KINGSTON, Jamaica — The power of community, partnership and shared purpose was on full display on July 3 as corporate leaders, development partners, philanthropists and child advocates gathered at the AC Hotel Kingston for Community Connect 2026, an evening dedicated to celebrating the collective impact of those working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving and supportive family environment.

Hosted by SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, the annual engagement served as both a celebration of partnership and a call to action, bringing together long-standing supporters and new collaborators to learn how their investments continue to transform the lives of children and families across the island.

Host of the evening, Jason Brown, former village director of SOS Children’s Village Stony Hill and current alternative care manager at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), reflected on the importance of community in shaping children’s lives and encouraged attendees to see themselves as active participants in the organisation’s mission.

“Community is not simply where we live,” Brown said. “It is the people who choose to care, to support and to create opportunities for children to thrive. Tonight is about strengthening those connections and inviting even more partners to become part of that journey.”

The evening also highlighted the mission of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica to provide safe, loving homes for children without parental care while strengthening vulnerable families to prevent family separation whenever possible.

Guests were welcomed by members of the Board of Directors, senior leadership and staff who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that every child grows up with the care, protection and opportunities they deserve.

Providing an overview of the organisation’s achievements over the past year, Fund Development and Communications Advisor Sean Patrick, reflected on the resilience demonstrated by the organisation following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa while outlining an ambitious vision for expanding SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica’s impact across the island.

Patrick described Hurricane Melissa as one of the greatest operational challenges the organisation had faced in recent years, requiring immediate action to relocate families, assess damaged homes, support caregivers and ensure that children remained safe and emotionally supported throughout the crisis.

“One of the greatest lessons Hurricane Melissa reinforced is that resilience is never built during a disaster—it is built long before one arrives through strong communities and trusted partnerships,” Patrick said.

“Because of the incredible support of our donors, corporate partners and volunteers, we were able not only to respond immediately but to begin rebuilding lives almost as soon as the storm had passed,” he added.

Looking beyond recovery, Patrick outlined the organisation’s strategic priorities, noting that SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica is increasingly focused on strengthening families and communities before crises occur.

“Our vision extends well beyond our villages,” he said. “We are investing in programmes that strengthen families, empower communities and create sustainable support systems so children can remain where they belong whenever possible—with their families. By 2029, our goal is to positively impact more than 1,000 children annually through prevention, restoration and community-based programmes that create lasting change.”

He noted that initiatives such as YouthRise have already begun accelerating that vision, with hundreds of children benefiting from educational support following Hurricane Melissa after the organisation rapidly redirected resources to meet urgent community needs.

Patrick also highlighted the partnerships that made the organisation’s recovery efforts possible. Working alongside organisations, including the VM Foundation, Scotiabank Global, SOS Children’s Villages Canada, CHEW Foundation, Ideal Finance Group, Half Moon Resort, IBEX, Marubeni Power International, ProComm Jamaica, Marcia Erskine & Associates, and numerous volunteers and community partners, SOS mobilised emergency accommodation, trauma-informed counselling through art and play therapy, educational vouchers, school supplies, uniforms, computers, office equipment and water infrastructure for schools serving vulnerable communities.

The organisation also partnered with schools in some of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa, installing water tanks, strengthening school infrastructure and ensuring hundreds of children were able to return to the classroom with the resources needed to continue their education.

Throughout the evening, guests were reminded that community is not defined simply by geography, but by a shared commitment to supporting one another, particularly during moments of crisis.