WHILE the police in St James have been busy trying to get dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals, 10 New York-based Jamaicans have, without fanfare, been slipping books and other educational items into the hands of schoolchildren in the parish in the hope of breaking the vicious cycle of crime, violence and poverty plaquing the island.

The New York-based group Kids in Need (KIN) does not have the manpower or the resources available to Jamaica’s security forces, but the organisation – run by 10 Jamaicans who migrated from the island several years ago – has been making a difference in the lives of scores of children in St James for close to a decade.

“We are hoping that by us contributing in some small way to the needs of particular kids that maybe we can reach one or two who say ‘look, somebody has thought about me; somebody is there trying to help me, so let me think a minute about another alternative to one that faces me in my community’,” said Kids in Need president Edmund Lothian.

“We understand the needs of communities and we are not under any impression that our small gifts are going to save Jamaica or St James, but at least if we are able to reach one kid that remembers that somebody did something for their school or helped them to gain a love of computers or supplied a PA system that the teachers could then reach them at assembly, that will be helpful. So we are just hoping that our small part will somehow be beneficial,” he added.

The group is now looking to take its efforts to another level, with the introduction of a scholarship programme that will fund the education of, to begin with, two students over three years.

“We are thinking in the initial stages of offering two scholarships – a boy and a girl – to attend Mount Salem Primary and Junior High for approximately three to five years,” Lothian told the Sunday Observer from New York.

“We are not sure of the final period yet, and this would entail tuition, books, clothing and maybe some assistance with meals if that is needed. We are in the process of finding certain selectors back home in Jamaica to help us in identifying these children and then we will take it from there,” he said.

In the last five years, the group has donated items to several schools in St James, including Mount Salem Primary and Junior High (2006); Maldon Primary (2006); Glendevon Primary and Junior High (2005); Irwin Heights All-Age (2004); Montego Bay Christian Academy (2004); and Howard Cooke Primary (2003).

“It (the donations) varies from cash for building funds, for instance, to money to buy a public address system and copy machines,” said the KIN boss.

“Irwin Heights, in particular, had a situation where we went down and saw that there was no door on the ladies bathroom and we sent them money to put up a door,” he said. “We found the roof of the school leaking at that time, so we sent them money to do that. And Mount Salem has got four computers from us.”

Kids in Need was set up to help meet the educational needs of St James’ children, specifically in the area of building computer skills.

“Because all of us are from the St James area, we realised that other schools all over the country were being helped by other groups. So we decided to help. The first option was to help one school in particular, but we said ‘let us try to help St James’,” Lothian said.

He added that while what they did may not be seen as particularly remarkable, it was something they take pride in and which they think will help to make some positive change in the lives of some of the children who benefit.

“When you have a situation where there is need and you get the chance to do something about that need, whatever form it takes, that helps,” he said. “As I mentioned, whether in cash or just straight up supplying some equipment, that helps, because if you don’t have something to help to further your education or get ahead, then this will help.”