Community engagement in rural and urban marginalized communities in Jamaica: Building community resilience in crisis

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the Caribbean, Jamaica mobilized strategies to ensure that the most vulnerable were protected against the threats and fears of COVID-19 and other crises over time. One strategy involved wide-scale collaboration with public and private sectors, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and volunteers. This study describes the approach taken by stakeholders in response to the needs of vulnerable residents in marginalized communities, and to highlight the experiences building community resilience during COVID-19. Three questions guided the research: 1) What major issues that affected the community during the COVID-19 crisis? 2) What measures have been implemented to help communities manage and adapt coping mechanism during this crisis? and 3) How has the community shown resilience and recovery in mitigating crises? A descriptive research design was employed comprising focus groups and interviews. We sampled 28 participants from 7 non-governmental organizations and 12 communities in rural and urban Jamaica. The analysis generated policy recommendations.