MONTHS after Hurricane Melissa disappeared from the headlines, its impact remains a daily reality for many Jamaican families. For five single mothers still struggling to rebuild their homes and restore stability for their children, hope arrived in a tangible way last week as the Woman Ignite Foundation implemented the first phase of its Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative, providing direct financial assistance and essential support to help them take the next step towards recovery.

The initiative is made possible through the generosity of charitable partners and donors, including proceeds from the Woman Ignite Success Summit (WISS) 2026, Apostle Stephanie Ike Okafor, who served as a Power Speaker at WISS 2026, GraceKennedy General Insurance, and Open Door Jamaica.

During the first phase, beneficiaries Janet Stone (Montego Bay), Asleka Campbell (Montego Bay), Ann Marie Allen (Montego Bay), Natesha Virgo (St Elizabeth), and Shelly-Ann Legg (Negril) each received $160,000 in direct financial assistance, with additional support provided through household appliances and essential supplies based on individual needs. While each woman’s journey is unique, they share a common reality—rebuilding their homes while striving to provide safety, stability, and hope for their families. Their stories reflect the resilience of countless Jamaican women who continue to recover long after Hurricane Melissa left the headlines.

Keneshia Nooks-Blake (right), founder of the Woman Ignite Foundation, presents financial assistance to Asleka Campbell, whose home in Bobman Hill, Montego Bay, was severely damaged during Hurricane Melissa.

“The Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative was born out of the understanding that recovery doesn’t end when the storm passes,” said Keneshia Nooks-Blake, founder of the Woman Ignite Foundation. “When the media coverage ends and emergency response teams move on, many families are still living with damaged roofs, unsafe conditions, and the emotional weight of starting over. Some of these women had received little to no tangible support since the hurricane. Through this initiative, we want them to know they have not been forgotten. Every act of generosity helps restore not just a house, but dignity, stability, and hope for a family.”

The foundation is now preparing the second phase of the Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative, which will provide building materials and other critical resources to help beneficiaries repair and restore their homes before the peak of the hurricane season.

“Over the past several months, our team has conducted detailed assessments of each property to understand the extent of the damage, identify each family’s most urgent needs, and determine how we can provide the greatest level of support,” Nooks-Blake explained. “Our goal is not simply to provide assistance, but to walk alongside these women as they rebuild their homes and begin restoring their lives.”

Tammara Glaves-Hucey (left), board member of the Woman Ignite Foundation, presents financial assistance to Natesha Virgo as part of the foundation’s Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative.

Ike Okafor, whose generous contribution helped make the first phase of the Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative possible, first announced her commitment during her visit to Jamaica as a keynote speaker at WISS 2026. Her support reflects the importance of pairing compassion with practical action to help families recover long after a disaster has passed.

“Hurricane Melissa brought such devastation and, for some, a sense of hopelessness. But I want to encourage you that there is hope. There are people that the Lord Jesus has placed it on their hearts not just to come with words, but also in deed… we’re bringing relief to some families, financial relief, and I’m really excited about that,” Okafor shared ahead of the initiative’s launch.

One of the beneficiaries, Janet Stone, whose home lost its roof during Hurricane Melissa, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support she received through the initiative.

“The help wasn’t there much all these years and for me to be getting some assistance now, it feels good but at the same time it makes me a bit humble,” she shared.

While many months have passed since Hurricane Melissa, the road to recovery is far from over for countless Jamaican families. As the country enters another hurricane season, the Woman Ignite Foundation is reminding the public that the need for support remains just as urgent today as it was in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

The foundation is also looking ahead to WISS 2027, scheduled for next January, with proceeds from the event continuing to support the Brick by Brick Rebuild Initiative and other programmes that empower vulnerable women and strengthen communities across Jamaica.

Tammara Glaves-Hucey (left), board member of the Woman Ignite Foundation, presents financial assistance to Ann Marie Allen after Hurricane Melissa tore away the front of her home in Pleasant Valley, Montego Bay.