A joint team from FLOBAH and the Kiwanis Club of Kendall South Dade assessed storm damage at Godfrey Stewart High School in June 2026 [1].
The visit is critical for coordinating the resources and funding necessary to restore educational facilities in Westmoreland, Jamaica, after the impact of Hurricane Melissa [1].
The delegation included members of the Florida/Bahamas (FLOBAH) chapter of the Godfrey Stewart Past Students Association and representatives from the Kiwanis Club of Kendall South Dade [1]. These organizations worked together to survey the physical state of the campus to determine the extent of the destruction caused by the hurricane [1].
Godfrey Stewart High School serves as a primary educational hub in the region, and the damage sustained during the storm has created immediate needs for repair and reconstruction [1]. By conducting an on-site evaluation, the team aimed to identify specific priorities for the recovery effort, ensuring that aid is directed toward the most critical infrastructure failures [1].
The partnership between the past students association and the service club highlights a coordinated effort to mobilize international support for the school [1]. This collaborative approach allows for a more comprehensive assessment of the damage than individual efforts might provide [1].
While the full scope of the financial requirements for the repairs has not yet been finalized, the visit marks the first step in a larger recovery strategy to return the school to full operational capacity [1].
“A joint team from FLOBAH and the Kiwanis Club of Kendall South Dade assessed storm damage”
The collaboration between a diaspora-led alumni association and a U.S.-based service organization demonstrates a strategic model for disaster recovery in the Caribbean. By leveraging both emotional ties (alumni) and institutional resources (Kiwanis), the recovery effort for Godfrey Stewart High School can bypass some of the delays associated with purely governmental aid, accelerating the timeline for students to return to a safe learning environment.
