“Wi likkle but wi tallawah.”
A Jamaican phrase meaning we are small, but we are strong.
Jamaica is front and centre of my heart, and has long touched hearts around the world. For such a small island, it still amazes me how often I meet people who are either from Jamaica or have deep connections to it.
I often wonder what keeps the threads of this global Jamaican tapestry so strong — and I keep coming back to three words: faith, trust, and community.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa has brought heartbreak and loss of life, homes, and land. Watching the images of destruction can make the road ahead seem impossible. Yet, amid the despair, one word rises again and again: Rebuild.
In this time of profound hardship, the people of Jamaica are showing the unshakeable power of faith — a deep trust that their lives, their communities, their island will be rebuilt. And this trust is fuelled by the outpouring of compassion, not only from those on the island but from Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica across the world.
When you meet a Jamaican, there’s a palpable pride — in who they are, what their island stands for, and the way of life that radiates joy, strength, and authenticity. It’s hard to visit Jamaica and not leave smiling, full of sunshine and hope.
Jamaica is a people of courage, connection, and love of life. That authenticity flows effortlessly through their veins and reaches hearts around the world — activating a collective desire to support, to help, to stand alongside them.
When times get hard, faith, trust, and community don’t just endure — they deepen. These are the values that give me hope that we will rebuild together, stronger than ever.
What we can learn from Jamaica
1. Focus on faith
Trust yourself, your roots, and the quiet knowing of who you are. Even as one person, your light can have a huge impact.
2. Trust in the process
Even when the path is uncertain, trust that you will find your way — that life can be rebuilt, reimagined, and renewed, even through hardship.
3. Compassion in community
True strength is never solitary. It is found in the compassion, generosity, and care we show one another — the threads that hold us when everything else feels fragile.
Jamaica reminds us that faith may be shaken, but it is never broken.
That trust, once rooted, can weather any storm.
The heart of a small island can inspire the whole world.
