HER desire to serve was born years ago after high school when she joined the National Youth Service and was assigned to the National Children’s Home.

At the home, Letetia Black worked with children who had special needs, and many others who had been abandoned.

And though she soon made a foray into the corporate world as an administrative manager, Black said she still noticed that persons would come to her for advice and assistance, and so soon after she again answered the call to serve.

This call brought her to the Jamaica Theological Seminary where she did training in counselling and education. Armed with formal training, she worked with several human service agencies such as Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), the Stella Maris Foundation and Children First. She also worked in the Office of the Prime Minister, developing policies and sensitisation programmes for HIV.

Her work led her to become involved with youth in various inner-city communities, helping, for example, to develop programmes for students in career and character development.

While at YOU, she worked in August Town, Trench Town, Fletcher’s Land and Kencot. While at Stella Maris, she worked closely with the Grant’s Pen community, where she said ‘real community work’ began. Here she was able to work with the young people and their parents.

She also worked with Campus Crusade for Christ based in Barbican, where she coordinated the ‘Youth at a crossroads’ programme where she said she was able to help young men who were considered marginalised.

She got through to them when nobody else could, and this for her was success.

While being involved in community work, Black was also helping persons within her church. As word spread, more persons would approach her for assistance. It was out of this zeal to give that Living Hope Jamaica was created and was formalised and registered in 2010.

Black explained that the organisation is a charity which has a ‘basic needs programme’, providing lunch money, bus fare, books and other school supplies for students. They have a breakfast programme at the Constant Spring Primary School and have since adopted the Annie Davidson Children’s Home in Havendale, which currently houses 10 children.

The team comprises 25 persons.

The immediate needs are funding for the breakfast programme and donations for the children’s home. In order to ensure continuity, the programme relies heavily on goodwill, Black said.

Black, who holds a master’s degree in communications for social and behavioural change, knows all too well what it is like to struggle, having grown up in Jones Town around the time when Penrith Road was transformed to ‘Zimbabwe’, the peace was shattered by gang violence, and the community would begin its journey into mayhem.

“We had to stay up and watch. If you slept, stones would be thrown on your rooftops or your doors would be beaten down. This watch was to alert community members about ‘enemy’ approaches from neighbouring Rema and Tivoli Gardens,” she said, explaining the occurrences during her high school years.

This life coach, human development practicitioner and lecturer at the Jamaica Theological Seminary, is on a quest to transform the youth of the nation.

She knows it will not be easy but believes that she is equal to the task.

“It is little or no remuneration, but the reward comes from witnessing transformation in the lives of others whom you have touched,” she said.