Never waste a crisis. Difficult or disruptive times can be turned into opportunities for change, innovation, and growth rather than simply being endured.

Hurricane Melissa has devastated the island of Jamaica, bringing several sections, parishes, and townships to their knees; in fact, in some places there are no knees left! Many Jamaicans are currently without livelihoods, homes, or shelter, and meeting basic needs remains an ongoing challenge.

By International Organization for Migration (IOM) standards, tens of thousands of Jamaicans now fall into the category of internally displaced persons. This is a crisis of epic proportions. Although not an expert in crisis management or redevelopment, I see the initial phases of the post-Melissa project as a 2026 to 2027 situation, as some people and places need everything. It has also been heart-warming to see the continuous influx of international non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the like.

Individuals, organisations, and grass-roots movements from the outside world have been flying in and providing boots on the ground, food, resources, and technical support like I have never seen before. It shows that we have not lost our humanity, especially given all the devastating and heinous situations, recent and current, that make us question the inner workings and morality of our fellow human beings. To all of you contributors, front-line workers, and volunteers, the country and I are eternally grateful!

Now back to where I began — never waste a crisis. Hurricane Melissa has mobilised Jamaica in a way that I have never seen before since I moved to this country in 1985 from Georgetown, Guyana, particularly among everyday Jamaicans. I was a scout at Sts Peter & Paul Prep, the most active scout troop of the day, and giving service to others and volunteering was ingrained in the movement. When I went to the great St George’s College, doing ministry and going to the surrounding communities downtown to volunteer and give service was part of the curriculum.

These traditions remain as pillars of these institutions and many other schools, but in recent contemplations I feel volunteerism has been low in Jamaica for a long time. The everyday Jamaican has a natural compassion to help and come to your aid, which has not changed, but what I am talking about is formal and organised volunteer movements and situations. For example, the scout movement in Jamaica is not what it used to be and has declined in the number of activities and troops that used to be around. Scouts were trained and organised young volunteers, imperative to societal building in my day.

Although I was not around in the 1970s, stories suggest that the current level of social mobilisation related to volunteerism has not been similar since then in Jamaica. It also reminds me of the historical documentary reels of post-revolution Cuba when the country mobilised brigades of volunteers to help rebuild Cuba and educate everyday Cubans. We are at an inflection point that we cannot waste! On November 5, a social media post on the
Instagram page of the Council for Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) updated the public that 6,439 Jamaicans answered their call to action for volunteer registration to that point.

I guarantee you, CVSS has not had this level of volunteer registration in a long time or ever. Support Jamaica, the Government of Jamaica’s official disaster relief and recovery portal, also sent out a volunteer registration link, to which I am sure they got an overwhelming response. Additionally, there are many Jamaicans who did not get these links who are actively a part of organised movements through churches, schools, work, social clubs, associations, etc that are active on the ground in diverse ways. Even though I signed up with CVSS and Support Jamaica, like me, many others are still doing work with other groups and movements.

To date, I have made myself, pre- and post-Melissa, a conduit for communication, connecting and mobilising. I continue my support as an ongoing volunteer of the The University of the West Indies (UWI) Centre for Community Outreach and Development, which is active in relief efforts. I have helped two fierce and passionate female creatives to spark/brand a grass-roots initiative called The Rebuild Collective (TRC), which is built on previous humanitarian initiatives they have both done.

Furthermore, my most recent sign-up has been because of the passionate leadership of Cherine Richards from the Office of Student Services and Development (OSSD) at The UWI, Mona campus, who has been steering what can and will become the most impactful volunteer outfit for tertiary students in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) — The Pelican Nest. This movement is currently energised, and apart from its own outreach, has now become a national resource for groups, organisations, and individuals engaged in post-hurricane relief, so please be advised.

If I get my wish, The Pelican Nest will become a registered entity under the Charities Act and be the boldest NGO for young people in Jamaica and the Caribbean, allowing it to be an independent but inextricably connected component of The UWI, Mona campus. Long before the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS) announced a special initiative in response to Hurricane Melissa, opening a fast-track registration window for charities and waiving certain fees to encourage more organisations to formally register and support national relief and recovery efforts, I have been advising people I work alongside on formal registration. Thank you for this, DCFS!

Formal registration is an easy decision. Formal registration does the following, among many other benefits:

1) Credibility: Builds trust with donors and communities

2) Funding: Unlocks grants, tax breaks, and donor support

3) Accountability: Ensures transparent reporting and oversight

4) Partnerships: Enable collaboration with Government and NGOs

5) Sustainability: Provides legal footing for long-term growth

On another note, I want all those engaged in volunteer mobilisation to understand that registering volunteers and creating a sizeable roster is fantastic, but what you do with this roster is what makes all the difference in the world. It is not just about the obvious, deploying the volunteers, but keeping them engaged, informed, and ready to activate. Individuals who signed up for CVSS and Support Jamaica for specific functions and duties aligned with their skill sets do not expect to be called until those specific needs require the support.

Therefore, there will be many ready to serve and not serving yet. They must be kept engaged so they do not feel left out or become disenchanted. Therefore, continuous engagement of volunteers is a necessity according to best practices and global standards. This could come in many forms, such as opportunities for training, webinars, newsletters/updates/achieved milestones and coordinating events for volunteers and prospective volunteers to meet up and interact.

Here are five core pillars of effective volunteer management:

1) Recruitment and role clarity: Define roles and expectations clearly so volunteers know their responsibilities. Match skills and interests to tasks for better alignment and satisfaction.

2) Training and orientation: Provide structured onboarding to equip volunteers with the knowledge and confidence they need. Include safety, organisational values, and practical skills relevant to their role.

3)Engagement and communication: Keep volunteers informed with regular updates and feedback loops. Foster a sense of belonging by connecting them to the mission and community.

4)Recognition and motivation: Celebrate contributions through awards, certificates, or public acknowledgement. Show appreciation consistently to maintain morale and commitment.

5)Retention and growth: Offer pathways for skill development and leadership opportunities. Conduct evaluations and listen to volunteer feedback to improve programmes and sustain involvement.

I also think organisations/movements like CVSS, Support Jamaica, and The Pelican Nest, which have large lists of volunteers, need to go beyond
Excel and
Google Sheets and use a customer/constituent relationship management (CRM) system to manage their onboarding, retention, and communication concerning volunteers. Centralisation, automation, personalisation, and effective data management become key with the numbers involved and as these numbers swell.

Volunteers and volunteerism are critical to social and national development and to managing crises, as is clearly evident in the current Hurricane Melissa situation, so let’s continue to build and amplify our volunteer cadres and have volunteers engaged and on standby for different scenarios, including, but not limited to, a national humanitarian crisis or disaster on an ongoing basis.

I stand ready to assist anyone with the thoughts and ideas I have shared, and can be contacted specifically concerning these or any social development and mobilisation matters at
nicholas.mcdavid@jp.gov.jm.

Nicholas McDavid

Nicholas McDavid is a Guyanese-Jamaican consultant in creativity and innovation, advising clients on impact-driven strategies and managing diverse creative projects. He is also a justice of the peace and enthusiastic about local, regional, and global existential challenges. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or nicholas.mcdavid@gmail.com.