Meet the Hood Family
Traveling with purpose is the aim of many, but few actually achieve this. This cannot be said for these 4 ladies who embarked on a transformative one-week volunteer vacation with Jamaica International Projects, from August 7 to August 14, 2026. The lovely Hood family from Kansas City, Missouri started their volunteer vacation journey to Jamaica with 4 goals in minds. Deana, an accountant, and mom of the group, wanted to give back and learn about the Jamaican culture. KayLynn, a college student, wanted to compare the different education systems across Jamaica, the US, and Greece (where she has traveled before). Lauryn, a second-year medical student, wanted clinical experience in a Jamaican setting. And Camryn, a high school junior, wanted to work with children.
Arrival Day: Montego Bay to Portmore
After their lengthy flight from Missouri to Montego Bay, Jamaica, they embarked on a 3 hour journey via Knutsford Express, a local bus company to Angels, Spanish Town, where our team would receive them and transfer them to their accommodation, Barnett’s Homestay. As is typical with travel, the family’s flight got delayed for a few hours, hence their arrival to Angels was also delayed. Instead of an anticipated 5 or 6 pm pickup, their bus did not arrive until minutes after 11 pm. Nonetheless, I, Jomo Barnett, Director of JIP, along with their driver, was there to meet them with a refreshment upon the bus’ arrival and take them to their home away from home.
JIP Arrival Note:
At JIP we track the flights and arrival times of our clients to ensure that someone is there to pick you up at the airport or other predetermined location, so you will never be stranded. After arrival you are guaranteed a hot meal.
My first impression of the Hood family was that they were extremely friendly, kind and outgoing, which proved true throughout their 1-week stay with us. Even though we arrived home well beyond typical hours, after check-in, I quickly prepared a dish of coconut curried shrimp and pasta for our guests, who were exhausted after an over 18 hour journey and deserved a freshly homecooked meal.
The Placements: Two Sites, One Family
For this trip, the family completed 2 separate projects. Deana, KayLynn, and Camryn volunteered at the Nest Children’s Home, while Lauryn volunteered at the Mannings Hill Medical Centre. The volunteer dates were from Monday, August 10, 2026 to Thursday August 13, 2026.
Nest Children’s Home
At the orphanage (we call them children’s homes in Jamaica), which was home to 24 kids of varying ages, the ladies organized Christian charm-making workshops, led games, and participated in sports like netball and track and field. Alongside recreational activities, they led daily educational sessions focusing on phonics, spelling, sentence structure, creative writing, and mathematics, rounding out the experience with singing and crafts.
Mannings Hill Medical Centre
Here, Lauryn worked with the nurses in reception and helped taked patients vitials on the first day, and shadowed both doctors as they went about seeing and treating patients for the remainder of her project. Had she needed it as a requirement for her school, the doctors were more than willing to sign off on any documentation proving clinical hours completed.
Why split placements matter
One thing that sets JIP apart from competitors is our flexibility. We don’t do cookie cutter projects that anyone can just drop into. We customize our projects to match each applicant’s goal, skill level, and experience. So whether you are traveling solo or as a large group, we customize your project to ensure everyone in your party will have a unique and personally rewarding experience.
The Vacation While Volunteering
Portmore Beach, VR, Dining and Shopping
After arriving Friday August 7, 2026, the Hood family hit the ground running with a day filled with adventures on Saturday August 8, 2026. Their first stop was to the Fort Clarence Beach in Hellshire, St. Catherine. Even though the guards warned us there was a high level of seaweed in the water, the family chose to stay a few hours soaking in the sun, enjoying the sea breeze, and even swimming. Afterwards, we headed to Barcadia VR Arcade, where the ladies did a 20 minute virtual reality roller coaster ride. Next, we headed to TGIF Fridays, where the ladies enjoyed lunch and karaoke. Finally we stopped at Pricesmart where the ladies shopped for stuff for lunch for the remaining week.
Horseback Riding, Zip Lining and Dunn’s River Falls
On Sunday, August 9, 2026, we headed to Ocho Rios for a day of sunny fun. Our first stop was at Dunn’s River Falls, where the family climbed the falls, swam and zip lined. Afterwards, the bus took them to Seville Park in Ocho Rios, where they did the horseback ride and swim. During the ride, the horses actually go out into the sea and swim with the rider on them, which makes for a unique experience.
Bob Marley Museum and Devon House
After volunteering for the day on Monday, August 10, 2026, we headed to the Bob Marley Museum to join their last tour of the day. After touring the museum and learning about the life and career of the king of Reggae music, we headed to Devon House for some brief sightseeing and the world’s 4th best ice cream, each getting our own cones and flavours.
Cooking Class
After returning from a day of volunteering and getting refreshed, we did our cooking class on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. During our interactive class, we sampled Bun and Cheese, a Jamaican snack, and made Jerk Chicken, Banana Fritters, Sorrel drinks, Pumpkin Rice and Jerk Gravy, which we ate together as our dinner.
Movie Night
On Wednesday August 12, 2026, after volunteering and dinner, the Hood family went to the movie theatre less than 10 minutes away to watch The Odyssey.
Kingston Craft Market and Games Night
On our final day together, we went to the Kingston Craft Market, where the family purchased crafts, jewelery and some clothing. In the night, we did our Games Night, where we had a scavenger hunt, played 2 truths and a lie, and ended with rock em sock em robots. Our games night champion is Camryn, who won with 7 total points.
Dining Like a Jamaican Family
We already covered earlier that for dinner on the Friday night of arrival, dinner was curried coconut shrimp with pasta. As for the other meals served on this volunteer vacation, they were:
Saturday – For breakfast we had bacon, eggs and turkey sausages, served with toast, bagels and assorted condiments. For dinner we had traditional Jamaican Saturday beef soup, with tofu soup instead being served for Lauryn.
Sunday – Breakfast was brown stewed chicken with boiled yam, pumpkin and dumplings. Dinner was braised oxtails with rice and peas, vegetables and potato salad.
Monday – Breakfast was steamed calalloo with saltfish served with fried ripe plantains, roasted breadfruit and bammies. Dinner was steamed fish and crackers.
Tuesday – Breakfast consisted of fried johnny cakes with franks and beans. Dinner was the Jerk Chicken, banana fritters, pumpkin rice, jerk sauce and sorrel juice we made during our cooking class.
Wedesday – For breakfast, Ackee and saltfish, Jamaica’s national dish was served, and for dinner, we made stewed beef.
Thursday – Sardine omelets with toast and bagels were for breakfast, and for dinner we enjoyed curried goat with naan and white rice.
Friday – Since this was departure day with a 6 am checkout, the family requested a simple breakfast of bagels with cream cheese and yogurt with fruits.
Generally, breakfast is served with seasonal fruits, yogurt, milk/nut milk, tea, coffee and juice. Dinner is served with a salad or vegetables.
We treat every guest’s allergies and dietary restrictions seriously
We cater for clients with all sorts of allergies, dietary restrictions and preferences, including vegans, vegetarians, picky eaters and more. Rest assured that your menu will be customized for you.
The Homestay Experience: Authentic Living & Culinary Care
At Barnett’s Homestay, this is much more than another accommodation. It is my home, and your home while you are in Jamaica with us. Besided the delicious homecooked meals described above, we try to make your space as comfortable as possible, with air conditioning, wifi, hot water, fresh towels, linens and pillows, and more. A member of our team was always on site if a member of the family needed assistance, 24 hours per day.
The Last Project Day
We got a team photo with the nurses and Lauryn at the medical centre, and Deana, KayLynn and Camryn gave all the donations they brought with them to the children’s home, before saying farewell to the staff and happy children.
“The happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Ready to Plan Your Own family volunteer trip to Jamaica?
Ready to book your own family volunteer vacation in Jamaica like the Hood family? If you want to live with a Jamaican family and enjoy local cuisine, perform meaningful volunteer work, join thrilling tours and adventures, all while giving back and supporting an authentic Jamaican owned and operated business, get in touch with us today.
