Dear Editor,

Growing up in Jamaica I never fully understood or appreciated the rich cultural heritage of my homeland until I migrated and gained a new perspective of what my country represented to the world.

It’s one thing to be in a country like Jamaica — living day to day like everyone else. However, it’s a whole different ball game when your family migrates to another country in search of greener pastures only to find out that in other parts of the world your skin colour or country of origin defines more about you than who you really are as a human being.

My family migrated to America in 2017, not only because of economic reasons, but it was my mom’s desire to get me overseas from a very young age because I have cerebral palsy. Living in Jamaica with a disability posed its own challenges for my family, but, as always, it was never something that we couldn’t overcome.

I was 17 when my family and I relocated to the States, and as happy as I was to actually be in America, I began to understand why people all over the world loved Jamaica so much. All of the history lessons I learnt in both preparatory school and high school started making more sense to me as I learnt more about and was exposed to living in a country where racism and prejudice did not hide its face.

Coming from a country like Jamaica, where the idea of one love and living in approximate harmony with each other without caring about what one looked like too much, made me understand why many people around the world admired who we were as a people. I realised why many saw Jamaica as a symbol of love and unity, even amid the difficulties we faced and still face today amongst ourselves.

This new-found appreciation and love for my country sparked a desire to see and contribute to its ongoing development. As the opportunity presented itself to give back to Jamaica, even as a youth, I did not hesitate to jump on board. I was granted the opportunity to join and participate in BlessBackJamdown (BBJD) Missions, which was founded in 2020. BBJD Missions was launched as a non-profit organisation during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist underserved communities in Jamaica. This is done by providing food and personal care items to the homeless population and those in need in underserved communities. The organisation’s mission was birthed out of the restless desire that the founder, Sherlene Templeman, had to give back to her beloved homeland. Like me she had emigrated from Jamaica as a teenager and now lives in Connecticut. BBJD Missions desires to serve Jamaica by bridging the gap between those in need of support and those who are able to provide such assistance.

In January 2025, BBJD Missions embarked on its second mission trip to Jamaica, partnering with Katie’s Kitchen – Gifted Hands in Portmore, St Catherine, to host a heartfelt fifth annual new year’s dinner for those in need. Together, we brought warmth and nourishment to the streets, community centres, and homeless shelters across Kingston, St Catherine, and St Thomas, providing more than 450 hot meals and care packages that brought hope and joy to the faces of the underserved.

As one of the members on the BBJD Mission’s team with Jamaican roots and connections, it felt amazing to be able to be amongst fellow countrymen giving back to the land of my birth. It also felt wonderful to be able to share the love of Christ with others.

As a person with a disability, I know that there are many people like myself who are a part of these underserved communities as well. My personal hope is to expand on this mission, focusing on supporting the disabled community in Jamaica, a vital part of the broader population in our beloved homeland. I also want people to know there’s nothing they can’t overcome regardless of their background or upbringing. As long as we put God first, there’ll always be brighter days even in the midst of challenges.

Looking ahead, the organisation’s goal is to continue being a blessing to all 14 parishes in Jamaica. To achieve this, we hope to partner and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organisations, working together to make a difference, “one meal at a time”.

Rene L Lambert

renepllambert@gmail.com