Before Hurricane Melissa gathered steam in the Atlantic, Kevin Garcia-Perez '27 was excited to visit Jamaica as a tourist. But after the hurricane delivered its blow, he just wanted to be there to help.
Garcia-Perez grew up in Troy and over the years got to know several neighbors from Jamaica. Ryan Talleyrand '27 didn't personally grow up on the Caribbean island, but his family did, and Talleyrand has made frequent trips.
"I've known Ryan for a long time, and he's one of the many people who kept telling me I needed to visit Jamaica," said Garcia-Perez.
The communications-marketing major had always wanted to study abroad, but wasn't ready to commit to a full semester. So when he discovered a January Term in Jamaica was an option, and he found two Siena friends to go on the adventure with him, it all lined up perfectly. Melissa didn't change his plans, just his perspective.
Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica on October 28, leveling more than 24,000 buildings and damaging more than 70 percent of the public schools. Some J-Term programs offer the chance to take a course for credit, while others provide the option for service. It was an easy call for Garcia-Perez.
"I love helping people. I just thought it would be a great experience to see a beautiful country and meet people and hopefully make a difference."
But what kind of a difference? International Volunteer HQ provides 10 meaningful project options year-round, from community development to childcare. Agriculture is also an option, and at first, it seemed like an odd choice. But then a server at a restaurant in St. Mary Parish told Garcia-Perez that a Jamaican staple was no longer on the menu.
"I ordered plantains and the waiter said the hurricane took all their bananas. So that's why we decided on our project. To help grow that food back and leave something nice."
Melissa wiped out nearly $3 billion in banana and plantain crops. Among the first seeds in the rebuilding effort are being planted at a local school, with the help of Garcia-Perez and his classmates, Fatima Mayeya '27 and Melissa Jimenez '27. Together, they're building a hydroponic garden at an elementary school in Oracabessa (below, left). The crops won't be harvested for restaurants, but the plan is to use the garden as educational space for the 1st through 6th graders. Agriculture, Garcia-Perez said, is a dying career path.
"We want to show these kids that it can be an awesome career path. And right now, their country needs it more than ever."
As a bonus, the Saints are spending time with the students, and there's also been time for adventure, like bamboo rafting. Their focus, though, has been on the design and construction of the school garden. It's estimated that Jamaica lost 2,450 hectacres of banana and plantain crops. It will take years to recover, but maybe an 8-year-old sitting in an Oracabessa classroom will step into the school's garden next year and be inspired?
