Published on April 24, 2013
Heather Killen
A local charity is proving that it doesn’t take much to make a world of difference in someone’s life.
Ross McLaughlan, of Paradise, started the Canadian Jamaican (Can-Jam) Society, a registered non-profit society, in 2007. This group provides school uniforms and supplies to help children in Jamaica.
If you stick to the resorts, sunny Jamaica is a vacation paradise. But if you wander off the tourist circuit, you’ll find children living in desperate conditions, according to McLaughlan.
Families live in the places beyond the resorts and roads. Rough footpaths lead to board houses with no windows, doors, or proper foundations. Children kick cans around because toys are a luxury.
It’s not unusual to see an entire family living in one room, or four children sharing a bed. Yet somehow people are cheerful.
HelpingIn a world like this, every little bit helps. McLaughlan’s group helps school-age children by giving them school supplies and uniforms so they can attend school. Jamaican children are required to wear uniforms in order to go to class, but many families can’t afford to buy them.
It costs $25 to join Can-Jam, these membership dues will buy one uniform. Part of the inspiration behind this society is a little girl named Christine Morris, whom McLaughlan met on one of his trips.
In 2007, she was limping and soon to become permanently crippled with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and a clubbed foot. Had she not gotten surgery, she would have eventually curled up, he said.
With no way to eventually work and support herself, she was a “little girl who was in big trouble.” Her future was likely to be short and bleak, so Can-Jam members decided to take up a collection on her behalf.
Wedding GiftWhen Can-Jam members Brenda Thompson and Kent Folks were married, they asked their well-wishers to donate money towards Christine’s surgery. Last year, Christine’s surgery took place and was successful.
Since their last visit, this child’s world had grown beyond her mother’s backyard.
“I went to her mother’s house, looking forward to seeing her again,” McLaughlan said. “But her mother said that she wasn’t home, that she’s hardly home anymore.”
It doesn’t cost a lot to help these children but for the first time in her life, Christine is able to expand the boundaries of her world like any other 10-year-old.
Usually twice a year members go to Jamaica to deliver the uniforms. Each member pays for his/her travel expenses and there is no administrative cost for the society, all the money is directed towards the purchase of uniforms and school supplies.
Hire TailorsMcLaughlan said they hire tailors in the communities to make the uniforms in order to provide local employment. This spring he spent six weeks in Jamaica and was able to provide 15 uniforms -- the goal is to offer 20 to 30 per trip. He estimates they have donated about 200 uniforms so far.
Brenda Thompson, along with her daughter Gwynneth, and husband Kent Folks visited Jamaica earlier this year. Thompson said the trip was an eye-opener for her daughter, who is roughly the same age as Christine.
“We don’t know how lucky we are,” she said. “To see how people live was very upsetting for her. We’ve had lots of talks about it and we’ll probably be talking more about it in the coming weeks.”
To find out more about the Canadian Jamaican Education Society, visit them on Facebook. To join, please send cheque or money order made out to the Canadian Jamaican Education Society, PO Box 33, Paradise, NS B0S 1R0.
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oskar576
~ more proof it really/truly does NOT take a lot to make a difference ~