What We Do
Mustard Seed Communities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is driven by a core mission—
Our focus is on providing support to abandoned children and adults with disabilities. Evolving with local needs since 1978, we understand that creating lasting change means addressing the broader needs of communities. Explore the guiding pillars of our programs below, illuminating how we serve and uplift entire communities.
Our Guiding Pillars
Caring
Loving, Lifelong Homes for Individuals with Disabilities, Children Affected by HIV, and Teen Mothers
Individuals with Disabilities
Children Affected by HIV
Teen Mothers in Crisis
In 1978, Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, our Founder, observed a small group of children with disabilities surviving on Kingston’s streets, prompting him to establish the first Mustard Seed Communities home. Offering shelter, sustenance, and education, this marked the inception of our transformative journey. Witnessing the widespread abandonment of children with disabilities in the developing world, MSC expanded into the organization it is today, with residential programs forming the core of our presence in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.
Currently, MSC provides loving and lifelong care to over 600 residents across 15 homes, guiding them from places of danger and despair to realms of dignity, growth, and potential. In many of the communities we serve, individuals with disabilities lack facilities beyond the age of 18. Our dedicated MSC staff evaluates each home’s capacity to meet residents’ evolving needs as they age. To see this vision come to life, explore Jacob’s Ladder, MSC’s inaugural home tailored for adults with disabilities.
We expand our care beyond children with disabilities who were abandoned to provide homes for children affected by HIV and teen mothers in crisis.
Sharing
Empowering Communities through Nutrition and Health Care
Mustard Seed Communities is dedicated to enhancing the social, spiritual, and economic conditions of the communities we serve by addressing fundamental human needs. In many of the areas we operate, malnutrition and limited access to health care pose significant barriers to development. To tackle food scarcity challenges, MSC runs nutrition programs tailored to the specific needs of each country. In Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, our Christ in the Garbage Ministries program is a crucial service addressing dire needs within communities surrounding urban landfills.
In Jamaica and Zimbabwe, our nutrition initiatives provide early childhood education and nutritious meals to the youngest community members—preventing them from falling behind before they even have a chance to thrive. Students, often hindered by socioeconomic status or geographical constraints, gain access to education they might otherwise be denied in the central education system.
Our new location in Santiago, Dominican Republic will feature a dedicated health center to offer vital healthcare services for the community. The center will play a crucial role in addressing healthcare needs, ensuring that residents and neighbors have a reliable and accessible resource for their medical concerns.
Training
Education, Sustainable Farming, and Community Development
Education
Sustainable Agriculture
Community Development
Mustard Seed Communities’ programs actively target specific community needs. While our nutrition initiatives address immediate necessities, we also focus on the future potential and enduring impact of our presence within a country.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization, every MSC home integrates an agricultural initiative. Tailored to various sizes and scopes, these initiatives not only meet residents’ nutritional needs but also offer therapeutic engagement through farming activities and generate income by selling excess produce to the wider community.
Our Little Angels Learning Centers and vocational training programs offer a pathway out of poverty for young individuals and women in marginalized communities. At Mary’s Child in Jamaica, a residential program for young mothers in crisis, we provide a safe haven for the transition into motherhood and deliver education and vocational training. This equips these young women with a solid foundation for their families and future. Additionally, in Nicaragua, as part of the Christ in the Garbage Ministries program, women in Managua attend the Resource Center (Centro de Recursos)—gaining access to life-changing tools for their empowerment and growth. In Zimbabwe, MSC rears chickens, grows vegetables, and makes candles as part of training and income-generating projects.
Spirituality
Integrating Faith into Our Programs
Spirituality
Formation Program
Missionary Movement
Mustard Seed Communities is rooted in a spiritual foundation, finding sustenance in spiritual nourishment, especially through the Holy Eucharist. At the core of our ministry’s charism is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, recognizing the perpetual presence of Jesus Christ in our daily lives and work. This practice serves as an expression of gratitude for His constant invitation, gifts, and blessings. The overarching themes that encapsulate MSC’s Christ-centered life are “He is Here” and “Thank You Lord.”
The spiritual well-being of residents, staff, and volunteers permeates every facet of MSC’s activities, guiding the organization’s path for development and survival. Each apostolate, or home, features a chapel for community worship and the celebration of the sacred Mass, along with a perpetual adoration room for moments in the presence of the Holy Eucharist.
