WHEN grade seven student Shavary McFarlene took the microphone, alongside his mother Onika Buchanan at Christel House Jamaica’s (CHJ) anniversary and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, his testimony captured the essence of what the institution has stood for over the past five years — promoting education as a pathway out of poverty.

“Coming here helped me feel more confident and less depressed,” said McFarlene as he recalled his struggle dealing with his parent’s divorce.

McFarlene confessed that prior to the intervention of CHJ, he would often skip classes, be disruptive when present, and get into altercations with other students.

“It was very hard for me when my parents divorced. I was always fighting and causing trouble. I used to skip every single class, including PE [physical education]. Coming here, it helped me that I had less friends who were trouble. Now I feel more mature, more intelligent, and more fit, because I don’t skip PE,” said a witty McFarlene.

He shared that one of his proudest moments was receiving the “most improved student” award when he was in grade six.

His excitement did not end there, as he told those present in the school’s auditorium that he had big hopes for the future, including possibly becoming a successful business and family man.

“I have never really thought about what I want to be when I grow up. I want the future to pick what it wants for me. Maybe I could be a CEO, and I know I want a wife, three boys, and live in a big house. So I know I plan to take in the education,” declared McFarlene.

Founded in 2020, Christel House Jamaica, a non-profit, tuition-free school, began with just 180 students. Today, it caters to 477 children from some of the island’s most challenged communities.

The school removes barriers to education by offering a full scholarship programme for all students, which includes transportation, meals, health care, counselling, academic support, and a programme for parents to secure HEART/NSTA Trust certification and to get them involved in voluntary work.

It officially opened its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-focused high school on Tuesday with a new two-storey facility, dedicated to co-founder Sally Porteous, having welcomed its inaugural cohort of grade seven students in August.

Sharing the stage with her son, Buchanan said the institution’s dual focus on parent and child development was life-altering.

“Like all of you, I want better for my kids than I have. With Christel House, I knew it would happen,” said the mother.

Buchanan shared that in the aftermath of her divorce, living conditions were subpar, and she played the role of mother, father and protector.

She recalled times when the community was overrun by criminal activities, leaving the family exposed to violence.

“I moved into a one-room house in the back [of the family house], but it wasn’t in good condition and didn’t keep out the rain. Everything got wet. At night, in the community, sometimes the boys heard things they shouldn’t. I sit up with them when they can’t sleep because of gunfire. Their father is not involved in their lives, and I couldn’t work because my youngest has asthma and other health challenges. I knew that if I had to find a school fee and lunch money for my boys, they would not be at school every day,” Buchanan added.

She said with help from CHJ she was able to receive HEART certification and was able to better school her children.

“Each of my boys has different strengths and challenges. I have seen them grow at Christel House. Shavary has always been bright, but he struggled in school after the divorce. With encouragement from his class teacher and his own drive, he got his first award, ‘Most Improved’. I have grown too. I have learned a lot from parent workshops, and I just completed HEART Level one and two Customer Service Certification,” said a proud Buchanan.

In the meantime, president and CEO of Christel House International David Harris commended the Jamaican leadership of the school which he said was launched to end generational poverty.

“Christel House was founded on the truth that education alone isn’t enough to break the cycle of poverty,” he said. “Our model supports every aspect of a child’s life, from academics to health care and nutrition. That’s what unlocks true potential,” added Harris.

Christel House Jamaica, the youngest in the international network of schools, continues to expand, adding a new grade level each year as it grows toward full high school capacity.

Christel House International was founded by Christel DeHaan who passed away on June 6, 2020, at her home in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

The reformed Shavary McFarlane gets a high-five from Marlon Morgan, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education, at the ribbon-cutting and anniversary celebration of Christel House Jamaica on Tuesday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)