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Fathers needed!
Published: Wednesday | September 22, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Edmund Bartlett (second right), member of parliament for East Central St James, donated textbooks to the grade-four classes of six all-age schools in the constituency on Wednesday. The donation is part of the East Central St James Education Council's drive to improve the academic performance of grade-four students in preparation for the GSAT examinations. Pictured with the minister (from left) are: Carmen Ellis, principal of Lottery All-Age School; Natalie Reid-Newton, grade-four teacher at the school; Simeka Harley and Kenrick Kerr, two of the school's grade-four students. - Photo by Christopher Thomas
Hi neighbour! In this climate of diminishing financial power, the back-to-school preparation has been a very traumatic and painful experience for many parents and students. Still, some unemployed single parents have not yet purchased uniforms or books for their children who are so anxious to return to school. Can you help a student?
Over the past few weeks, hundreds of calls and letters from desperate mothers and grandmothers in search of [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]back-to-school[/COLOR][/COLOR] supplies came into our office. In some instances, children called because their mother "can't afford to send all of us to school and we don't know where our father is". Those mothers have anywhere between four and six children attending school.
Let's spend less time condemning these parents for the 'fruit of their labour' and try to save a child or two from the same pitfall by helping them to get an education.
Many of these parents are aware of their legal obligation to school their offspring and are trying their best. But their best is just not good enough. Vending bag juice, a little snack here and there or doing day's work once per week cannot secure sufficient funds to feed and educate the little ones. That is the reality. I am told that some of these children attend school no more than two or three days per week or none at all for several months.
Hustling
Over the last three weeks, dozens of these little children have been seen in the various plazas selling trinkets or begging to help send themselves back to school. Some of them are dismissed, abused, misused or even used by cruel culprits in the process. The day of reckoning comes!
Can anyone tell us where are many of the fathers at this time? Elsewhere producing more children which they have no intention of fathering?
But really, though, what do some of these pregnancy facilitators think? Don't they realise that they have a responsibility as men to provide for these children whether or not they have a current intimate relationship with the mothers? Come on, men! Play your part in the life of your children, especially at this time of the year! It's back-to-school!
As your neighbour, I encourage you to help the mothers send the children back to school. That must be a priority on your list of obligations! These children must get an education. To do so, they must go to school. School takes uniforms, books, lunch money, transportation, fees. Step up, gentlemen, step up to the plate the same way you stepped up at the young ladies' gate.
Thanks to the thousands of caring neighbours and organisations which have come on-board to help many of our children with their back-to-school challenges. Because of their input, many children returned to school fully clad in their uniforms with books in bag and lunch money in their pockets. And I must pay special tribute to the dozens of neighbours who supported the back-to-school effort organised by this column.
Several students received books, bags and uniforms. Sharon, it was a real stroke of generosity on your part when you decided to pay the school fee for little Nadgia, who started classes earlier this month. Thanks on behalf of the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]mother[/COLOR][/COLOR] who is unemployed and did not have the first cent to pay the fee. May you never lack.
I am imploring all adults who have the resources to help with a child's education. Too many of our children are not attending [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]school[/COLOR][/COLOR] regularly because of the lack of resources on the part of the parents. There are many potential scientists, preachers, doctors, nurses and teachers who may never get an [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]education[/COLOR][/COLOR] or contribute to the development of society if neighbours don't help to offset these costs!
From all appearances, these realities will not change any time soon. Fashion and entertainment, on which we spend so much time, energy and cash, are fleeting things which cannot build great nations. We suggest, therefore, that part of our entertainment and clothing budget be assigned to the education of our children.
Any takers?
Having read this article, please help us to realise our purpose by offering to assist one of those neighbours listed below. You will be better off for the deed of kindness.
THANKS TO THESE NEIGHBOURS
Pauline, St Catherine, for donating three khaki uniforms to a neighbour.
Ms Lloyd, St Andrew, for offering a brand new mattress to a needy neighbour.
Opal, St Catherine, for offering an entertainment centre to a neighbour.
Dahlia, St Catherine, for offering literature books to a neighbour's child.
Ms Cooper, St Catherine, for offering a literature book for back-to-school.
Ms Miller, St Catherine, for back-to-school books.
Ms Graham, St Catherine, for offering clothing to needy neighbours.
Ms Lodge, for offering clothing to newborn babe.
Dianne, St Mary, for giving three pairs of pants and a size 9 shoes to a needy male.
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP NEIGHBOURS
Beverly, St Elizabeth: her daughter died, leaving her with five young [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]children[/COLOR][/COLOR] to care for. Asking neighbours for children's clothing for church, as well as back-to-school assistance.
Mable, St Catherine, unemployed: asking neighbours for material to make sheets and curtains to assist children with back-to-school.
Annmarie, St Catherine, student nurse: asking neighbours for textbooks, even to borrow for a year.
Fitzroy, St James: paralysed from waist down; needs a wheelchair.
Janet, Westmoreland, heart patient, mother of two girls, aged nine and 14: needs bags, shoes and uniforms.
Marsha, Westmoreland: umemployed, needs clothing for four- and nine-year-old boys.
Mr McDonald, St Catherine: asking for khaki uniforms and shoes - sizes 7 and 8 - to send boys back to school.
Ms Pauline, St Catherine, 68 years old: denture got broken and needs to be replaced. She does a little farming and has half the amount - $10,000 - to replace it.
Neighbour, St Andrew, single mother of two whose father migrated, but provides no help: asking for assistance.
Neighbour, Manchester: her three-year-old daughter, Abigail, has a learning disability; can't afford to send her to school for special children.
Ms Florence, asking for size 7 pair of shoes for boys.
To help, call 906-3167, 884-3866, 373-7745 or 299-3412; or email neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link-up. Those who desire to help us with our financial obligations may make deposits to account 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank (bank-routing password JNCBJMKX); or send donations to Hello Neighbour, c/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10.
Hello Mi Neighbour is written by actor and charity activist Silton Townsend, better known as 'Maas Gussie'.
Published: Wednesday | September 22, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Edmund Bartlett (second right), member of parliament for East Central St James, donated textbooks to the grade-four classes of six all-age schools in the constituency on Wednesday. The donation is part of the East Central St James Education Council's drive to improve the academic performance of grade-four students in preparation for the GSAT examinations. Pictured with the minister (from left) are: Carmen Ellis, principal of Lottery All-Age School; Natalie Reid-Newton, grade-four teacher at the school; Simeka Harley and Kenrick Kerr, two of the school's grade-four students. - Photo by Christopher Thomas
Hi neighbour! In this climate of diminishing financial power, the back-to-school preparation has been a very traumatic and painful experience for many parents and students. Still, some unemployed single parents have not yet purchased uniforms or books for their children who are so anxious to return to school. Can you help a student?
Over the past few weeks, hundreds of calls and letters from desperate mothers and grandmothers in search of [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]back-to-school[/COLOR][/COLOR] supplies came into our office. In some instances, children called because their mother "can't afford to send all of us to school and we don't know where our father is". Those mothers have anywhere between four and six children attending school.
Let's spend less time condemning these parents for the 'fruit of their labour' and try to save a child or two from the same pitfall by helping them to get an education.
Many of these parents are aware of their legal obligation to school their offspring and are trying their best. But their best is just not good enough. Vending bag juice, a little snack here and there or doing day's work once per week cannot secure sufficient funds to feed and educate the little ones. That is the reality. I am told that some of these children attend school no more than two or three days per week or none at all for several months.
Hustling
Over the last three weeks, dozens of these little children have been seen in the various plazas selling trinkets or begging to help send themselves back to school. Some of them are dismissed, abused, misused or even used by cruel culprits in the process. The day of reckoning comes!
Can anyone tell us where are many of the fathers at this time? Elsewhere producing more children which they have no intention of fathering?
But really, though, what do some of these pregnancy facilitators think? Don't they realise that they have a responsibility as men to provide for these children whether or not they have a current intimate relationship with the mothers? Come on, men! Play your part in the life of your children, especially at this time of the year! It's back-to-school!
As your neighbour, I encourage you to help the mothers send the children back to school. That must be a priority on your list of obligations! These children must get an education. To do so, they must go to school. School takes uniforms, books, lunch money, transportation, fees. Step up, gentlemen, step up to the plate the same way you stepped up at the young ladies' gate.
Thanks to the thousands of caring neighbours and organisations which have come on-board to help many of our children with their back-to-school challenges. Because of their input, many children returned to school fully clad in their uniforms with books in bag and lunch money in their pockets. And I must pay special tribute to the dozens of neighbours who supported the back-to-school effort organised by this column.
Several students received books, bags and uniforms. Sharon, it was a real stroke of generosity on your part when you decided to pay the school fee for little Nadgia, who started classes earlier this month. Thanks on behalf of the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]mother[/COLOR][/COLOR] who is unemployed and did not have the first cent to pay the fee. May you never lack.
I am imploring all adults who have the resources to help with a child's education. Too many of our children are not attending [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]school[/COLOR][/COLOR] regularly because of the lack of resources on the part of the parents. There are many potential scientists, preachers, doctors, nurses and teachers who may never get an [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]education[/COLOR][/COLOR] or contribute to the development of society if neighbours don't help to offset these costs!
From all appearances, these realities will not change any time soon. Fashion and entertainment, on which we spend so much time, energy and cash, are fleeting things which cannot build great nations. We suggest, therefore, that part of our entertainment and clothing budget be assigned to the education of our children.
Any takers?
Having read this article, please help us to realise our purpose by offering to assist one of those neighbours listed below. You will be better off for the deed of kindness.
THANKS TO THESE NEIGHBOURS
Pauline, St Catherine, for donating three khaki uniforms to a neighbour.
Ms Lloyd, St Andrew, for offering a brand new mattress to a needy neighbour.
Opal, St Catherine, for offering an entertainment centre to a neighbour.
Dahlia, St Catherine, for offering literature books to a neighbour's child.
Ms Cooper, St Catherine, for offering a literature book for back-to-school.
Ms Miller, St Catherine, for back-to-school books.
Ms Graham, St Catherine, for offering clothing to needy neighbours.
Ms Lodge, for offering clothing to newborn babe.
Dianne, St Mary, for giving three pairs of pants and a size 9 shoes to a needy male.
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP NEIGHBOURS
Beverly, St Elizabeth: her daughter died, leaving her with five young [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]children[/COLOR][/COLOR] to care for. Asking neighbours for children's clothing for church, as well as back-to-school assistance.
Mable, St Catherine, unemployed: asking neighbours for material to make sheets and curtains to assist children with back-to-school.
Annmarie, St Catherine, student nurse: asking neighbours for textbooks, even to borrow for a year.
Fitzroy, St James: paralysed from waist down; needs a wheelchair.
Janet, Westmoreland, heart patient, mother of two girls, aged nine and 14: needs bags, shoes and uniforms.
Marsha, Westmoreland: umemployed, needs clothing for four- and nine-year-old boys.
Mr McDonald, St Catherine: asking for khaki uniforms and shoes - sizes 7 and 8 - to send boys back to school.
Ms Pauline, St Catherine, 68 years old: denture got broken and needs to be replaced. She does a little farming and has half the amount - $10,000 - to replace it.
Neighbour, St Andrew, single mother of two whose father migrated, but provides no help: asking for assistance.
Neighbour, Manchester: her three-year-old daughter, Abigail, has a learning disability; can't afford to send her to school for special children.
Ms Florence, asking for size 7 pair of shoes for boys.
To help, call 906-3167, 884-3866, 373-7745 or 299-3412; or email neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link-up. Those who desire to help us with our financial obligations may make deposits to account 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank (bank-routing password JNCBJMKX); or send donations to Hello Neighbour, c/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10.
Hello Mi Neighbour is written by actor and charity activist Silton Townsend, better known as 'Maas Gussie'.
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