Back to Class Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa School Relief Initiative

Scoil Sinead is a charity organization (Charity No. 20150587) and the patron body for primary and secondary schools in Ireland, committed to inclusive education and supporting children with additional learning needs.

In partnership with HOPE Autism Care Center Ltd and Teach Lead Teach, we are launching the Back to Class Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa School Relief Initiative to help restore schools, classrooms, and learning spaces across western Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Many students have been displaced, and in some areas, schools are now serving as emergency shelters.

Our Background

Over the past few years, Scoil Sinead has worked closely with Jamaican schools to strengthen inclusive education and teacher training. Two of the schools we have supported are Godfrey Stewart High (Westmoreland) and Falmouth SDA Primary (Trelawny).

When Hurricane Melissa struck, both schools suffered extensive damage to classrooms, roofs, and essential materials. Our founder, Sherene Powell-Okafor, together with the team, visited these schools in October to provide teacher training and promote inclusive classroom development. The schools were thriving and full of life, until Hurricane Melissa destroyed so much of what we built together.

We were also deeply moved by the situation at John’s Hall Primary in Montego Bay, featured in a news report by Mello TV Everywhere:

Watch the coverage here: https://youtu.be/Igaf3ndASE0?si=V25eqA-jJfry_DMB

Seeing the devastation across all three communities inspired the creation of this campaign.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple but urgent: to help children safely return to school, receive daily nourishment, and find hope again amid recovery.

This initiative focuses on giving children a sense of stability, safety, and belonging while their families rebuild.

How Funds Will Be Used

Funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward:

• Setting up temporary classrooms and learning tents

• Providing daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks)

• Supplying books, uniforms, and school materials

• Supporting teachers and students with psycho-social and emotional care

• Providing clean drinking water, clothing, sanitary and personal hygiene items

Focus Schools

Godfrey Stewart High (Westmoreland) – structural damage and classrooms now used as temporary shelters

Falmouth SDA Primary (Trelawny) – still under water; work will begin once it’s safe to enter, as several classrooms and materials have been destroyed by flooding

John’s Hall Primary (Montego Bay) – newly identified for inclusion after severe roof and interior damage

Transparency and Delivery

Funds will be managed by Scoil Sinead (Ireland), a registered educational charity organization.

A local coordination team in Jamaica is working directly with principals and community leaders to deliver aid to students.

We will share regular updates, photos, and financial reports so every donor can see the impact of their contribution.

Why It Matters

Schools are more than buildings, they are lifelines for children and families.

When we reopen classrooms, even temporarily, we restore dignity, safety, and hope.

Every donation — no matter the size — helps a child learn, eat, and dream again.

We also welcome in-kind contributions such as food, new clothing and shoes, personal hygiene items, school furniture, and stationery.

Together, we can help Jamaica’s children rise stronger after the storm, because after every hurricane, hope must rise again.

How we are related to the people we are raising funds for:

Scoil Sinead, HOPE Autism Care Center, and Teach Lead Teach have been working directly with these Jamaican schools for several years through teacher training, inclusion development, and ongoing school partnerships. We are raising funds on behalf of the affected schools, their principals, teachers, and students, with whom we have established working relationships.

Along with the three focus schools named above, we are also working with additional schools that we were not previously affiliated with, but who have suffered severe damage during Hurricane Melissa.

Any school in the affected regions that reaches out and meets the urgent criteria for support is included in this initiative. Our goal is to ensure that no child is left without access to learning, regardless of whether we had an existing relationship with the school before the hurricane.

How the funds will reach the intended recipients:

All funds are transferred into the verified Scoil Sinead charity bank account (Ireland), where they are managed by the Board of Directors. Funds are then used to purchase supplies, equipment, food, water, and educational materials, which are delivered directly to each school through our on-the-ground coordination team in Jamaica.

We do not transfer cash to individuals.

Every item purchased is delivered by our team directly to the principals and documented with receipts, photos, videos, and weekly reports.

How the funds will be spent:

Funds are used ONLY for:

– Temporary classrooms and tents

– Water, food programmes, school meals

– Generators, Starlink internet, printers

– School supplies, textbooks, learning materials

– Uniforms and hygiene kits

– Emotional and psychosocial support

– Cleaning, repairs, and urgent restoration

– Supporting students and teachers from multiple schools across affected parishes

All spending aligns fully with our charity regulations and GoFundMe’s transparency policies.

Organized by:

Scoil Sinead (Ireland) — www.scoilsinead.ie

in partnership with

HOPE Autism Care Center Ltd — www.hopechildcare.ie

and Teach Lead Teach