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In late September of 2018, my assistant Dee met fifteen year old Oshane Barnes, a student enrolled in the Hopewell High School in Hanover, Jamaica (near Montego Bay).
Heres how she describes his story and why I am moved to raise funds to help with his 2019/2020 grade 10 school fees:
I first saw him as he was being pushed out of a supermarket by the business owner. He looked awfully unkempt, with his hair in disarray, no socks, dirty uniform, dried skin, unclean teeth and dirty torn shoes; he appeared to be coming from school. When he caught my attention, I immediately went over to him, and as I got closer I noticed that his hand was in a cast. My heart ached as I could see the cry for help protruding through his eyes.
I asked him where his parents or guardians were. He proceeded to tell me “My mother abandoned me from when I was a baby and left me with my father, he doesn’t have a job but he tries his best.’’
Out of curiosity I asked him why he was forcibly removed from the supermarket, he explained that he was, until that moment, working with them in the evenings after school to get money in order to attend school. However, since his hand was injured he has not been able to work.
A stranger interjected to confirm the child’s story and mentioned that the boy is always seen lifting boxes and doing other physical work in and around the market. I gave him money to go to school for the rest of the week and assured him that I will check back on him. A few days later, I followed up as promised and then went to get food for Oshane to eat as he appeared to be hungry. I developed great interest in this boy as he displayed unique characteristics for a kid in his position.
Regardless of his circumstance he was always smiling and maintained a positive outlook on life… he told me that he wants to become a chef and a musician as possible careers. I met with his father, Mr. David Barnes and he explained that it was only himself and Oshane since the boy was a baby and that although he attempts to give Oshane the best possible living, it’s challenging to make ends meet.
Mr. Barnes goes into the hills of Montego Bay to reap herbs in order to make home remedies from plants for various illnesses (roots). He then spends most of his time in town trying to sell whatever herbs he has. It struck me that Mr. Barnes has the same optimistic outlook on life displayed by Oshane. He has hope that one day things will turn around for them.
I went to Dan Johnson, my mentor, and explained Oshane’s situation. He was stunned and asked if I could arrange to meet him. I traded a standing appointment with my hairdresser to allow Oshane to go in my place in order to get cleaned up (dreadlocks washed and properly groomed). We took Oshane out for dinner and got to know him better. During our interaction with Oshane we discovered a few challenges. A mild speech impediment, as he’s unable to speak fluent English without including the Jamaican dialect (patois). We also observed a lack of social etiquette as he was never properly disciplined in proper social interactions and only knows what he needs to survive.
He has great potential with a lot of ambition and a great personality; he only lacks guidance and some basic essentials… food, clothing, lunch at school and money to cover his travelling to and from school as well as general school supplies, a book bag for school, shoes and uniforms.In pursuit to further help Oshane I had decided to go to his school.
Upon arrival at the school I got an opportunity to speak to his guidance counsellor Mrs. Thomas. She explained that Oshane had been recently suspended for multiple absences and constant tardiness, but was very excited that someone was working on the behalf of Oshane Barnes in order to help his wellbeing. She expressed that the boy has a lot of potential and seldom behaves outside of the normal appropriate behavior. She further described that it was a teacher that saw him in the streets and made a recommendation to for him to be enrolled in a school. Mrs. Thomas went further to say the school took on some of his parent’s responsibility, by washing his hair and giving him a suit of uniform for school. She explained that he is messy and behaves in a manor consistent with a child that has very limited resources and guidance. She said he is often times hungry and seems to have gotten accustomed to it to the extent that a small portion of food and drink every few days feels normal. She believes this accounts for when he behaves improperly. She pointed out that he is not always in school and sometimes attends school late.
All of this has affected his academic performance. He was placed sixth out of seventeen students in his last examination with a low average. Mrs. Thomas explained that they would love to do more to contribute however the school’s population is over 1000 and over 200 students have similar issues or worse living conditions. She said the government subsidizes a welfare program at the school, which gives each student $130 JMD (about $1 USD) per day.
This fund is incredibly insufficient as students are not able to even get food with the amount given to them. The best the school can do is pool the amount given to each student and cook daily in order to minimize the number of students not getting lunch. Oshane is not enumerated on that program but gets lunch on days when it’s abundantly available, which unfortunately is not often enough. After much conversation with the guidance counselor Mrs. Thomas, she agreed to devote herself in providing more guidance to Oshane while he is attending school.
Help is needed to provide children with an opportunity to start their lives in the right direction and not have to face the same dilemmas as struggling people before them.
Any contribution makes a meaningful difference in the life of Oshane Barns, a child who was placed in a bad position not of his own free will. If not for the help of individuals who care for the wellbeing of the students, Oshane may be in a much more unpleasant situation.
Reaching our goal of $1,500 will provide Oshane with books, shoes, uniforms, book bag, school supplies, toiletries and supplement his school lunch and transportation to school for the 2019/2020 school year.
Heres how she describes his story and why I am moved to raise funds to help with his 2019/2020 grade 10 school fees:
I first saw him as he was being pushed out of a supermarket by the business owner. He looked awfully unkempt, with his hair in disarray, no socks, dirty uniform, dried skin, unclean teeth and dirty torn shoes; he appeared to be coming from school. When he caught my attention, I immediately went over to him, and as I got closer I noticed that his hand was in a cast. My heart ached as I could see the cry for help protruding through his eyes.
I asked him where his parents or guardians were. He proceeded to tell me “My mother abandoned me from when I was a baby and left me with my father, he doesn’t have a job but he tries his best.’’
Out of curiosity I asked him why he was forcibly removed from the supermarket, he explained that he was, until that moment, working with them in the evenings after school to get money in order to attend school. However, since his hand was injured he has not been able to work.
A stranger interjected to confirm the child’s story and mentioned that the boy is always seen lifting boxes and doing other physical work in and around the market. I gave him money to go to school for the rest of the week and assured him that I will check back on him. A few days later, I followed up as promised and then went to get food for Oshane to eat as he appeared to be hungry. I developed great interest in this boy as he displayed unique characteristics for a kid in his position.
Regardless of his circumstance he was always smiling and maintained a positive outlook on life… he told me that he wants to become a chef and a musician as possible careers. I met with his father, Mr. David Barnes and he explained that it was only himself and Oshane since the boy was a baby and that although he attempts to give Oshane the best possible living, it’s challenging to make ends meet.
Mr. Barnes goes into the hills of Montego Bay to reap herbs in order to make home remedies from plants for various illnesses (roots). He then spends most of his time in town trying to sell whatever herbs he has. It struck me that Mr. Barnes has the same optimistic outlook on life displayed by Oshane. He has hope that one day things will turn around for them.
I went to Dan Johnson, my mentor, and explained Oshane’s situation. He was stunned and asked if I could arrange to meet him. I traded a standing appointment with my hairdresser to allow Oshane to go in my place in order to get cleaned up (dreadlocks washed and properly groomed). We took Oshane out for dinner and got to know him better. During our interaction with Oshane we discovered a few challenges. A mild speech impediment, as he’s unable to speak fluent English without including the Jamaican dialect (patois). We also observed a lack of social etiquette as he was never properly disciplined in proper social interactions and only knows what he needs to survive.
He has great potential with a lot of ambition and a great personality; he only lacks guidance and some basic essentials… food, clothing, lunch at school and money to cover his travelling to and from school as well as general school supplies, a book bag for school, shoes and uniforms.In pursuit to further help Oshane I had decided to go to his school.
Upon arrival at the school I got an opportunity to speak to his guidance counsellor Mrs. Thomas. She explained that Oshane had been recently suspended for multiple absences and constant tardiness, but was very excited that someone was working on the behalf of Oshane Barnes in order to help his wellbeing. She expressed that the boy has a lot of potential and seldom behaves outside of the normal appropriate behavior. She further described that it was a teacher that saw him in the streets and made a recommendation to for him to be enrolled in a school. Mrs. Thomas went further to say the school took on some of his parent’s responsibility, by washing his hair and giving him a suit of uniform for school. She explained that he is messy and behaves in a manor consistent with a child that has very limited resources and guidance. She said he is often times hungry and seems to have gotten accustomed to it to the extent that a small portion of food and drink every few days feels normal. She believes this accounts for when he behaves improperly. She pointed out that he is not always in school and sometimes attends school late.
All of this has affected his academic performance. He was placed sixth out of seventeen students in his last examination with a low average. Mrs. Thomas explained that they would love to do more to contribute however the school’s population is over 1000 and over 200 students have similar issues or worse living conditions. She said the government subsidizes a welfare program at the school, which gives each student $130 JMD (about $1 USD) per day.
This fund is incredibly insufficient as students are not able to even get food with the amount given to them. The best the school can do is pool the amount given to each student and cook daily in order to minimize the number of students not getting lunch. Oshane is not enumerated on that program but gets lunch on days when it’s abundantly available, which unfortunately is not often enough. After much conversation with the guidance counselor Mrs. Thomas, she agreed to devote herself in providing more guidance to Oshane while he is attending school.
Help is needed to provide children with an opportunity to start their lives in the right direction and not have to face the same dilemmas as struggling people before them.
Any contribution makes a meaningful difference in the life of Oshane Barns, a child who was placed in a bad position not of his own free will. If not for the help of individuals who care for the wellbeing of the students, Oshane may be in a much more unpleasant situation.
Reaching our goal of $1,500 will provide Oshane with books, shoes, uniforms, book bag, school supplies, toiletries and supplement his school lunch and transportation to school for the 2019/2020 school year.