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Promising A
Brighter Future
Something very exciting is happening at
Lyndale Girls’ Home and Swift-Purscell
Boys’ Home! This week, the second week
of September 2006, four of our high school
graduates entered colleges and trade schools.
Rackel Brown and Damita Shaw entered
Brownstown Community College,
Rackel in pre-nursing and Damita
in pre-law. Atasha Ritchie entered a
10-month cosmetology course. Josiah Smith
left for Cuba where he will study medicine.
These are astounding accomplishments
for four young people abandoned as
wards of the state. It is the dream of
Jamaica Outreach to make it possible
for all graduating seniors to pursue their
career goals. Providing a promising future
for these girls and boys, assures not only a
better future for them, but also hope for
the land they love, Jamaica.
If you are interested in establishing a
career scholarship in your name, we would
be delighted in assisting you. Depending on
curriculum, an average year’s tuition,
room and board, averages $1500 US.
Any part of this assistance would
be appreciated. |
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Loving The
Girls At Lyndale
Six years ago, when Ed and I arrived at Lyndale
Girls’ Home, we found living conditions bleak
and attitudes hopeless. Thirty young girls, ages
6 to 18, were sleeping on holey mattresses, no
sheets, pillows, curtains or color! Soap, toothpaste
and towels were decidedly missing. All
wards of the state, these young girls arrived at
Lyndale from various backgrounds of neglect,
abuse and abandonment.
Ed and I worked tirelessly alongside the girls
to create a happier living environment.
With painted walls, new mattresses, curtains,
sheets, pillows, towels, toothbrushes and
toothpaste, clothes and shoes, the home
and the girls began to look a little
happier and more hopeful.
The need for professional assistance became
apparent. Doctors and nurses, dentists,
optometrists, and psychologists joined Ed and I
in our vision. North Fork Valley students made
friends with the girls and many became pen pals. |
We face the challenge of creating opportunities
for productive futures for these young girls of
Lyndale. As the girls reach the age of 18 and
are obliged to leave the home, they need the
tools to create a future of hope for themselves
and the land they love. The dream of
Jamaica Outreach has become to promise
all girls and boys leaving the orphanages
the career training of their choice. |
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Encouraging The
Boys At Swift
The boys of Swift-Purscell have many of the
same needs as the girls of Lyndale. The 75 Swift
boys are packed into a small cinder block dormitory
with only 2 toilets and 2 showers for all
75 boys. The physical needs for sheets, towels,
hygiene products, clothing and shoes are the
same, the numbers are just larger. And the need
for doctors, dentists, optometrists and
psychologists is magnified.
Swift-Purscell Boys’ Home is blessed to have
Donald Stewart as headmaster, a dedicated man
with a deep love for the boys, and a true concern
for their future. Mr. Stewart takes the time
to work out the boys’ individual problems and
their happy demeanor evidences this.
Mr. Stewart and his staff shared the urgent need
for a dormitory/bath house. We broke ground
four years ago and with the help of many
donors and volunteer labor, the structure is
nearing completion. This addition will add six
toilets and six showers and added sleeping
space. Many benefactors including Couples, a
Jamaican Super Club, made this addition possible.
The staff at Swift-Purscell and Jamaica
Outreach share the vision for a promising future
for their boys. Presently six boys are attending
a chef school with promised positions at
Couples. Trade schools and colleges are being
sought out for future training. |
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Working To
Create A Future
The dream of Jamaica Outreach, that all girls
and boys leaving the orphanages at age 18 be
provided the career training of their choice, has
been met with much excitement by the orphans.
They are eager to work to make products that
can be sold in the United States. These young
people are focused, precise and enthusiastic
when it comes to creating saleable items that
promise a brighter future for themselves.
Presently the girls and boys are making glassbead
bracelets and carved-bead necklaces to be
sold in the United States. They are also working
on a line of greeting cards featuring photographs
of their homeland. These products are
sold through craft fairs, community meetings,
churches and friends. The funds from the
jewelry and cards sold are deposited into an
account solely for the purpose of paying
necessary tuitions for vocational trade schools,
colleges, or the training of the child’s choice.
These funds create hope for a productive future
in Jamaica. If you would like to contribute to
the hope and schooling of these children
please contact:
Jamaica Outreach Inc.
3131 Clear Fork Road
Crawford, Colorado 81415 USA
Tel: 970.921.5641 Fax: 970.921.7477
Email: pamelabliss@hotmail.com |
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