A Project Rooted in Compassion, Leadership, and Legacy
Beds for
Jamaica Initiative
I am Zoraida De Souza — a youth leader, changemaker, and 14-year-old freshman. This is the story of how a moment of heartbreak turned into a movement of hope.
On October 28th, Hurricane Melissa — a powerful Category 5 storm — devastated the western side of Jamaica. My parents and I immediately contacted our family in St. Ann to make sure they were safe. Thankfully, they were. But countless families across Jamaica were not as fortunate.
Six major parishes were severely affected:
St. Elizabeth, St. James, Trelawny, Manchester, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St. Ann.
When I learned that children, elders, and entire families were sleeping on bare floors after losing everything, something inside me shifted. I looked at my parents and asked:
“How can I help?”
That question became the beginning of the Beds for Jamaica Initiative — my youth-led humanitarian project providing brand-new mattresses and handwritten letters of hope to families rebuilding their lives.
Today, this project represents one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
Why This Project Matters to Me
My Jamaican heritage is a big part of my identity. The communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa are the same places where my parents and grandparents grew up. Hearing that people who shared my family’s story were sleeping on cold concrete floors broke my heart.
This initiative became my way to:
• Honor my Jamaican roots
• Carry forward my family’s legacy of generosity
• Lead with empathy and courage
• Prove that young people can spark real humanitarian change
How the Beds for Jamaica Initiative Started
My mom and I researched what families needed most.
The answer was clear:
They needed beds.
So we got to work:
• Negotiated a special manufacturing rate with Boss Furniture
• Coordinated transportation with Stewart’s Automotive Group
• Partnered with Good Hope Charity for official distribution
• Worked with Kind Hearts Jamaica for community support
• Mobilized donors via social media and WhatsApp
• Organized a letter-writing drive
Every mattress included a handwritten note so families received comfort and encouragement.
The Impact: Restoring Comfort, Dignity & Hope
Thanks to the generosity of partners and donors, families across Peterfield,
Westmoreland, and surrounding areas received:
Brand-new mattresses
Safe, organized delivery into remote communities
Personal letters of hope from donors
Support from trusted Jamaican community organizations
Many recipients told us this was their first good night’s sleep since the hurricane.
This wasn’t just disaster relief —
it was dignity restored, one mattress at a time.
Letters of Hope: A School-Wide Act of Kindness
I invited the donors to write letters of compassion and encouragement, which were placed inside each mattress. These messages offered comfort, strength, and a reminder that families were not alone.
My school later approved community service hours for each letter — transforming this into a beautiful, youth-led movement of empathy.
Every mattress carried a message that said:
“You are not forgotten.
We see you.
We stand with you.”
Community Partners Who Made This Possible
• Boss Furniture – manufacturing and special community rate
• Stewart’s Automotive Group – transportation, logistics
• Stewart Industrial – community partnership
• Kind Hearts Jamaica – local support
• Good Hope Charity – official distribution
• Families, donors & my school community
This project proved that global impact begins with local hearts coming together.
What I Learned as a Young Humanitarian Leader
Through the Beds for Jamaica Initiative, I learned:
• The power of empathy in action
• How youth activism can change lives
• Pride in my culture, community, and heritage
• How to manage logistics for a real humanitarian project
• The importance of collaboration
• That storytelling inspires people to help
Most importantly, I learned that young people can lead movements when they lead with compassion.
“I wanted families to know they were not alone.
Even in the hardest moments, someone was thinking of them.
If one mattress helps one child feel safe and comfortable again, it matters.
Small actions can create
life changing impact especially when we all do our part.”
— Zoraida
Support the Movement
The Beds for Jamaica Initiative is growing. My goal is to expand into:
• Bedding & hygiene kits
• Care packages
• School supplies
• Continued mattress deliveries
• Ongoing student-led letter-writing drives​