The parish of St. James is among the 4 parishes in Western Jamaica that were devastated by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the category 5 hurricane that hit the island on October 28, 2025.
The Catadupa All Age School in St. James, Jamaica, is among the many buildings totally destroyed by the Hurricane. The photos below and video, do not fully capture the extent of the devastation.
Classes are suspended indefinitely as the community goes about the difficult task of rebuilding the school even while they pick up the pieces of their personal lives as approximately 90% of homes in Catadupa and its environs were completely destroyed or lost their roofs.
This GoFundMe was set up for persons who want to donate to help get the school back up and running and help members of the community with the difficult task of rebuilding. Funds donated will help people on the ground in Catadupa in charge of the rebuilding efforts put their lives back together.
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The video was captured by a volunteer relief worker who visited Catadupa and other parts of Western Jamaica a few days ago.
"It was like scenes from a HORROR MOVIE!" <<--= The volunteer Relief Worker said, his voice mournful and barely audible, burdened by what he had witnessed.
He described BARREN landscapes, trees with no leaves, roads turned to river beds.... and said that at some points, especially between Cambridge and Retrieve in St. James, he had to drive through bodies of water to get to Catadupa.
My name is Andrea Downer-Ashley and I was born and raised in Belfont, Catadupa and attended the Catadupa All Age School. Funds raised will be given to the Chairman of the School Board to be used in the school's rebuilding efforts. If enough funds are raised, some will be donated to the Showers of Blessing Apostolic Church in Catadupa which I also attended as a child and young adult. The Chairman for the school board is a Minister at the Showers of Blessing Church. Any remaining donations will be given to persons in the community (some of whom have lost their homes and are being housed at the severely damaged All Age School) to help them rebuild.
I decided to launch this GoFundMe after I persons started commenting on my posts about how the hurricane has affected Catadupa and its environs asking how and where they can donate. As Catadupa and the surrounding communities are without electricity and consistent and reliable internet service, I decided to start this GoFUndMe to assist the community with their reuilding efforts.
As the people in my island home town, Catadupa goes through the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and community, give what you can, you will be BLESSED.
CATADUPA COMMUNITY YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT I MANAGE
FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT I HAVE MANAGED FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS
Organizer
