Building and Repairing Houses in Jamaica

Construction and Building in Jamaica

Building in JamaicaVolunteers are needed in Jamaica to work on a Community Building Project that helps repair more than forty homes in St Ann. Volunteers work alongside the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) as part of a committed and dedicated team doing minor repairs to aluminum roofs, putting in louver windows, mixing mortar and laying blocks.

Jamaica is a tropical island that is situated on the hurricane belt. Records from as early as the 1780s show that hurricanes have been wreaking untold havoc on the infrastructure of this developing country. Last year hurricane Gustav claimed 15 lives, flooded homes, businesses and streets in St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland, leaving in its wake $210,000,000 of damage.

St. Ann in Northern Jamaica has had its fair share of damage from hurricanes over the years. There have been reports of damage to the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and numerous homes, with thousands of people having to seek refuge in shelters across the parish.

We are constantly looking at preventative measures to lessen the impact of hurricanes on the poor and the elderly. This has led to the partnership of Projects Abroad Jamaica and the ADRA, two organizations that share a similar vision. ADRA International operates as an independent humanitarian agency established in 1984 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA's development and relief work covers five core activities: Food Security, Economic Development, Primary Health, Disaster Preparedness and Response, and Basic Education. ADRA is proud of the fact that they are not an agency for just providing handouts, but also work at finding solutions and training staff.

Volunteers' Impact by Repairing Homes in Jamaica

The collaboration of Projects Abroad Jamaica and ADRA will result in changing the lives of the poor and needy by repairing over 40 homes in St. Ann. Food for the Poor has donated the material to the Poor Relief Agency in St. Ann. Come and be a part of this life-changing experience by making a valuable contribution to the improved standard of living of those in need.

You don’t need a degree in engineering or to be a skilled tradesman, but if you do possess any of these skills, then that is a plus. Come and learn about our culture and be a part of this beautiful exchange while you work and experience the lovely island.

Volunteers will live with host families in St. Ann and will be provided with support from ADRA and from our local Projects Abroad staff.