Stronger Together: Strengthening School Mental Health Support After Hurricane Melissa
In February, the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica hosted capacity development workshops for 30 Guidance Counsellors and other staff members from local schools in Kingston and Manchester. The sessions were led by representatives from Project Fleur-de-lis (a U.S-based organisation which helps to strengthen mental health services in schools and communities), and aimed to better equip […]
Hurricane Melissa’s Impact on Mercy Schools
On October 28, 2025, Jamaica was hit by the now infamous Hurricane Mellissa – the country’s strongest storm on record. As a Category 5 storm, it caused widespread devastation across several of the island’s Western and Central parishes; destroying homes, businesses, farms, livestock, and, of course, causing the loss of human lives. The parishes of […]
Psychosocial Aid to Boost Student Wellbeing
From May to October, the Sisters of Mercy (SOM) of Jamaica’s guidance counselling & social welfare unit, the Oscar Romero Centre for Youth (ORCY) partnered with the C. B. Facey Foundation (which donated J$1 million) to deliver psychosocial interventions to Mercy students. SOM’s Development Office secured the donation and oversaw the project’s implementation at the […]
Empowering Futures: Canadian Partnership Brings Lasting Change for Mercy Students
And that’s a wrap! We’ve come to the end of the “Empowering Futures” project which was done in partnership with the Canadian Government as part of the Canada Funds for Local Initiatives (CFLI) programme. Addressing the mental health challenges experienced by children and youth across Jamaica after the COVID-19 pandemic, the project aimed to improve […]
Empowering Children and Youth: Canada supports Transformative Mercy Project
In October 2024, the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica received a grant of about CAD $25,000 from the Canadian High Commission for a project focused on developing students’ psychosocial, academic, and professional skills. The project, managed by the Oscar Romero Centre for Youth, supports students from Alpha Vocational Training Centre (AVTC), Jessie Ripoll Primary School, […]