During the week of October 27th, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated communities across the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti — claiming 50 lives (and counting), destroying homes and livelihoods, and cutting off access to food, clean water, electricity, and medical care. As PhD students from the Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora, as well as students in solidarity with the region, we came together to mobilize our resources and networks to support urgent grassroots relief initiatives. Our immediate goal is to raise $20,000 to provide direct support to the most impacted communities and grassroots partners on the ground in the form of monetary and in-kind/supply donations.

Where Your Support Goes

Despite limited telecommunication service in the impacted regions, we are working to communicate with students and loved ones on the ground to identify trusted grassroots partners in the regions most severely impacted by the storm-- particularly the Western parishes of Jamaica (including St. Elizabeth Parish and the Maroon village of Accompong), the Eastern provinces of Cuba (referred to as "el Oriente," including Holguín and Las Tunas), and the Southern departments of Haiti (including Petit-Goâve and Jacmel). As we identify trusted partners over the coming weeks, monetary donations will go toward essential relief, including food, medical supplies, hygiene and menstrual products, and other critical provisions. (Donations are not tax-deductible.)

About the Organizers

This fundraiser is being organized by 15 PhD students from six departments across the University of California, Berkeley, including one Jamaican student currently on island; three Jamaican students whose loved ones have been directly impacted by the destruction of the storm; three students from the islands of Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico; five students of the Caribbean diaspora; and three students in solidarity with the region. Our organizers for this relief initiative include Neena Albarus, Kimberley Watt, Kennah Roberson, J'Anna Lue, Alexandre Georges, Ana Blanco, Pablo Paredes, Anissa Camacho, Anna Feign, Isaiah Blake, Maya Sapienza, Rayyaan Hector, Kaya Herron, Bri Matusovsky, and Adriana Gonzales.

Questions? Contact us at caribbeanco.berkeley@gmail.com