40% of JN Hurricane Melissa relief funds to support early childhood sector

Forty per cent of donations raised through The Jamaica National Group’s ISupportJamaica Fund for Hurricane Melissa relief will be allocated to early childhood institutions, reinforcing the organisation’s long-standing commitment to strengthening the sector.

The announcement was made by Chairman of the JN Foundation, Parris Lyew-Ayee, on Day Two of the Early Childhood Colloquium held recently at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters. The ISupportJamaica Fund, which is managed by the JN Foundation, facilitates local and international contributions to recovery efforts and is accessible at ISupportJamaica.com.

Addressing Caribbean leaders, educators and policymakers, Lyew-Ayee urged the region to use the current moment to transform early childhood education, arguing that the future of Caribbean societies depends on how well their youngest citizens are prepared.

“Early childhood education is the most effective form of economic development policy, social protection policy, and crime prevention policy, all rolled into one,” he said. “It must be recognised as a strategic investment, not a luxury.”

He underscored the importance of the early years in shaping character, intellect and resilience, noting that foundational learning has far-reaching societal impacts.

“Every time a child learns to express a thought, to share, to solve a problem, he or she is laying the foundational stones for society,” Lyew-Ayee said. “If we fail the youngest learners, we limit our national growth. If we give them a strong start, we unleash the power that lifts entire nations.”

While highlighting a shared Caribbean vision that every child should have the opportunity to fulfil his or her potential, he cautioned that past opportunities for reform have been missed.

“This is why we must grasp every chance now,” he said. “We cannot let the next opportunity slip through our fingers.”

Lyew-Ayee also paid tribute to Dudley Grant, widely regarded as the father of early childhood education in Jamaica, describing his philosophy as a “seamless blend of care, play and learning” that continues to guide the sector. He encouraged teachers and parents to instil confidence, nurture curiosity and build strong character in children.

Reflecting on Hurricane Melissa’s impact, he noted that natural disasters “traumatise our little ones and set back the sector,” making targeted rebuilding and support especially urgent. He reaffirmed the JN Foundation’s approach to development, saying, “We believe at JN that to transform a nation, we start at the foundation. It’s in our DNA.”

He further called on educators, policymakers, researchers and the media to work together to implement action plans emerging from the colloquium.

“Do not let this be another academic exercise,” he warned. “The real test will be the impact we see five, 10, 15, or 20 years from now in young people who think critically, care deeply, and act decisively for the common good.”

Meanwhile, Professor Zoya Kinkead-Clark, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at UWI, Mona, echoed the call for regional collaboration and strong policy direction.

“I’m so happy that many of you have decided to come back for day two,” she said. “This colloquium continues to focus on advocating for early childhood care and education in the Caribbean, ensuring we know what must be done and that we get it done.”

She stressed that early childhood education serves as a protective factor that enables children to thrive and said policy discussions must translate into tangible, long-term outcomes across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

Addressing Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath, Kinkead-Clark noted that while devastation has been widespread, community-level partnerships have played a critical role in sustaining the system.

“It is the small partnerships, the community members opening their homes and verandahs so schools can reopen, that are holding the system together,” she said.

The two-day regional conference was held on November 27–28 and was organised by the JN Foundation in collaboration with the UWI School of Education and the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre.