KINGSTON, Jamaica — Munro College in St Elizabeth has weathered many storms in its nearly 170-year history, but the last two years have tested the school like never before.

After struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, the all-boys institution, nestled in the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, was once again battered by a category-five monster, Hurricane Melissa, on October 28 last year.

A section of Munro College damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28 last year.

Yet, even in the face of ruin, hope has arrived. That hope came in the form of a $1-million donation, made possible through a partnership between the Rotary Club of St Andrew North and KR Method, a health and fitness company based in the United States.

KR Method is founded by Korey Rowe, a proud Munro old boy now living in New York. When the cheque was handed over in December, the backdrop was sobering, as twisted zinc, broken windows and battered buildings stood as a silent reminder of nature’s fury.

Rowe and Rotary Club of St Andrew North President, Pierpont Wilson, led the presentation.

For Principal of Munro College, Dr Mark Smith, the destruction felt hauntingly familiar.

Speaking with JIS News, the principal said the scene brought back painful memories.

“We were one of the schools that were badly affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa in 2025. Closing off the year, we did not anticipate that we would be in a rebuilding mode. It really feels like déjà vu… When Beryl went through, 33 of 35 buildings were significantly damaged,” he recalled.

Dr Smith said the school library will be first in line for repairs, even though the full bill is expected to reach about $8 million.

He pointed out that lessons learnt from Hurricane Beryl made a difference when Melissa struck.

“When Melissa hit, only nine of the 35 buildings were significantly damaged,” he pointed out, crediting resilience built through investments by the National Education Trust, the Ministry of Education and the Munro College Old Boys Association.

With gratitude, Dr Smith said every dollar matters. “We’re going to focus the funds on our library… roofing, books, computers, furniture and windows were significantly damaged. The project will cost roughly $8 million. But every mickle in Jamaica, we say, make a muckle. The $1 million is a step in the right direction… a big thank you,” he said.

That spirit of giving is exactly what drives the Rotary Club of St Andrew North.

According to Wilson, support for education remains one of its focal missions.

“When an educational institution is significantly affected, it creates a learning deficit. This is really significant because we want to ensure that our children have access to education. Rotary wants to help Jamaica to build back stronger. I am very appreciative to Korey of KR Method, because of that coming together, this is what Rotary is about – unity, partnerships, collaboration,” he said, adding that the goal is to help students bounce back stronger than before.

For Korey Rowe, this project is deeply personal. Seeing the damage to his country stirred something in him.

“I’m from St Elizabeth, and I’m also a Munro old boy. My heart was moved by the tragedy… Helping was the perfect intersection of cause and place and wanting to give back,” he said.

—   JIS