WE-Change JA conducting Hurricane Melissa relief support for LBTQ community

The WE-Change Community Group (WE-Change JA) has been providing Hurricane Melissa relief support to LBTQ women, non-binary, and gender-diverse people across the island.

The project will allow the organisation to deliver WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) assistance across the most affected parishes, including St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, Manchester, St Ann, and parts of Clarendon.

This support will mainly take the form of cash grants, hygiene supplies, and shelter supplies.

The four-month relief project, titled 'Project Relief (Rapid Emergency Lifeline for Inclusive and Equitable Futures)', began in December and runs until next month, with resources to spend on coordination, procuring supplies, and distribution of relief supplies.

The project will allow the coordination of relief efforts to increase access to clean drinking water, vital storage containers, and essential sanitation products for the target population.

WE-Change noted that it anticipates that the project would directly benefit approximately 1,550 women living in the affected parishes and about 5,000 people indirectly. Nicolette Bryan, group president, said, ”These women represent one of the most vulnerable and overlooked groups in disaster response due to widespread stigma, lack of legal protections, and exclusion from traditional relief systems.”

She noted that relief work geared specifically towards people is important as the community faces numerous barriers when accessing government-provided social services and other kinds of support.

Notably, the organisation has announced that the relief project is geared at the queer community, with the target group being women aged 18 years to the elderly, many of whom are informal workers, single heads of households, parents, or living in rural communities that have been badly impacted and cut off from aid. The project will also prioritise those who face heightened economic insecurity and water- and shelter-related needs.

“This project is about breaking down the barriers to access and ensuring that dignity is a core part of relief work. Queer women and gender-diverse Jamaicans deserve to access care that is led by people determined to consider their full needs,” said Sudean Peters, executive director of WE-Change.

To ensure that relief items reach communities across multiple parishes, WE-Change JA will implement a coordinated distribution strategy in partnership with local courier services and established relief organisations. These partnerships will support timely delivery, expand geographic reach, and strengthen logistical efficiency. In addition, volunteer participation will constitute a vital pillar of the overall relief architecture. Volunteers will assist with packaging, distribution support, and on-the-ground coordination, helping to bridge last-mile delivery gaps and ensuring that assistance reaches those most in need.

To access relief supplies, volunteer with the initiative, or obtain additional information, Jamaicans are encouraged to contact outreach@ wechangejamaica . com or follow WE-Change JA on social media at @ wechangeja.