When communities come together with purpose, support can become a lifeline—and sustained partnerships can become a pathway to opportunity.

That message took centre stage as SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica hosted the second staging of its Community Connect 2026 series at the White Witch Golf Course in Montego Bay, bringing together business leaders, tourism stakeholders, development partners, philanthropists and community advocates committed to creating stronger futures for children, young people and families.

The Montego Bay engagement highlighted the organisation’s work in Western Jamaica and the growing network of partners supporting children and families, while also challenging the business community to consider how it can move from short-term interventions to more consistent, structured and sustainable support.

For Hewitt Walker, Village Director of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, the organisation’s work is ultimately about ensuring that children have more than a place to live—they need stability, care, relationships and opportunities that allow them to flourish.  “Every child deserves more than protection; they deserve the opportunity to grow with a sense of belonging, purpose and possibility. Our responsibility is to create that foundation, but we cannot do it alone. Community Connect reminds us that when businesses, organisations and individuals choose to invest in children, they become part of the support system that can change a child’s trajectory for years to come.”

SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica provides family-like care for children who cannot live with their biological families, while also working to strengthen vulnerable families and help prevent family separation. Its work extends into education, youth development and family strengthening, creating pathways for children and young people towards greater stability and independence. 

The importance of sustained investment was underscored by Sean Patrick, Fund Development and Communications Advisor, SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, who emphasised that meaningful support must extend beyond immediate needs. “The needs of children and families do not end when an emergency is over. Sustainable impact requires partners who are prepared to walk with us beyond the immediate response—to help strengthen families, equip young people and create opportunities that can change lives. Community Connect gives us an opportunity to build those relationships and turn goodwill into lasting action.”

That spirit of collaboration has been particularly evident in Montego Bay, where tourism stakeholders have stepped forward to support the rebuilding of the SOS Children’s Village following Hurricane Melissa.

Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly, First Vice-President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), highlighted the significance of the partnership between the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter and SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica.  “The partnership between the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter and SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica is vital for strengthening community resilience and driving recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. We are grateful to stakeholders like Half Moon, Secrets St. James, Secrets Wild Orchid and Breathless Montego Bay for recently providing essential resources and furniture assistance to directly support and rebuild the SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay. It takes cash, resources and a willing heart to care!”

The support illustrates how the tourism industry can extend its impact beyond the visitor experience, using its networks, expertise and resources to help address the needs of the communities in which its businesses operate.

The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce is also looking at how it can build a more structured and sustainable framework for supporting children and young people.

Jason Russell, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber is exploring the creation of a dedicated youth development committee or annual youth-focused initiative that would coordinate its engagement with SOS Children’s Villages and other youth-serving partners.  “As the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, we recognise that creating meaningful and sustainable change requires more than responding to a need once a year. It requires consistency, structure and a commitment to walking alongside young people as they grow. We are therefore exploring the creation of a dedicated youth development committee within the Chamber that could provide a sustained platform for mobilising our members, resources, expertise and networks around youth development.”

“We also see an important role for SOS alumni. Their experiences and achievements can provide powerful encouragement to young people and demonstrate what is possible when they have the right support and opportunities. Through Chamber programmes, mentorship, career exposure and networking, we want to connect young people with business leaders who can help them see beyond their current circumstances and imagine new possibilities.”

“Our outreach also has to begin earlier. By engaging high schools, we can create opportunities for career conversations, mentorship, entrepreneurship and exposure to the world of work. The objective is to build something that is consistent and sustainable—something that continues beyond an individual donation or event and becomes part of how the business community invests in the next generation.”

The proposed approach would create a stronger bridge between the Chamber’s membership and the needs identified by SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica. Potential areas of collaboration include annual fundraising and resource mobilisation, mentorship, career exposure, entrepreneurship and employability sessions, school outreach, professional networking and opportunities for SOS alumni to engage with business leaders.

The need for collective action has been underscored by Hurricane Melissa, which placed additional pressure on families and communities across Western Jamaica. SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica has continued working with children, caregivers, families and partners as part of the recovery effort, while maintaining its longer-term focus on strengthening families and supporting children and young people.

But recovery is only one part of the organisation’s broader mission.

SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica’s approach recognises that strengthening families and community support systems can help reduce the risk of family separation, while education, skills development, mentoring and access to opportunities can help young people transition towards independent adulthood.

Community Connect therefore provides more than an opportunity to mobilise resources. It creates a forum for businesses, community organisations and individuals to understand the needs of children and families and determine how their expertise, networks and resources can contribute to sustainable solutions.

For the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, the proposed youth development framework represents an opportunity to turn goodwill into structured action—creating a mechanism through which businesses can consistently contribute their time, knowledge, mentorship, resources and networks.

It could also provide a platform for SOS alumni to share their experiences with members of the business community and current young people, helping to create relatable pathways to education, careers, entrepreneurship and personal development.

The Montego Bay gathering ultimately reinforced a simple message: caring for children is a shared responsibility, but lasting impact requires that responsibility to be organised, sustained and shared.

As SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica continues its work across the island, it is inviting more businesses, organisations and individuals to become part of that circle of support—because when children, young people and families have the support they need to thrive, the entire community benefits.