Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 14, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
So many times we hear about ‘the jewels in our backyard’ – tourism, agriculture, manufacturing. However the finest jewels in our backyard and indeed everywhere are our young people. This has not been an easy time for them. They have graduated and have started their careers but student loan repayments and the expectations of family are heavy burdens. Some of the vitriol that they post on social media comes from stress and even despair.
Imagine, the beautiful 2019 Miss USA Cheslie Kryst took her life at the age of 30. When she was crowned Miss USA, there were criticisms that she was “too old’ at 28 and there were calls for lowering the age for the contest. Did these brickbats make this brilliant young attorney-at-law believe that turning 30 was ‘old’? Our false values have made young people worry about their address, their dress and the make of their motor vehicles. It is only by constantly reinforcing strong values in our youth, that they can overcome these challenges to their self-esteem.
One of our schoolmates migrated to the US in the seventies and when we asked her how she coped with racism, she answered, “My parents always told me I was precious, so all the insults were like water off a duck’s back.” In contrast, I remember a bright co-worker who always seemed to doubt herself. She said when growing up her parents compared her to her high-achieving cousins, until she started to believe that she was not good enough.
The Prime Minister’s Awards of excellence to high-achieving young Jamaicans is a great programme, highlighting role models who have striven for excellence, despite unbelievable challenges. However, there are too many children who are ‘falling through the cracks’ and in need of urgent help. Of course they must be disciplined, but this should not descend into constant haranguing. Interviews with some delinquent young men reveal that they were constantly being compared to ‘yu wutless father’ and getting harsh punishments. I remember a troublesome fourth form student I taught, handing in a poem he wrote called ‘Lonely Boy’ – it was a plaintive call for help. When I had a private chat with him, he broke down and explained that he was being beaten mercilessly by his father. Thank goodness for his wonderful stepmother who intervened and made life more bearable for him.
Ordinary folks may not have the resources to offer scholarships but we can all spare a little time weekly to mentor a child. Your alma mater will guide you in choosing a student who could blossom if they had this one person in their lives who would listen to them and look out for them. There are children left in yards to fend for themselves – their parents may have gone abroad or have been imprisoned. I remember on such child being assisted by a group of caring women. They organised boarding for her with a retired teacher. Her grades shot up and after she did well in her CSEC exams she wrote a thank you note, saying this was the first time that she ever experienced kindness. I heard that there was not one dry eye in the group.
This Jamaica that we are crying down still has a great deal to offer. Our service clubs – Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions and Optimists work extremely hard for our people. Resolute members of past students’ associations are struggling to keep their schools renovated. Food for the Poor just built yet another house for a couple with special needs. There are countless opportunities to serve.
The Child Protection and Family Services Agency will need more personnel to scour our communities and help place children in more nurturing surroundings. Perhaps they could check to see if retired persons would be willing to take in boarders and pay for their services. Churches now have permission to have larger attendance; we hope they re-start Sunday school to help inculcate strong moral values in our children. We applaud the JCF and the JDF for coming together to get the gangs, but if we do not create a strong safety net for our disadvantaged children, it will be an endless struggle. On this Valentine’s Day, we can resolve to love more, judge less, give more, talk less and make this beautiful country of ours a happier place for all. Have a loving day.
Jamaica Highlights 