Westgreen to receive targeted long-term support

Residents of the Westgreen community in Montego Bay, St James will benefit from a comprehensive, year-long recovery and development programme under the VM Foundation’s Adopt-a-Community initiative, funded in partnership with the PriceSmart Foundation.

The initiative comes in response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which significantly disrupted livelihoods, education, and the overall well-being of families across the community. The VM Foundation is leading a coordinated, long-term response to restore stability, dignity, and resilience through targeted interventions in education, livelihood recovery and psychosocial support.

The Family and Parenting Centre, based in St James, will be the implementing partner on the project, with support from strategic partners including the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Ministry of Education, and psychosocial service providers.

The project will run for one year, until March 2027.

Samantha Charles, CEO of the VM Foundation, shared, “At VM, we believe that true recovery goes beyond rebuilding structures. It is about restoring lives, strengthening families, and creating real opportunities to empower individuals to take charge of their future. Through our Adopt-a-Community initiative, we are taking a long-term, hands-on approach to supporting Westgreen and helping residents to recover, rebuild, and ultimately thrive.”

Westgreen, a community of a little over 1,600 residents, experienced severe and widespread damage during Hurricane Melissa, with homes, businesses, and schools heavily impacted. Many families continue to face prolonged challenges, including income loss, disrupted education, and trauma, highlighting the need for sustained, structured intervention.

Commenting on the partnership, Angela Venza, executive director, PriceSmart Foundation, reinforced the shared commitment to community development.

“This partnership reflects PriceSmart’s ongoing commitment to investing in community initiatives that support sustainable rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

“The needs of the community extend far beyond physical rebuilding, and our support is intended to broaden the scale and deepen the impact of the intervention in Westgreen, ensuring that families receive meaningful, sustained assistance. We are delighted to partner with the VM Foundation on this important initiative to help build a stronger, more resilient Jamaica.”

Throughout the project, community members will benefit from the provision of resources and training to help rebuild income-generating activities, replacement of learning materials and structural improvements to the learning environment, as well as counselling, parenting support and other interventions to address the emotional and psychological impact of the hurricane.

The Adopt-a-Community programme is grounded in sustainability, with a strong emphasis on skills transfer, community empowerment, and long-term resilience, ensuring that the benefits extend well beyond the life of the project.