“The very real issue post-Hurricane Melissa is the psychological trauma and injury that was inflicted on so many communities,” says Fr. Maxwell Klug, OFM, from Negril, Jamaica. “We have responded the best we can, but the scale and depth of the trauma is daunting.”
Though daunting, the friars continue to be present for the struggling children, women, and men of Jamaica.
From the friar-run Revival Primary School and Infancy Department:
“Revival Primary School opened very quickly after Hurricane Melissa, which was a great benefit to the community – particularly the children,” shares Fr. Maxwell. “The school was blessed to have a generator that was able to power the necessities at the school.
In addition, the school’s Infancy Department has been completed! The structure is very strong and sturdy and will aid in serving as an emergency shelter during future storms. Most importantly, it is a safe place for our infants to begin their crucial early childhood development and education. The rooms were finished just at the end of the ’25-’26 academic year, and the students were able to “test out” their new classrooms their last week of school. The classrooms and other learning spaces are all ready for the infants and teachers for the ’26-’27 school year!”
Thanks to donor support, education will continue to break the cycle of poverty in Revival and Negril, Jamaica, where what was once affordable is becoming nearly unreachable:
The Get Kids to School and Get Kids to School Plus programs:
“The programs are ready for the upcoming school year, but we are facing increased costs across the board,” reports Fr. Maxwell. “Taxi fares have gone up, rising gas prices have an impact on the Get Kids to School bus we operate, and the costs of lunches and uniforms have increased. So, we are in a decent position going into this academic school year—but cannot afford any major catastrophes.”
The ability to be prepared for and recover from catastrophic storms is crucial to our Franciscan ministry in Jamaica.
“Some schools have also not been repaired after Hurricane Melissa; the students are on what is called a ‘shift system,’ which rotates the kids halfway throughout the school day,” says Fr. Maxwell. “So, in effect, the children are only receiving a half-day of school. This not only impacts the children’s learning and psycho-social development, which is the most concerning, but means there are more Get Kids to School bus trips. A major priority is to get those classrooms fixed so our children can get back to some semblance of normalcy in their school life.”
Looking ahead to a bright future.
“We will begin a mentoring program and job pairing program connected to Get Kids to School and Get Kids to School Plus to help our children and youth develop crucial social skills. To achieve this, we’ll pair them with members of our community who will help them navigate the many challenges of growing up here and prepare them for either higher education or the workforce.”
Franciscan Friars serve around the United States and overseas in foreign missions, like Jamaica, with many leading education ministries vital to families in poverty seeking a way out of difficult circumstances. To learn more about how you can help the Franciscan Friars carry out the mission of education, contact Bro. Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, via email at pokeeffe@friars.us or by calling 646-278-4699.