In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic passage, a coalition of civic organizations has mobilized to support the recovery of a vital early childhood education center in St. James, Jamaica. The DRB Grant Demonstration Basic School, a cornerstone institution established in 1988, sustained near-total destruction, losing approximately 95% of its infrastructure according to Principal Heather Wiggan.
The hurricane’s impact rendered the physical plant inoperable, stripping roofs, submerging classrooms in mud and silt, and destroying all educational furniture and equipment. This forced an immediate transition to remote learning modalities—a strategy previously developed during COVID-19 disruptions—though connectivity challenges persist. Teachers now distribute digital activities and conduct limited in-person reviews weekly.
Volunteers from the JN Foundation and the National Helmet Wearing Coalition conducted intensive cleanup operations, removing debris and cleansing mud-filled spaces to enable damage assessment and future reconstruction. Laurie Radlin-Walker, a coalition volunteer, emphasized the humanitarian imperative: ‘This is for the children… once they can return to a clean environment, that makes it worth it.’
Sydoney Preddie, JN Foundation’s youth and education lead, characterized the cleaning as a critical first phase before structural repairs can commence. The initiative aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to educational development, particularly recognizing the foundational importance of early childhood learning.
Despite progress, Principal Wiggan underscores substantial unmet needs: major reconstruction, building supplies, classroom resources, and cafeteria equipment. The institution, serving 165 students and functioning as a training model for early childhood educators, seeks further corporate and public support to restore a safe, nurturing learning environment.