AT three years of age Anthony Harriott and his siblings were taken into State care. Now a successful sales consultant for a leading distributor, Harriott returned last Thursday to inspire 64 wards of the State.

“In our story we share the same first chapter… but you see the second chapter — here’s a pen — we are writing our second chapter now, and we’re using education to change that chapter,” said a smartly dressed Harriott as he delivered his testimonial at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA’s) 2025 Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony.

The annual ceremony — used to recognise outstanding achievements of youngsters in State care across the agency’s programmes: residential childcare facilities, foster care, family reintegration, and supervision orders — was this year held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, with the honorees being encouraged to remain on their current trajectory.

A relaxed Harriott, in sharing how as a child he would dissolve into tears whenever he was spotlighted for doing something good or when he behaved well, declared triumphantly, “Right here, all the spotlight is on me now, but I’m not crying.”

Reminiscing on his time at SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill, St Andrew, Harriott praised the then Child Development Agency (CDA) — which is now the CPFSA — for the intervention which would change his life.

“At three years old I was with my mom and my dad but the environment wasn’t conducive, and our superhero — the CDA at the time — took us from that home and brought us to SOS Children’s Village. At three years old [I was] really scared, really wanting Mommy, really wanted Daddy, but we fell in love; we found purpose in the SOS Children’s Village Stony Hill family and, growing up at the village, it was very unique, it was very different, it was very fun.

“The talk of the day was: “You are awesome. You can do it. Your background will not hinder you.” That was our motto at SOS Children’s Village, Stony Hill — and every day I got up and I try to live by that motto,” Harriott told a rapt audience.

He said while there were low days when they longed for their own parents, their adopted parents at the facility were their motivation to work hard.

“School was a must. We went to school and did good. And there is this time when I remember when we had to decide as to what we want. And education was very big at SOS; it was always, ‘Let’s contribute to GDP [gross domestic product].’ I was like, ‘GDP, Auntie? GDP?’ And she was like, ‘You’ll soon know; we don’t want you to be a statistic, we want you to contribute to GDP…’ So we did CXC [Caribbean Examinations Council sittings]. I was here five years ago [and] I was also [an award] recipient, so time really flies,” he said firmly.

In encouraging the awardees to write their second chapter, to cheers and applause Harriott said: “We are going to go [through] doors, and people are going to call [us by] our names — not the ‘children’s home boy’, no, it’s Anthony Harriott now. Because what? Education lets us call our name now. Right now, my brothers and sisters, you’re doing good. Stay on this path. And whenever CPFSA calls you to give your story, please say yes because your story will be a light to your younger brother.”

CPFSA’s Chief Executive Officer Laurette Adams-Thomas said last Thursday that the function was not just about “recognising academic results” but was also aimed at “honouring discipline, endurance, and the quiet determination that carried you, our awardees, to this point where we are today”.

“Today is all about you who chose to remain focused, to remain committed and purposeful despite facing challenges that many of your peers have never had to face… Each of you demonstrates what is possible when opportunity is met with effort, and we commend you for rising to the challenge,” she said.

In noting that the students’ achievements also reflect the efforts “of all the adults who stood with them, believed in them, and refused to give up on them”, Adams-Thomas said: “Awardees, as you move forward I want you to understand this clearly: Your background does not limit your potential. What matters more than anything else is the mindset that you carry and the standards that you set for yourselves.

“As you continue on your journey I want to encourage you to dream boldly but to also prepare diligently, engage fully in school communities, seek out opportunities to grow, and to remain open to learning beyond the classroom. Jamaica needs young people who are thoughtful, who are skilled, who are principled, and many of you will one day lead in spaces you cannot even imagine. One of you might become minister of education, skills, youth and information — you just never know,” she said.

Annually, the CPFSA spends upwards of $80 million to offset the educational expenses for children enrolled at the early childhood to tertiary levels of the country’s school system.

For the 2025 May/June examinations a total of 132 students in State care sat external examinations, including 113 who took the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and six who sat Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and others who would have pursued vocational qualifications.

Of that group, 64 outstanding students who were last Thursday feted, achieved passes in four or more subjects, 62 at the CSEC level and two at the CAPE level.

Among the cohort were the CPFSA’s hand-picked regional top achievers, as well as the overall top boys, which was a tie, and top girl.