Orphan, 20 - Big Dreams But No Hope

Hello, my name is Faye Turner, and I recently was blessed to "meet" a very fine young man named Esrick Atkinson.  Esrick is a very bright, driven, twenty-year old orphan from Jamaica who has big dreams but no help and therefore no hope. He has had a difficult life having lost his mother at age 2 and his father in 2011. He is passionate about becoming a teacher and needs your help to pursue his dream.

Esrick's story only came to me recently, but was published in the Jamaica Observer newspaper two years ago. Please click the link to read his story: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Orphan--18--has-big-dreams-but-no-hope_15008518

Since that time and since his father's death, he has become more hopeless. He has however managed, through sheer determination and faith, to attend Brown's Town Community College in Jamaica where he graduated with straight A's and was on the honor roll for all 4 semesters that he attended that school. He has been accepted at the University of the West Indies into their undergraduate program and has even received a partial scholarship of approximately US$2250.00 for tuition from a company in Jamaica named Sagicor. Since classes started on August 31, 2015, and again because of his own dogged determination, and with no idea how the balance of his tuition and fees were going to be paid, Esrick has actually been attending classes. But he has been like an invisible student on campus. He has had no student ID and therefore no rights or access to certain restricted areas. Furthermore, he was not going to be permitted to take his exams because his fees had not been paid. A few weeks ago, only after going to the student office and pleading his case, telling them that Sagicor had already paid up his partial scholarship, and that some folks abroad were working to help him pay up the balance, did they grant him a reprieve and give him his student ID so he could sit his exams. The university is however charging penalties (on a sliding scale) for each month that the balance is unpaid.

Esrick's status at UWI is tenuous at best. For meals, he has been living off the mercies of friends who share their meals with him - when they can. Many days he goes without food or with one meal a day. He does not even have a laptop, and again has been living off the mercies of one friend or another, waiting many times until late into the night to borrow a friend's laptop so he could do his homework. All the while Esrick is reminded that if he does not maintain a gradepoint average of 3.0 or better, he will lose the scholarship from Sagicor. He has been seeking employment through the UWI placement office, but so far nothing has come through. All of this hardship, despite his fighting spirit and hard work has served to increase the stress and sadness in Esrick's life even further.

I started this GoFundMe page to help Esrick out of his life of hardship and despair and to give him hope for his future. I want to see this young man attain his full potential and his dream. I try to help with his lunch money and other expenses, but his needs are beyond what I can give. I urgently and truly need your help. Please help me raise $10,000.00 to cover Esrick's expenses for the year - $5000.00 will go to the University Of The West Indies for tuition, boarding and miscellaneous fees. The other $5000 will be used for personal expenses, to buy Esrick a laptop and provide meals, money for laundry, toiletries, travel and other miscellaneous expenses. Unless he can come up with the remainder of the money for tuition, dormitory and other miscellaneous fees soon, he will forfeit the partial scholarship from Sagicor and his chance of pursuing his dream to become a teacher/lawyer.

No amount is too small - $1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10. 20, 50 - whatever you are able to give would be greatly appreciated. Every bit helps us attain our goal of helping Esrick attain his education. Please help me give hope to this once hopeless young man, who is hard working and passionate about school and his education, and is seeking not a hand out but a hand up to make him a contributing member of society. I will keep you updated regarding Esrick's progress. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read Esrick's story. Most importantly please share with your networks and on social media. Much love and blessings to all who read this.

Hopeful and Eternally Grateful, I am Faye Turner

Esrick's Story - click link below:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Orphan--18--has-big-dreams-but-no-hope_15008518


Orphan, 18, has big dreams but no hope - News
ESRICK Atkinson has not had an easy life. Having lost his mother in a motor vehicle accident at age two and his father a year ago, the 18-year-old orphan has found ...
View on www.jamaicaobserver...



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