Clarendon mother rebuilds home with support from 14-y-o
Published:Friday | January 9, 2026 | 12:06 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Shana Folkes, a single mother of four from Ritchies in northern Clarendon says she believes she has been given “a second chance at life”, a quiet conviction born out of loss, survival, and an unexpected act of youth-led compassion after Hurricane Melissa tore through her community on October 28, last year.
The 42-year-old, whose family home was left badly damaged by the storm, told The Gleaner that while the rebuilding process of her house is still under way, the intervention she received restored more than walls and roofing, it restored hope.
Folkes explained that the three-bedroom dwelling she occupied with her children and grandchild was not just a house, but the home in which she was raised, a place of history and comfort. “It’s the same house I grew up in. It was not a five-star, but it was cozy,’’ she said.
Folkes recounted that the roof was blown off, and floodwaters swept through the house, soaking furniture and appliances, and destroying nearly everything in its path. In the immediate aftermath, she said devastation threatened to overwhelm her, yet faith and gratitude sustained her family.
“After the hurricane, I was a little devastated, but then for some reason we were in good spirits, because we had life and were still together and people out there had it worse,” Folkes said, adding that the support she later received reaffirmed her belief that “once God is in it, the task ahead is not unreachable”.
That support came through Beyond Youth Jamaica (BYJ), a youth-driven initiative founded by 14-year-old Decarteret College student Abraham Azan. Moved by news of the family’s situation, Azan said his response was immediate and deeply personal.
“When I first heard about the damage to Miss Shana Folkes’ home, my immediate thought was, ‘How can I help?’ ‘’ he told The Gleaner. After assessing the damage, he coordinated the donation of building material including marl and cement to assist with the rebuilding process.
MEANINGFUL CHANGE
Azan explained he was compelled to act because of the family’s vulnerability and genuine need. “What stood out most to me about Miss Folkes and her family was their vulnerability and genuine need for support,” he said, noting that the presence of a child in the household added urgency. “Seeing a child directly affected by such a traumatic experience made the situation even more urgent.
“It really dawned on me that the devastation we often see on social media is a reality for some people,” Azan told The Gleaner, describing the encounter as a sobering reminder of both loss and gratitude.
The intervention marked one of the first tangible actions of BYJ, an organisation Azan conceived from a belief that meaningful change must be anchored in strong community development. He believes that while short-term relief plays an important role after disasters, long-term support is what truly restores dignity and stability. “Helping others rebuild is a sustainable way to make a lasting impact. While short-term relief can ease immediate pain, long-term support has the power to rebuild lives and restore hope,’’ he said.
A conversation with his mother, Shanna-Kaye Azan, shortly after the storm led him to recognise that vision without action achieves little.
For Folkes, the assistance she received confirmed the transformative potential of youth leadership. She said that although reconstruction continues, the experience has given her family renewed purpose.
“The task of rebuilding has not yet been completed, but I must say we get a second chance at life. The support from Abraham shows how much of an impact youths can make to drive chance, to inspire, and to give hope.”
Beyond his role as founder of BYJ, Azan is still navigating the everyday demands of student life at Decarteret College. Balancing school with community leadership, he shared that while the process is manageable, it requires discipline and self-awareness. “Balancing school and my extracurricular efforts is not inherently difficult, though I have, and still do, experience moments of procrastination,” he said. He explained that clarity of purpose keeps him grounded, adding, “I know I want to focus not only on my academics, but also on initiatives and projects that bring meaningful change, development, and purpose to my life.”
Though he does not follow a personal mantra, Scripture offers him direction and reassurance in difficult times. His favourite verse, Genesis 18:18 – For Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him – holds special meaning because it shares his name. “I meditate on this verse during times of trouble or adversity,” Azan said, noting that it reminds him of “the potential to make a lasting impact when guided by faith and purpose”.
Azan also serves as junior president of the school’s UNESCO Club, an experience, to which he credits his sense of civic duty and global awareness. His dedication to service is also influenced by his family, as he is the grandson of Clarendon North Western Member of Parliament Richard Azan.