also highlighted that the call for transformation extends beyond students. While noting that teachers possess some psychosocial competencies, they highlighted that the concurrent demand of delivering curriculum content and addressing students’ traumatic experiences also present a significant challenge for educators. To ease this burden, they recommended that the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information partner with universities and counsellor-training institutions to implement a structured national internship programme. Under the proposal, mental health trainees would work alongside classroom teachers to provide socio-emotional support during instructions, helping to stabilise the classroom environment and improve academic performance.

Adaptive Education System Needed

While underscoring the importance of supporting educators’ well-being, the specialists also called for a more adaptive education system, one capable of shifting quickly during emergencies and informed by data.

On the point of data, they urged the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to collect and report on data relating to the effectiveness of the existing Guidelines for Child-Friendly Disaster Management and Response, to assist in policies reflecting the realities children face before, during and after disasters.

“Despite having the guidelines, the Government faces challenges in implementing child protection in emergencies as a central focus of their operations,” Dr. Cole said, citing a 2019 statement from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

“We have the guidelines [but] are we putting them into action and does it end there?” she questioned. “We need the data to guide our practice, to make the appropriate implementation or to make decisions. If we don’t have that data, it’s difficult for us to make informed decisions, be able to plan and ensure we have a resilient society,” she concluded.

The two-day colloquium was held from November 27-28 at the UWI Regional Headquarters, under the theme: Let’s shape tomorrow, together. It brought together educators, policymakers and sector leaders to examine the state of early childhood education in the region and to chart the way forward.

Pilar Ellington, a resident of St Andrew, has already participated in three relief efforts across western Jamaica, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Driven by a deep sense of compassion and duty to those in need, she has committed to return as often as she can to provide further assistance to affected persons to rebuild their lives.

A dedicated volunteer and employee of the JN Group, Ms Ellington, was among the first to respond to the call for staff members to support the activities of the JN Foundation which partnered with the Jamaica Automobile Association and St John Ambulance Jamaica, to bring much-needed supplies and services to more than 1,000 residents in Trelawny and St Elizabeth.

“Our role included conducting medical and social surveys to assess the needs of residents, particularly their medical conditions, so that the medical team could provide immediate assistance where necessary. We also helped to distribute some 300 care packages,” she said, adding that the team provided telecommunication access through Starlink services, along with a generator that allowed residents to charge their devices.

Ms Ellington, a member relations officer at the JN Group, pointed out that she was deeply moved by the extent of the damage observed in the various communities.

“Pictures and videos really don’t capture the full reality of what we saw. Houses made of board and concrete alike, were completely destroyed, roads became riverbeds. It was heartbreaking to witness,” she related, adding that power lines were down, water and electricity were unavailable, and cell phone service was extremely poor.

“The situation is challenging. It felt like stepping back in time,” she said.

A moment that will always be etched in her memory was the assistance St John Ambulance Jamaica provided to a diabetic woman who had become critically ill.

“She was taken to the temporary field hospital in Black River due to the severity of her situation. It was gratifying to be able to be a part of an initiative which helps in this way. I could only imagine what might have happened if we hadn’t been there as volunteers to check in on the residents,” she reflected.

Ms Ellington also related that during the team’s outreach efforts in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, residents led them to the home of an elderly man whose house had collapsed during the hurricane while he was inside and how neighbors rushed to rescue him.

“When they got inside, they found him soaked and trembling in a small closet. One of the neighbors took him in, and they’ve been trying to reach his family,” she shared.

The residents, she noted, welcomed the relief support. Many expressed heartfelt gratitude for the aid which brought comfort in their time of great loss.

“They were very grateful for the help and care packages. Many elderly and vulnerable residents had lost their medication and were living with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Some were even bedridden. They were extremely appreciative of the medical support and the assistance provided by the St John Ambulance Service,” she said.

“What stood out most to me was the community’s strength and positive spirit. Everyone remained hopeful and worked together to help one another,” she pointed out.

Speaking to the alignment of her work and innate nature of volunteerism, Ms Ellington, noted that her personal efforts is reflective of the mandate of the JN Circle, the activities for which she coordinates.

“JN Circle members are advocates for change and building stronger communities, and I truly believe in that mission,” she emphasised.

There are 16 local chapters of the JN Circle in Jamaica.  Overseas chapters are based in Toronto, Canada and London, England.

Over the years, Ms Ellington has made it her duty to give back in any way she can. 

“I live by the principle, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ One day, any of us could be the one in need of a good Samaritan. So, help because it’s the right thing to do, and because it feels good to make a difference,” she explained.

Ms Ellington stressed that restoring Jamaica requires collaboration at every level and the willingness of every citizen to play their part in the national recovery process.

“Helping others, whether in a big or small way, is a privilege. It’s deeply rewarding to know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Don’t think that what you have to offer isn’t enough because nothing is too small. Your voice, your time, your strength, and your prayers all matter just as much as physical donations.”

“We have a long road to recovery and rebuilding stronger and better will take everyone’s effort,” she maintained.

The JN Foundation with The University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Education and the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre will host a two-day regional conference, November 27–28 at The UWI Regional Headquarters, Mona Campus.

The event will spotlight the enduring legacy of Dudley Grant, Jamaica’s trailblazer in early childhood education, while highlighting the pivotal role of early childhood education in shaping sustainable Caribbean development.

Bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, and advocates from across the region, the conference will explore critical themes in policy, practice, and partnerships that advance equitable, high-quality early learning outcomes. The programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and breakout sessions. It will also honour outstanding contributors to early childhood education in Jamaica.

Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at The University of the West Indies, Mona, emphasised the importance of the partnership in advancing regional education priorities.

“The University of the West Indies is honoured to collaborate on this conference, which not only celebrates the work of one of our region’s greatest educators but also provides a forum for advocacy by sharing research, innovation, and policy insights that can sustainably transform early childhood education,” said Professor Kinkead-Clark.

“Our goal is to strengthen the link between evidence-based research, system quality and classroom practice, ensuring that every child in the Caribbean has access to quality early learning experiences.”

Claudine Allen, General Manager of the JN Foundation, said the event was timely, as it provides a platform for stakeholders to reimagine the future of early childhood education in the Caribbean.

“As one of the organisers of this conference, we at the JN Foundation are deeply committed to advancing the conversation around early childhood development. We firmly believe that if we are to tackle Jamaica’s education crisis in any meaningful way, we must start at the foundation by ensuring that our youngest learners have access to quality care and education from the very beginning,” said Miss Allen.

“Early childhood development is where the building blocks of literacy, numeracy, and social skills are formed. It is where we cultivate curiosity, confidence, and compassion, traits that define the kind of citizens and leaders our nation needs. Dudley Grant’s philosophy of educare—the seamless blend of care, play, and learning, captures this vision perfectly. Through this dialogue, we hope to reignite that spirit of collaboration and reaffirm our shared responsibility to strengthen the early years as the cornerstone of Jamaica’s educational and social transformation.”

Attendees will gain insights into evidence-based practices, innovative policy frameworks, and cutting-edge research designed to enhance early learning outcomes and promote holistic child development.

Key discussion topics include ‘Towards Effective Early Childhood Policies for Latin America and the Caribbean’, focusing on aligning regional policy frameworks and strengthening partnerships for equitable, high-quality outcomes; ‘Opportunity or Distraction: Technology and Early Childhood Education’, exploring how technology can both enhance and hinder early learning, and strategies for balanced integration; ‘Diversity in Practice: Addressing Unique Abilities and Cultural Differences in Early Childhood Education Delivery’; and ‘Early Childhood Curriculum Development and Delivery’.

Distinguished local and regional participants include Dr Ricardo Anderson, Lead, Technology and Innovation, One-on-One; Dr Tiou Clarke, Lecturer, University of Technology and the University of South Florida; Dr Dawn Lee DiPeri, Lead, Learning Passport, UNICEF; and Dr Rebecca Tortello, Education Specialist, UNICEF.

Regional experts that will present at the colloquium are Ena Dalso Henry, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports from Antigua; Nadera Ross, education officer, Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology in Belize; and Dr Dawn DiPerri, Interdisciplinary Global Design Leader & Faculty Trainer, UNICEF based in the United States.

Dudley Grant, affectionately known as Jamaica’s Father of Early Childhood Education, pioneered the ‘educare’ model, a child-centred approach that integrates play, parental involvement, and social interaction to nurture holistic development. His groundbreaking work reshaped Jamaica’s preschool landscape and continues to influence global early childhood education policy and practice today. Mr Grant died in 1988.

Persons interested in attending the conference may register on the JN Foundation website at http://jnfoundation.com/dgmt-colloquium/

As the devastating picture of the widespread damage and destruction wrought by Hurricane Melissa continues to unfold, especially across western parishes, the JN Group has deepened humanitarian support to assist in the recovery efforts.

Immediately in the aftermath of the storm’s impact last week, Jamaica National re-introduced the ISupportJamaica Fund to channel donations from Jamaicans overseas, to assist in relief and rebuilding efforts in the worst-affected areas, namely early childhood institutions, health facilities and homes for the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

“The world is responding to Jamaica’s plight and we are moved by the outpouring of support,” said Claudine Allen, general manager, JN Foundation, adding “Jamaicans in the UK have already pooled together significant non-perishable items and hygiene supplies which are destined for Jamaica to be utilised by Food for the Poor.”

Tangible donations are facilitated through JN locations in the UK and remittances through JN Money Services, while cash donations are being sent to JN Bank account number 2094768349, through Faster Payments, or global bank transfers.

Additional information on how to donate can be found on the JN Foundation website, https://www.jnfoundation.com/hurricane-melissa-relief/.

In addition to the ISupportJamaica Fund, the JN Group is accommodating the volunteerism of its employees and collaborating to support state agencies and government partners with returning a sense of normalcy to worst affected communities. A corps of JN employee volunteers has been mobilised by the JN Foundation in partnership with St John’s Ambulance and JN Group member company, the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), to provide well-needed medical care and assist with clearing debris. The first set of volunteers is set to lend support to several communities in St Elizabeth in a day of service on Sunday November 2 and will reconvene as required for other activities.

“This situation warrants our collaboration to help fuel recovery efforts for those most affected. Working alongside the government of Jamaica and other charities, we have carefully assessed the needs, hence our decision to support the provision of not only food and supplies, but medical assistance and basic first aid. The hospitals in the region are themselves damaged and overwhelmed, so care is limited and urgent, and, at the same time, movement is limited because of mounds of debris,” explained Ms Allen.  “We need all hands on deck.”

Ms Allen said sustainable measures also need to be implemented to keep aid flowing over time. She noted that the Foundation is working through its grassroots network of service groups, JN Circle, to provide on-the-ground support to communities across Jamaica.

“Through the JN Circle we have been able to channel some $20 million in aid over the past two years to children’s homes, early childhood institutions, women’s organisations, and people who need help, among others,” Ms Allen outlined. “And we will be working through them now and over time to deliver support to communities.”

Accepting that communication remains a challenge, she pointed out “It’s important to support the call for agencies who are working to bring everyone together, such as the Council for Voluntary Social Services, CVSS,” and urged Jamaicans who want to help to sign up to volunteer for relief projects being deployed.

“This is the time we need to be our brother’s keeper. We will only recover and rebuild if we do it together,” she concluded. 

As survivors rebuild following last week’s landfall of Hurricane Melissa, more than 250 volunteers galvanized by St John’s Ambulance Jamaica and the JN Foundation brought first aid care to nearly 800 residents of the worst affected areas in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland over the weekend. The Jamaica Automobile Association, a JN Group member company, which transported the volunteers, also provided residents with hours of Wi-Fi internet via a Starlink connection, as communities remain without power and internet services.

Volunteers and qualified first aid responders and trainers treated several elderly Jamaicans with chronic ailments who lost prescribed medication during the catastrophic hurricane, and other people, mainly men, who have been unable to seek medical treatment for injuries sustained during the storm. Several roads remain impassible in the parishes and hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region have been damaged and stretched beyond capacity.

Vincent Wilson, an elderly resident of Barton Wharf in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, was among those who was seen by the team. Mr Wilson, who lives alone, was rescued by his neighbour Nicholas Morgan and his wife as the violent hurricane winds ravaged Mr Wilson’s home constructed of mainly board.

“When we go over there, he was trapped in a closet… Him go under there (the wardrobe/ closet) to look shelter, but the house tumble down and [trap him],” Mr Morgan explained to a group of volunteers from the JN Group.

Mr Morgan, his wife and son, recognised the emergency while trying to save their chickens and responded immediately by cutting the fence bordering the two properties to rescue the elderly man. They called but heard nothing at first, and with no response, they were about to leave when they heard rumbling in the dismantled structure. They struggled to pull his tall, lanky frame from the wardrobe.

“He barely could walk because him cramp, but we shoulder him until we get him [across],” Mr Morgan explained. Mr Wilson, thankful for life, is currently staying with the Morgans, but the diabetic’s blood pressure and ‘sugar’ medications were lost in the storm.

Others, mostly men, seen by volunteers, continued to labour, fixing the roofs of their homes, family members and neighbours, despite being in pain themselves.

Ramorio Solomon from Rice Piece fell while driving his motorcycle just a day prior to the volunteers’ visit. Blotches, commonly known as ‘cherries’, were visible on his left arm and right leg. With no access to a medical facility, only hydrogen peroxide was available to dress the wounds.  Romeo Wright, son-in-law of the elderly Meleta Harris, who also lost most of her medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney and heart condition, fell as he carried her from her home during the storm after the roof of her home blew off. He fell face down, injuring his chest.

“The first me a feel them pain here from me on Earth,” he told JN volunteers pointing across his chest, while, at the same time, still assisting other men to re-roof his mother-in-law’s home.

Meanwhile Norris Campbell’s left index finger was badly injured by a door slammed shut by the heavy winds. He too had nothing but hydrogen peroxide to apply to the severe wound that nearly severed his finger. Despite his injury, the elderly man pressed on to help neighbours remove fallen trees from their yard after the storm, which left his other hand swollen.

Duane Ellis, chief executive officer of the more than 100-year-old first-aid response and training organisation, St John Ambulance, commended the tremendous outpouring of response by volunteers from various groups, including JN Group employees, Kiwanis International, youth groups, as well as students from the University of Technology, Jamaica and The University of the West Indies, Mona. The volunteers’ main mission was to gather information on the needs and conditions of people in severely affected areas and recommend those in need for medical assistance to the ambulances staffed by qualified medical professionals.

“The response by volunteers was overwhelming, and because of that we have been able to conduct a very good information gathering on the needs in these communities, in respect of both the medical and welfare needs, so that targeted assistance can be provided in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and other agencies,” he said. The data will be used to provide ongoing support as the state and partners work to return normalcy to the communities.

Earl Jarrett, chairman of St John Ambulance and CEO of the JN Group, urged the preservation of survivors’ dignity during the recovery process. “Be empathetic. What you are doing is beyond what is expected,” he reminded volunteers.     

Photo Caption: Deandré Fowler, a first form student at Hampton School

With an insatiable appetite for reading, 12-year-old Deandré Fowler, a first-form student at Hampton School in St Elizabeth, would spend her holidays at the parish library in Black River, immersing herself in books, particularly mysteries, that ignite her imagination.

“She’s always reading,” said Jeneive Weathers, Deandré’s Grade Six teacher at the Black River Primary and Infant School.  “She read all the books in her class and would go to the other classes, borrow the books from the teachers and read them,” she related adding that Deandré would lament that the children were not reading the books.

Deandré’s stepfather, Maurice Mullings, a fixed asset officer at the Black River Hospital and an avid reader himself, shared that he and Deandré’s mother were intentional about nurturing her love for books from an early age.

“I’ve always encouraged her to read.  She always sees me reading. I’ve always told her that being well read will help her in every aspect of life.  There’s this 10-book series that I’m trying to get her to read by Steve Erickson.  Each book is around 1000 pages.  I’ve gone as far as getting apps on her phone where I can download ebooks for her to read,” he said.

“She has been with me since she was two years old and she has really been exceptionally bright.  She was reading long before her peers.  Her mother did a lot of work where that is concerned.  She had to be held back in grades because of her age.”

Mr Mullings is confident that Deandré’s commitment to reading laid the foundation for her academic success. That dedication bore fruit when she emerged as the overall top student in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) at her former school, achieving a placement score of 382.7. Her outstanding performance earned her a five-year scholarship from the JN Foundation and she was named the 2025 JN Foundation Parish Scholar for St Elizabeth.

Deandré is pleased that her hard work has been paid off with a scholarship award.  She recalled that she was talking with a friend on the phone when her mother broke the news to her. She was initially in disbelief.

“I kept asking her, ‘are you sure?’ and I hugged her and started jumping.  I was very happy,” she said adding that she immediately called her stepfather to relay the good news.

A total of 37 students were awarded five-year scholarships by the JN Foundation Fourteen recipients are parish scholars; three, JN Bank Easi-Save County scholars; and, 20 are children of JN Group employees who gained the Building Excellence and Achieving More Success (BEAMS) scholarship for attaining a placement score of at least 320. An additional 10 students were presented with one-time grants by JN Money Services.

Deandré’s mother, Dacia Foskin, a cashier supervisor at Intown Supercentre in Black River, was at work when she received the email advising her of the  scholarship award. Overwhelmed with joy, she could not contain her excitement.

“I just lost myself, for I was so happy. I started running up and down and screaming. I was so excited,” she recalled, adding that given Deandré’s stellar PEP performance, she had been hopeful a scholarship would come her way.

The scholarship award was no surprise to Deandré’s grade six teacher, who encouraged Deandré’s mother to apply for scholarships.

“I know she would have gotten it. Deandré was an excellent student.  She doesn’t work on any haste.  She takes her time and makes sure that her answers are ok.  When she comes to me, everything is ok and there’s no correction. She was one of the best students that I have ever had,” said Ms Weathers.

Deandré related that she prepared for PEP by attending extra classes at school Mondays to Thursdays and for four hours on Saturdays. She always ensured that homework is done, she read over her notes and sought help from her teacher when she didn’t understand something.  She also practised with worksheets she accessed online and went through past papers.

Now settled into her new school, Deandré has adjusted with ease and is already looking forward to exploring new opportunities beyond the classroom. She is eager to join several clubs, including Key Club and the Journalism Club, while also considering activities such as chess, photography, and even crochet.

She provides advice to other children preparing for PEP so they can achieve similar success as her.

“Set goals. Never be discouraged and try your best to achieve those goals,” she said.

A middle child, Deandré has two sisters.  She is indecisive about her career path but is leaning towards become a doctor.

Since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in 1983, close to 1,000 students have benefitted from financial assistance to pursue their secondary education.