TWO schools, from among the more than 600 damaged by Hurricane Melissa when it hit Jamaica last October, were included in 65 entities which received grants totalling US$1.3 million from the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) on Tuesday.

The annual grant ceremony, held at the United States Embassy in St Andrew, saw the Melissa-ravaged Belmont Academy in Bluefields, Westmoreland; and Newell High School in St Elizabeth; both receiving financial support to help them return to normal.

Principal of Newell High School Audrey Ellington told the Jamaica Observer that the grant will be used for recovery projects at the institution, including the reconstruction of its farm.

“While our main building was not destroyed, our student and staff were impacted greatly. Our outer fence, the cottage where the athletes stay for camp… and our farm, in which we do well at agricultural science, were destroyed. So right now we are looking at what we can do to ensure that our plant looks like what is was before Melissa,” said Ellington.

In the meantime, Kaldeen Fullwood, president of the Alumni Association of the Belmont Academy, said the grant will be used to revitalise programmes offered at the school.

“There is Girls Empowered for the Mission (GEM), and Boys on a Mission (BOM), these were focused on empowering us as students and that played an integral part into who we are as alumni today. I know because of the hurricane some of the activities of the institution were severely affected so we are pushing funds there and also the breakfast initiative programme, where students can come and get breakfasts at a subsidised cost,” Fullwood told the Observer.

Speaking with the Observer following the award ceremony executive director of the AFJ Caron Chung underscored that the organisations selected for grants this year play a vital role in improving lives and expanding opportunities across the island.

“The grant cycle is announced in November every year in Jamaica [and] potential grantees send in their applications between November and February each year. Our grants committee then evaluates the applications to ensure that they align with our criteria and from the applications received we determine which applicants will be provided with grants. This year we received 88 application [for] grants,” said Chung.

She pointed out that money for the grants is from galas held in New York and Miami annually, plus other sources.

For his part, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green lauded AFJ for tits continuous contribution towards building Jamaica.

According to Green, the AFJ should be commended for undertaking different initiatives while carrying out its Hurricane Melissa recovery programme.

“It could have been very easy for them to say that with all the hurricane and the recovery efforts that is the focus. But I think they understand how critical this grant programme is to our country,” Green told the Observer.

“It contributes a lot in terms of helping a number of our organisations — especially community-based organisations — to be able to continue doing their work. The grants that the AFJ provide goes across a diverse set of areas, including creative arts, agriculture, aqua culture, education, and healthcare. It really helps to shape people’s lives and build better communities,” added Green.

In her remarks AFJ President Wendy Hart pointed out that although it does not define itself as a relief organisation, the continuous response to the different external shocks that have ravaged Jamaica over the past five year has altered that narrative.

“The work you do, strengthening communities across Jamaica is why we are here in this room. Our work is to be here, we have been here for over 40 years. Every day is focused on building the role of philanthropy, supporting the work of our partners, and improving the lives of Jamaicans in the communities they live in. If that includes in times of emergency, and of greatest need then we are also here,” said Hart.

For his part, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Jamaica Scott Renner lauded the grantees for their work which he said serves as an inspiration to many.

“I am always amazed by the resilience, that community spirit, of supporting each other. I am always impressed by that. I want to learn more about your different programmes, so come up and talk to me, tell me what you’re doing,” said Renner.

A non-profit organisation founded in 1982, AFJ seeks to improve the lives of Jamaicans by supporting initiatives that advance self-sufficiency, promote healthy communities, and strengthen the nation.

Kaldeen Fullwood (left), president of the Alumni Association of Belmont Academy, and Demar Brown, deputy VP for special projects and commuications at the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) annual grant ceremony on Tuesday at the United States Embassy in St Andrew. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Principal of Newell High School Audrey Ellington, speaking with the Jamaica Observer after the AFJ annual grant ceremony on Tuesday.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Executive director of the American Friends of Jamaica, Caron Chung. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)