Spanish Town community hero finds joy in helping others
For 37-year-old Yacob Cookorn, being a good Christian not only means offering kind words to those who are struggling but ensuring that if one is able, they help alleviate the burdens of others.
This philosophy, according to Cookhorn, is what he lives by, and what propelled him to assist the residents in his hometown of Gordon Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine.
Seeing the needs of people, especially around the back-to-school period, Cookhorn sprung into action and rallied the members of his church – Life Centre Tabernacle Church of God of Prophecy – the business community, and even the member of parliament for the area -Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange – to host back-to-school treats since 2016.
“It is very critical to show love to others and also to alleviate the need in the community. Most persons will look to the church for help, so the church should be very active by reaching out to their members, then their members’ relatives and then the wider community, to find out their needs and to find out how to assist them,” Cookhorn told OBSERVER ONLINE.
He added that these back-to-school treats, which generally cost over $200,000, would provide school essentials such as books, school bags and vouchers.
Seeing that his efforts are being appreciated, Cookhorn said, “Pretty much everywhere I go, I get congratulations about the work that I’ve been doing and encouragement from other persons, and I’ve also been getting support from the business community.”
Speaking on other programmes he and the church have initiated in Gordon Pen, Cookhorn highlighted their Eyes of The City Programme that helps at-risk youths in the community.
“You have a few of them [youths], it’s very hard for them to change their mindset, not saying it is impossible, so we are now targeting the younger ones. We currently have five locations in the community that we target. It’s a mentorship programme, which is geared towards teaching the children about the word of God, good morals and standards. It also assists these children financially,” he said.
Looking to the future, Cookhorn spoke about establishing a skill training centre in the community, which he said would allow residents to become more marketable.
“I think that that is a good way to open doors for them, not only locally but internationally,” Cookhorn explained.
