LIKE little toy soldiers reminiscent of the drummer Boy in the Christmas song, they marched in two lines into the auditorium, appropriately decked in their Alpha Boys’ T-shirts and plaid khaki shorts, and sat waiting for the magic to happen.

Their patience was eventually rewarded when Dana Lipscombe took the stage and started performing magic.

With their eyes fixed to the stage the more than 80 boys, ranging in age from eight to 18 years, watched in awe as glasses were made to levitate, eggs disappeared, balloons were pierced by pins without bursting and human beings ‘laid’ eggs from their mouths.

The treat was being provided by employees of JN Money Services Limited (JNMS), operators of the JN Money Transfer brand, and the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation Action Volunteers.

In addition to the treat, the JN team members provided sweet treats, and a monetary donation towards the home’s screen-printing programme.

“Is a fowl like that me want,” one fascinated boy shouted, as he watched a female volunteer from the JNBS Foundation appear to produce an egg from her mouth, at the command of the clever magician.

“Mind she mek you disappear,” some older boys warned jokingly, as the younger boys moved closer, curious to discover the secrets to Lipscombe’s magic.

“They are good boys and so much fun when they want to be,” Pauletta Jones, the home’s administrator and ‘mother’ commented, as she watched the boys gaze in amazement at the performance of the young magician.

However, even as she observed their moment of joy, she reflected on the real and often difficult circumstances through which Alpha receives these bright young lads. All of the boys are wards of the court, and are placed in the care of the home by court order, she explained. Some of the boys are orphans, while others are placed at the home because of neglect, abuse, or the need for protection.

Regardless of the reasons, every effort is made to ensure that the boys never leave the home unprepared to function as responsible citizens. In fact, many famous musicians have emerged from the school’s excellent music programme over the decades, including nationally acclaimed veterans such as Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks and dancehall entertainer Yellow Man.

“We provide for their academic well-being up to grade seven, and offer vocational training. Our major vocation is woodwork,” Jones explained, noting that there are other vocations, through a radio station, as well as a screen-printing programme, which recently took first place in the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship ‘Pitch to Rich’ competition.

“The clothing line produced in the screen printing programme, Alpha Wear Jamaica, was launched this year and is available in several markets, globally,” Joshua Chamberlain, a PhD candidate at the University of the West Indies, who leads Alpha’s screen-printing project, explained. “It’s available in Tokyo, it’s available in New York, it’s available in Negril.”

Screen printing, though technical, is an art form which can be used to make shirts, cards and other printed material. The basic technique uses a mesh supported by an ink-blocking stencil to print images on to objects.

“The boys in the programme are also learning to manage the Alpha Wear Jamaica brand and getting involved with the promotion, distribution and customer service, so they learn the entire business progress,” Chamberlain stated, noting that the aim is to “offer a full entrepreneurship programme to the boys in the New Year”.

Although Alpha is specialising in screen printing, it does not have a screen printing machine. Currently, all their printing and training of the three boys participating in the programme are facilitated a few metres away at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation on South Camp Road.

Alpha hopes to access its own printing machine in the New Year, through funding. In addition to the machine, the home will also need to renovate the room designated to house the operations.

“We will need to add windows and air-conditioning so that the room will be comfortable for the boys,” Chamberlain said.

JNMS has donated funds to assist with renovating the room for the new operations.

Underscoring the importance of the screen printing programme to the development of the boys, Chamberlain noted that it affirms the sense of who they are and improves their confidence.

“It’s important for the boys to represent Alpha, both locally and internationally, and to be involved in the making of the products. In many different ways it forces the students to look at where they are and who they are, as well as what they are doing in different ways,” he said, thanking the JNMS and JNBS Foundation teams for their assistance.

Commenting on the programme, Leesa Kow, JNMS general manager, added that attending to the needs of others during Christmas also has to do with strengthening relationships in order to help people develop.

“While we want the boys to have a magical Christmas, it’s not only about feting and treating them, we must also explore ways in which we can contribute to their skills, so that they can make their own magic in life,” Kow said. “And, we are pleased that we can make a contribution in that regard.”