JN Hurricane Melissa relief to support early childhood sector

The Jamaica National Group will direct 40 per cent of its ISupportJamaica Fund for Hurricane Melissa relief to early childhood institutions, a move JN Foundation chairman Parris Lyew-Ayee says underscores the organisation’s commitment to rebuilding and strengthening education.

The ISupportJamaica Fund facilitates people, locally and abroad, who want to aid in recovery efforts.

Making the announcement on Day Two of the Early Childhood Colloquium at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters recently, Lyew-Ayee urged Caribbean leaders, educators, and policymakers to seize the moment to transform early childhood education, declaring that the region’s future hinges on how well it prepares its youngest learners.

“Early childhood education is the most effective form of economic development policy, social protection policy, and crime prevention policy, all rolled into one,” he said. “It must be recognised as a strategic investment, not a luxury.”

He emphasised that the early years shape the character, intellect, and resilience of future adults.

“Every time a child learns to express a thought, to share, to solve a problem, he or she is laying the foundational stones for society,” he noted. “If we fail the youngest learners, we limit our national growth. If we give them a strong start, we unleash the power that lifts entire nations.”

Lyew-Ayee highlighted that the Caribbean shares a common vision: that every child, regardless of background, should have the chance to fulfil his or her potential. However, he warned that the region has missed opportunities before.

“This is why we must grasp every chance now,” he said. “We cannot let the next opportunity slip through our fingers.”

He paid tribute to Dudley Grant, “the father of early childhood education in Jamaica”, whose philosophy, he said, is a “seamless blend of care, play and learning” and continues to guide the sector. He also urged teachers and parents to “bless children with confidence, nurture their curiosity, and build their character.”

Reflecting on the impact of Hurricane Melissa, Mr Lyew-Ayee noted that disasters such as these “traumatise our little ones and set back the sector”, making targeted support and reconstruction even more crucial.

He also reaffirmed the JN Foundation’s long-held belief that national transformation must start at the earliest stage. “We believe at JN that to transform a nation, we start at the foundation. It’s in our DNA,” he said.

He called on regional educators, policymakers, researchers, and the media to work collaboratively to implement the action plans emerging from the colloquium.

“Do not let this be another academic exercise,” he cautioned. “The real test will be the impact we see five, 10, 15, or 20 years from now in young people who think critically, care deeply, and act decisively for the common good.”

Meanwhile, Professor Zoya Kinkead-Clark, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at UWI, Mona, echoed Lyew-Ayee’s call for regional collaboration and strong policy direction.

“I’m so happy that many of you have decided to come back for day two,” she said. “This colloquium continues to focus on advocating for early childhood care and education in the Caribbean, ensuring we know what must be done and that we get it done.”

She emphasised that early childhood education is a protective factor that gives children a chance to thrive and stressed that policy discussions must lead to tangible, long-term outcomes in Jamaica and across the region.