My name is Jamila, and my mom, Andrea McPherson, has always been the heart and strength of our family. She’s a hardworking single mother who has spent her life doing housekeeping and small-scale farming in rural West Portland, Jamaica. Despite the challenges, she’s always found ways to support me and my brother, even when it meant making tremendous sacrifices. For years, we lived in run-down board houses without modern facilities, and my mom worked tirelessly to save enough for me to attend university. After an eight-year delay, I’m now in my final year studying Logistics and Supply Chain Management, thanks to her dedication and the help of my family.

About a year ago, we moved into a concrete house my mom started building over six years ago. It’s still unfinished, but it was a big step for us. Then Hurricane Melissa struck. In the middle of the night, we had to escape as the river rose and swept away our land. We lost almost everything—our original home, all our furniture, appliances I had saved for, and the supplies we stored in a makeshift unit. My mom’s livestock and farm, which helped pay our bills and my tuition, were also taken by the river. The loss has been overwhelming, and rebuilding feels twice as hard in an already struggling economy. Now, the house is just hanging, left on the edge where the land used to be, and we’re not sure how much longer it will stand.

Despite these setbacks, I remain hopeful. My dream is to finish my degree and eventually own a trucking company, but I’m even more passionate about giving back. I want to create a community center where young people from rural areas can learn professional skills and find opportunities that were out of reach for me growing up. My mom and I have always tried to help others, even with what little we had. Now, we need help to rebuild our home and cover my school expenses so I can complete my education and work toward a better future for our family and our community.