Dear Friends,

We urgently need your help!

My Story:

The recent hurricane that struck Carriacou and surrounding islands has left a trail of devastation. It impacted every house and business on the island with nothing being spared. Take a minute to watch the video if you haven't already seen the impact on the island.

My grandfather's home (pictured at the bottom during a family gathering), a place that has stood for generations, a must for every family visit, has been severely damaged. This house wasn't just a building; the surrounding land housed our family cemetery, hosted weddings and burials and is a space where over 150 years of our history lies. Knowing that upon returning, it will not be the same is incredibly upsetting.

The devastation also impacted my Aunty, completely destroying her home. The pictures above is what is left of a place she calls home. She is the most hardworking and humble lady – A small business owner who has always looked after us during visits. Taking the time to create handmade gifts for my children and family here in the UK. Now, she's lost not only her home but also her livelihood.

The impact extends beyond my Grandfather and Aunty for my family. Other relatives have suffered immensely. My cousin on a neighbouring island has been severely affected, with no power or access to essential electrical appliances for her baby.

Those who know me well can attest to my constant affection for Carriacou. It's a place I speak of with immense fondness, a huge part of mine and my families cultural identity and heritage. Every visit is a reminder of the love I carry for this island and its people, which is something we pass on to my children and all the grandchildren in our loving family.

Urgent Needs:

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, we desperately need basic necessities. Without electricity, there is a struggle to preserve food, store medicine and communicate.

How Your Donation Helps:

This fundraiser aims to provide critical support with an initial focus on:

Direct Relief for Family: Our first priority is to help our most affected family members. Funds will be used to provide them with temporary shelter, assist with rebuilding efforts for their homes, and offer direct financial aid for food and clothes.

Generators: Providing generators will give a reliable source of electricity to power tools for the rebuild, appliances like refrigerators, medical equipment, and devices to stay informed and communicate from so far away.

Portable Power Banks: Portable power banks will offer a mobile solution for charging essential electronics like lights, torches, phones and laptops.

Weatherproofing Materials: We will also be directing funds towards weatherproofing materials to help secure their temporary shelters and begin repairs.

This is just to name a few, as you can imagine the situation and needs will change as time passes.

Transparency and Accountability:

I understand that the situation and needs will likely change as time progresses. I am committed to complete transparency with how the funds are spent. I will keep a detailed record of all expenditures and make them available for public viewing at any point. I will update this GoFundMe for people to see the latest news on how their generous donations have helped.

My goal is to ensure that your donation goes directly to real work, helping real people in Carriacou.

A Difficult Request:

This is a very personal request for me. Asking for financial help isn't something I've ever done before. However, the scale of this disaster is simply too much for my family and the entire Carriacou community to handle alone. On behalf of my family, we are doing everything we can, but any help you can provide would be a true blessing.

Every Contribution Makes a Difference:

Your donation, no matter the size, can make a real difference. I will never forget the kindness and generosity shown during this difficult time.

With your help, we can not only provide immediate relief to the family struggling in Carriacou and the neighbouring islands, but also help rebuild a place of immense belonging and sentimental value to my family – our ancestral home. We can help my aunt get back on her feet and continue sharing her handmade creations with us all. More importantly, we can help more families, including my cousin and her baby, get the vital resources they need to recover.

Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

Sincerely,

Taron-i Sylvester

& the whole Sylvester family.