“SON-SON” was worried. Where was his teacher, Mrs Nicholas? The third-grader had been attending the cool, colourful enrichment centre at Horizon Park Primary in St Catherine for over a year, and had gone from being a non-reader to a boy who loved words. Mrs Nicholas, the centre manager was always there, celebrating every new learning milestone with him, but today she was not at school. He stood at the door, peeked through the keyhole and fretted.

Towards the end of the day, Son-Son walked dejectedly towards the school gate, only to see his long-lost teacher driving in. Mrs Nicholas, who was relating the story to our gathering at the Horizon Park prize-giving last Friday, explained that she gave the student that name because she had become so involved in his progress that she felt like his mother. She had attended a training seminar that day, she explained to her relieved student – she had not deserted him.

The teacher gave the child a lift and when she reached home, she saw a lovely East Indian mango in the place where Son-Son had been seated. The next day he checked that she had got his present, saying he had wanted to give her something for a long time, so much did he appreciate her care.

No wonder Principal Lloyd Bennett says he tends to cry when he sees the achievements of the enrichment centre. His students are so alert and happy. Horizon Park has one of 97 such centres, a Ministry of Education programme started by Dr Michelle Meredith in 2009 and enthusiastically embraced by then Chairman of the Digicel Foundation Lisa Lewis. The USAID became a generous partner and the three organisations have joined together to implement the islandwide programme which has improved the reading and maths skills of 37,000 primary school students over the past four years.

The centres use technology to make learning fun – big-screen videos, interactive whiteboards, and computer games, with colourful furniture to match, make them an oasis for the children. Now they are skipping grade levels, and heads are held higher.

Little Toni-Anne said, “I felt ashamed when I couldn’t read. Now, I feel like a star!” Kudos to the enthusiastic teachers islandwide who are sparking this pride in their pupils.

As this programme develops, it is up to us as parents, teachers, community activists, to shore up the confidence of our children. On social media, we see that busy PSOJ President William Mahfood has been addressing school graduations at Eltham Park and Denbigh. When we ask how he manages such engagements in his busy schedule, he says he makes the time “because I want to encourage the children, I want them to have hope”.

How beautiful it was to hear New Horizon’s seven-year-old Ashley Gouldbourne read from Jeremiah Chapter 29: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Such are the words that will plant the confidence our children need to succeed. Let us remember and make the time to affirm our precious little ones.

Gay marriage legalised in the US

Folks of my generation have watched the issue of homosexuality evolve, even as our own friends came out of the closet. I remember that first evening about 30 years ago, when I realised that one of by ‘BFFs’ was gay. He had said he was bringing a friend to dinner and as the evening progressed, I realised that they were more than just friends. He saw my discomfort and returned after he took his partner home to find out if I would accept him as he was. Now this was a friend who was the first person to visit you if you were hospitalised, who was the first one to appear at your door if you sounded upset when he called, who was the most compassionate listener. So of course I pledged that I would always be his friend.

As a Catholic, this matter of gay marriage became another crossroads for my conscience. PR colleague and church brother Keith Brown shared a release from the US, quoting Roman Catholic Church leader Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia as saying: “The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision on marriage is not a surprise. The surprise will come as ordinary people begin to experience, first-hand and painfully, the impact of today’s action on everything they thought they knew about marriage, family life, our laws and our social institutions.”

It is a tough call, particularly for more senior folks. However, when I recall the genuine, caring relationships of gay friends, I have to also remember the words of Jesus, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Moreover, because of the stigma some Jamaicans attach to homosexuality, there are many who pretend to be straight and break the hearts of their heterosexual partners.

It has been proved also that folks who are lonely have greater health issues and have a higher incidence of premature death. The legalisation of gay marriage means that folks can now admit openly to their lifestyle instead of practising nerve-wracking deception. We are being challenged to adjust to a ‘new normal’ that could affect public health positively in the long run.

Prof Shepherd |represents us on ICERD

Jamaica’s own Professor Verene Shepherd attracted huge support for Jamaica as 12 countries vied for the nine seats on the United Nations’ International Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), described by her as “the UN Treaty Body that is charged with seeing that the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is implemented by the State Parties to the ICERD”.

The election took place at the UN headquarters in New York City last Thursday. Of the nine selected countries, Jamaica received the highest number of votes (152 out of a possible 178), followed by China. Congratulations to Prof Shephard and to the other distinguished Jamaicans who have helped to build a sterling international reputation for our ‘little but tallawah’ country.

Farewell, exemplary church sisters

We said farewell to two outstanding church sisters last week, Maisie Hemming and Maria Wehby. Both matriarchs raised loving and high-achieving, multi-generational families, and remained faithful to their church all their lives. Hemming leaves husband Deacon Vincent Hemming, son Michael and daughter Carole (Lawson). Wehby is survived by her husband Don Snr, son Don Jnr, and daughter Dorothea (Wehby-Ziadie). Their examples will inspire all who knew them – we are keeping their families in our prayers.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com