Couple leads school tours to heal minds after the storm
Published:Thursday | January 8, 2026 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
After Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, leaving destruction and grief in its wake, Jamar and Natassia Wright stepped into schools with a different kind of relief effort – not rebuilding walls but restoring balance, motivation, and emotional resilience among students.
The husband-and-wife team recently completed a post-hurricane tour of Porus High, Meadowbrook High, and Happy Grove High, leading interactive wellness sessions to help pupils process trauma, regain focus, and keep moving despite tragedy.
“Despite the tragic loss many students and families are dealing with, it is important to keep moving,” said Natassia Wright, co-founder of Mind Food International. “Children need encouragement, emotional grounding, and hope. Our goal is to motivate them, help them find balance, and remind them that what they are feeling is valid, but it does not have to stop their growth.”
For children, school is more than academics. It offers routine, safety, and normality – elements especially critical after disaster. In Melissa’s aftermath, thousands of pupils faced fear, displacement, and uncertainty. Returning to classrooms is helping re-establish daily structure and provide emotional stability even as families and communities continue the long recovery.
Educators agree that routine is one of the most effective ways to support children’s well-being after catastrophe. Relief efforts have rightly focused on food, shelter, and infrastructure, but the Wrights saw another urgent need: psychological support for young people grappling with trauma.
Through Mind Food International, sessions tackled emotional regulation, stress management, resilience, positive self-talk, and maintaining focus on education and personal goals. Pupils were encouraged to reflect openly on their experiences and adopt practical coping strategies for both classroom and home.
Extended closures risk severe learning loss, particularly for those preparing for national exams or moving between grades. Each missed week compounds the danger of disengagement. Reopening schools – even in temporary or blended formats – helps safeguard progress and ensures that vulnerable children are not left behind.
All sessions were free, underscoring Mind Food International’s commitment to service in crisis. “This is about service, not profit,” said Jamar Wright. “Young people are the future of Jamaica, and when disaster strikes, they need more than sympathy. They need tools to help them stand again.”
Teachers welcomed the initiative, noting the positive response from pupils who often struggle to articulate the emotional toll of disaster. The Wrights’ approach emphasised balance: acknowledging pain while fostering momentum.
“Resilience doesn’t mean ignoring loss,” Natassia Wright explained. “It means learning how to carry it in a healthy way while continuing to grow.”