I believe it is safe to infer that the concept of volunteerism may have existed long before the formal recording of human history. By definition, volunteerism refers to the practice of individuals willingly offering their time and skills to support a cause, organisation, or community without receiving any form of compensation.

Research has revealed that the first volunteer organisations can be traced to medieval Britain where over 500 volunteer-run hospitals operated to help the poor and sick. In the 19th century, organised volunteering groups emerged, such as the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), which began in 1844 in London. The 20th century saw the birth of other volunteer organisations devoted to making a positive impact. One example was the Rotary Club, which was formed as a place for people of different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs to come together and exchange ideas, create friendships, and make a change.

The
Bible provides numerous examples of volunteerism, to include those who were instrumental in building the Tabernacle, as recorded in Exodus 35:21, where people “whose heart stirred” them brought offerings, and individuals like Nehemiah worked tirelessly at rebuilding Jerusalem for the good of his people. Jesus’s own example of coming “not to be served, but to serve” also highlights the biblical emphasis on service.

Among the many merits of volunteerism, beyond the obvious provision of service by an individual, is the fact that volunteering has been linked to improved mental and physical health outcomes for the volunteer.

October 28, 2025 has been etched into the psyche of every Jamaican, at home and abroad, and according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Hurricane Melissa is one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic as a Category 5 system and the worst hurricane to hit the area since 1988. The hurricane caused extensive damage to infrastructure, triggered widespread power and communication outages, and blocked roads with debris and landslides, with the worst-hit parishes being St Elizabeth, Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

Three weeks following and the effects of the devastation and trauma remain fresh in our minds. As the various media spaces continue to share footage that unveils the seemingly unending destruction, desolation, pain, suffering, and feelings of hopelessness, it is akin to witnessing scenes from a horror movie.

Now that the proverbial dust is settled, we have seen the respective ministries, departments, and agencies in action. We recognise that the task ahead is great and will require each of us to participate in the process of rebuilding in every way we can. Just recently I was having a conversation with a friend and she reminded me that the next hurricane season is five months away. We both agreed that there is a great deal to be done before then, with the priority being the provision of fit and proper shelter for the many Jamaicans who lost their homes.

I congratulate the various groups and organisations — to include the Church, institutions, fraternities, and individuals, regionally and internationally — who have been on the ground with aid and support. I want to especially mention the Students’ Union body of the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) for the work it did in one community in St Elizabeth.

Our young people are who we will pass the mantle to when we are no longer able. They are the ones who must carry on the great work of nation-building for themselves and future generations, and I believe their response in light of the hurricane’s impact is truly admirable, worthy of applaud, and must be encouraged and supported.

I commend the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) for its National Disaster Risk Management Volunteers’ Programme (NDRMVP) that brings together volunteers from various institutions across the island to serve. Immediately after the hurricane volunteers were deployed into areas that were accessible to begin the critical task of collecting information to inform the initial damage assessment. This remains an ongoing mammoth and gruelling task.

As volunteers with the programme and tasked primarily with data collection, the experience in the field requires us to tap into other areas of expertise in response to the existential realities we encounter. We counsel, we pray, we listen, we empathise, and we encourage. The victims are accepting of the fact that there are no quick fixes and many have begun to make their homes habitable with materials they salvage. I met a gentleman who lost his entire roof, his windows were blown out, and every piece of furniture and appliance in his house was damaged beyond repair. On the day we visited he was in the yard trying to salvage what remained of the solar lights he had in place. He was functioning in an almost zombie-like state and shared that he really doesn’t know what his next steps should be.

He shared that most of the furniture and appliances were bought outside of Jamaica and that his house and its content were not insured.

Across the length and breadth of the areas severely affected the stories are the same. The pain of loss and feelings of hopelessness remain a constant thread in the tapestry of an event that has rocked the very core of who we are as a people. The end to full recovery is far off, but we are a resilient people. Let us work hard and be deliberate in our acts of selfless service to keep this spirit alive.

The assistance in kind and the overwhelming expressions of love and support from Jamaicans at home and abroad as well as our regional and international friends and well-wishers are worthy of note and are powerful testaments of our standing in the global community.

I implore every able-bodied Jamaican to get involved with the rebuilding activities. For those of us who are not physically able, please consider interceding with prayer.

Nelson Mandela once stated, “There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.”

Let us continue to be guided by the words of our national song: “…I pledge my heart forever to serve with humble pride this shining homeland, ever so long as Earth abide. I pledge my heart this island, as God and faith shall live, my work, my strength, my love and my loyalty to give…’

mariebrown­_003@yahoo.com