AT just 13 and 12 years old, Malia and Miya Myrie have turned compassion into action through the Myrie Scholarship Foundation — a youth-led initiative transforming the lives of children across Jamaica.

What began as a simple desire to help families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a mission that now provides life-changing scholarships, school supplies and hope to youngsters who might otherwise be left behind.

Founded in 2022 with the support of their mother, Patricia Wright Myrie, the foundation was born during one of the country’s most difficult periods. As families grappled with the economic fallout of the pandemic and many children lacked basic school supplies, the sisters decided to expand the small acts of kindness they already practised into something that could touch lives on a much larger scale.

Since then, they have travelled across Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Clarendon, Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine hosting children’s treats and distributing backpacks, stationery and other essential school items to children in need.

Now, the sisters, 13-year-old Malia and 12-year-old Miya, are expanding their mission by ensuring that four deserving Primary Exit Profile (PEP) students will not have to let financial hardship stand between them and their dreams.

This year, with the support of their parents, they are providing four scholarships to PEP students in need. The scholarship covers tuition for five years, uniform, school supplies and lunch money, with the aim of making sure that a child does not have to worry about anything but going to school and being great.

For Malia, every donation handed to a child is a reminder that kindness has the power to transform lives.

“When we do these things, we feel happy and not only grateful that we’re able to help but also grateful that they’re happy about what they’re getting and that they can make it through the school year with the things that they need,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The Campion College student said her school’s culture of service has strengthened her own commitment to giving back.

“We have this thing where, at school, we can help other students pay for their lunch and the books that they need and basic resources. And it’s kind of the same thing when we do the treats, we give them the necessities like backpacks, pencils, lunch kits, stuff like that — so we have not only children that go to our school, but also children around Jamaica that need help,” she said.

Her younger sister, Miya, who recently completed the PEP assessments and will also attend Campion College, believes the foundation has taught her one of life’s greatest lessons.

“There is a saying that goes, ‘A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.’ That means even the biggest dreams start with doing one small thing every day. Those little steps may not seem important at first, but they add up. One day of learning becomes one week. One week becomes one year. Before you know it, you have achieved something amazing,” she reasoned.

Their mother, Wright Myrie, said she knows this to be true. A past student of the Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha”, she said she faced her own struggles in high school and was often unable to afford lunch or transportation to school.

Sisters Miya (left), 12, and Malia Myrie, who is 13 years old, are all smiles after sharing with the Jamaica Observer about how they are making a difference, one child at a time.

She said it warms her heart to see her daughters take such an interest in giving back, especially since she knows what its like to receive when you have very little.

“It’s very important to teach your children to give back, not only to their peers but to just the wider community. Just helping people, in general, is very important. There’s so much out there to do for just everybody. You just don’t know what somebody is going through. No one knew that I didn’t have lunch money when I was going to school. No one knew that, but I showed up, and I got it done,” said Wright Myrie.

“I had to stand up at Sabina Park wall to wait and see who passing to get a ride because I don’t have a bus fare to go home. I’d have to take two buses, so you just don’t know what somebody else is going through.

It’s just such a blessing that God has given to me and my family, so that we can actually help somebody else. It is a beautiful feeling,” she added.

The proud mother said her story is similar to that of a scholarship recipient who recently secured a spot at Campion College, but was considering not attending the institution because of financial issues.

“She’s a top girl at her school and they weren’t going to take up the offer to attend Campion because she couldn’t afford lunch money,” she shared, as she was brought to tears.

“Her guardian explained to her that she wouldn’t be able to attend the school and if she does go to the school, she wouldn’t be able to have lunch a lot of days. That child didn’t go through the regular processing [for assistance] to be honest with you. I kind of cheated the system a little bit, but things like that really touch your heart,” said Wright Myrie, adding that she was happy to be in a position to offer assistance.

As the foundation continues to grow, the sisters hope their story inspires other young people to recognise the power they already possess.

“If a lot of young people have the same mindset that, ‘I’m not gonna make a difference,’ and ‘What I do in this world will not amount to anything,’ if we all have that same mindset the outcome is gonna happen. I feel like we should change our mindset and think that even though we may be small, our impact on the world can make a huge difference and what you do can change people’s lifestyles, the way they think, and how they work,” said Malia.

As she encouraged children to dream big, Miya noted that “dreams don’t work unless you do”.

“Dreaming is only the beginning. Every day you must keep learning, working hard, being kind, and believing in yourself,” said Miya.

She stressed that “every big dream starts with one little step. Every challenge makes you stronger. Every mistake helps you learn, and every act of kindness makes the world a better place”.