Partnership and Impact
Partnership in Action: Supporting Jamaica's Future
This quarter, Orca Intelligence deepened its collaboration with the Society for Scientific Advancement (SOSA) to support Jamaican schools rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa—the most powerful storm ever to strike the island.
During visits to seven schools across Jamaica, we met students and educators whose communities face not just damaged infrastructure, but disrupted learning continuity, limited access to resources, and the ongoing challenge of restoring stability.
In partnership with SOSA, we're connecting each affected school with U.S.-based institutions committed to sustained engagement through STEM programming, educator collaboration, student mentorship, and expanded pathways into higher education and scientific careers—grounded in the broader community context where students live and learn.
In Westmoreland Parish, our work extends to the Bluefields community, where local leaders are playing a critical role in recovery, health, and long-term resilience.
Insight into the schools and communities
Hampton School for Girls (St. Elizabeth)
Hampton School for Girls is a highly regarded all‑girls secondary school with a strong tradition of academic excellence, particularly in the sciences. Located in a hurricane‑prone region, the school faces risks to critical learning spaces such as science laboratories and specialized classrooms. Rebuilding resilient facilities is essential to protecting educational pathways for young women pursuing STEM and leadership roles.
Manning’s School (Westmoreland)
Manning’s School serves students in one of the parishes most heavily impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Damage to classrooms and science spaces disrupted learning continuity and stability for students and educators alike. Recovery efforts focus on restoring safe learning environments, rebuilding laboratories, and supporting students as they return to consistent academic routines.
Petersfield Technical High School (Westmoreland)
As a technical high school, Petersfield plays a vital role in preparing students for careers in science, technology, and skilled trades. Hurricane damage to specialized equipment and workshop spaces threatens whole programs, not just individual classrooms. Replacing and restoring these hands‑on learning environments is critical to students’ future career opportunities.
Rusea’s High School (Westmoreland)
Rusea’s High School is a cornerstone secondary institution serving students across Westmoreland. Storm damage affected classrooms and laboratory spaces essential for daily instruction. Recovery efforts center on repairing facilities and restoring stability so students can continue their education in a safe, supportive environment.
Herbert Morrison Technical High School (St. James)
Located in Montego Bay, Herbert Morrison Technical High School sustained significant storm damage to classrooms, utilities, and technical learning spaces. As a technical institution, restoring science and technology infrastructure is essential to preventing long‑term disruption to academic programs and ensuring students can continue hands‑on, skills‑based learning.
Adelphi Primary School (St. James)
Adelphi Primary School serves younger learners at a critical stage of development. Hurricane damage disrupted classrooms, materials, and learning continuity, threatening early exposure to science education. Recovery here is about restoring safety, curiosity, and consistency so students can remain engaged from their earliest years of learning.
Bluefields People’s Community Development Committee (CDC) — Westmoreland
The Bluefields CDC is a cornerstone community organization supporting Bluefields and surrounding districts in Westmoreland. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the CDC plays a vital role in strengthening community resilience—supporting health, well‑being, recovery, and long‑term sustainability. Its work reinforces the broader environment in which schools, students, and families rebuild together.