Hey Everyone!

Last year Hurricane Beryl devastated the Caribbean. We fundraised over £21k to mobilise resources and rebuilding efforts post hurricane across Jamaica, Grenada and Union Island.

It is of even more importance at this dire moment in time that we as Caribbean people organise and begin distributing funds for repair as Hurricane Melissa turns to a category 5. The island has never seen a category 5 before, this is truly unprecedented.

THE ROLE OF THE GLOBAL NORTH IN EXACERBATING CLIMATE CRISIS THROUGH CONSUMPTION AND LEAVING THE CARIBBEAN TO PICK UP THE PIECES CAN NO LONGER REMAIN POSSIBLE.

The Jamaican Diaspora must continue to apply pressure for reparations and climate justice because these conditions aren't normal. This fund is brought to you by Black Curatorial, House of Dread, City Splash, Black Things UK, Kwanda and Black Eats.

We have decided to galvanise the existing Hurricane Beryl Fund and transform it into a Caribbean Hurricane Fund. This time we will focus on support for Hurricane Melissa.

We have done this:

1 - to galvanise an existing community of people who will invest in supporting the Caribbean after the crisis.

2 - to amplify Hurricane Melissa relief by acting quick and making more impact.

3 - to continue sharing information to understand the climate crisis and its relationship to these continuous weather deteriorations across the Caribbean.

4 - to use our existing track record of distributing funds to grassroots organisations and people across the Caribbean so people know they can trust us to do the work.

The funds raised for Hurricane Melissa will be distributed across Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

If you are aware of people and organisations in need across these countries please email us so we can add them to our list.

This is not to erase the impact of Hurricane Beryl and it's continued damage, as many people are still suffering from the impact of this over a year later, but fundraising for Melissa is to continue to be agile in organising and moving money as quickly as we can for rebuilding efforts.

Please support the Caribbean Hurricane Fund for relief and to support those experiencing Hurricane Melissa as we speak.

WHERE WILL WE FOCUS THIS MONEY:

We're looking to support rebuilding people's homes, lives or food sources and agricultural projects as well as emergency money needed to make a difference.

To see the types of projects we invested in for Hurricane Beryl, scroll to the bottom of this text.

PLEASE SHARE SHARE SHARE!

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ARCHIVE: HURRICANE BERYL FUND BLURB

We, Black Curatorial, Kwanda, Twossaints, Black Eats London & West India Cinema Corporation have come together to fundraise for people affected by Hurricane Beryl across the West Indies.

As West Indian people it is imperative that we support each other and ourselves in the building back of our communities, this is a duty.

Hurricane Beryl has devastated hundreds of communities in the West Indies.

This is not a freak storm, this is a direct impact of climate crisis in the region - fuelled and sustained by overconsumption and emissions in the Global North.

The ocean waters are 4 degrees warmer than expected at this time of year, this has directly affected the speed and ferocity of the hurricane at the beginning of this year's hurricane season.

To understand what the importance of AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) is for Hurricane season in the Caribbean and globally please watch this video.

The impact of this hurricane is very much being felt, "90% of homes on Union Island had been destroyed", according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

We’re fundraising for people and charities across Barbados, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada and those affected across the region.

The money raised will go towards helping local fishermen in Barbados to buy new boats, support roofing and housing materials for people in Carriacou, Union and Grenada and well as St Vincent to rebuild their livelihoods and homes.

We are working collectively to disseminate these funds across the region ensuring they reach grassroots communities and people directly.

The Hurricane is now a category 5 and on its way to Jamaica. We urge everyone to pray for its weakening and for the people currently effected by Beryl's peril.

Please continue to share and donate to those affected!

If you have any questions please email us.

WHERE ARE THE DONATIONS GOING?

This fund exists to go directly to grassroots organisations providing support for those across the following countries:

HOW WILL THEY BE PROCESSED AND ADMINISTERED?

We are working with Kwanda to help disseminate the funds to the existing groups they work with in the affected countries.

Black Curatorial work across Barbados and Jamaica administering funds for creatives via the Fly Me Out Fund our process of sending money via transfer is already set up to support and facilitate this fund's dissemination.

WHO'S INVOLVED?

Black Curatorial

Kwanda

West India Cinema Corporation

Twossaints

Black Eats London

WILL I RECEIVE UPDATES OF WHERE MY MONEY HAS GONE?

Yes, all those who donate will be updated with where the money has gone and which specific projects and communities this fund has assisted.

We also welcome your suggestions for grassroots organisations and individuals to donate to, who's homes and livelihoods have been lost in Hurricane Beryl.

Cost Breakdown thus far:

£5,018.34 to Solidarity Yard for agricultural regeneration in Jamaica

£12,000 to Exodus Collective for building homes apprenticeship in North Grenada

£703.07 in transaction fees from Go Fund Me

£3976.59 awaiting distribution in Union Island