Dozens of smiling faces were at the University of Technology’s Sculpture Park yesterday as over 200 children from eight children’s homes from across the corporate area received presents and were feted by the Jamaica America Friendship Association (JAFA), working in tandem with the Office of Public Affairs of the US Embassy.

After being handed their presents by Rhema Holding-Hall, wife of the governor-general, the children, whose ages ranged between 5 and 12, skipped their way towards the many booths around the park offering face painting and refreshments, among other things. The children also participated in several mini-games with MC Jennifer ‘Jenny Jenny’ Small, with the winners receiving several prizes, including gift baskets from Excelsior, National and Holiday.

The children were also treated to a performance from The Dancing Dynamites.

Morin Seymour, president of JAFA, expressed his satisfaction at being able to host the Christmas treat for the children.

“We felt that as we close this year we wanted to lend a hand to those young people who are not as fortunate as we are and in fact to brighten their Christmas. use the opportunity to begin to nurture them to become strong leaders,” he told the Sunday Observer.

Seymour also said that JAFA had many more plans for the coming year.

“Next year, we plan to get back into the Martin Luther King Junior Award, back into bursaries for one of the four universities. We plan to continue to do both educational [work] and also meet the needs of our members through making awards to those members of our community who have given service to our country,” he said.