Kiddist McCoy — Empowering the youth
KIDDIST McCoy is a determined, passionate go-getter and Christian who identifies herself as someone living her dream of helping young people.
Born and raised in Waltham Park, St Andrew, McCoy told All Woman that she had big dreams of becoming a veterinarian, because she grew up around many animals which her father raised.
As a result, after leaving Wolmer’s Girls’ School, she enrolled at the University of the West Indies where she started pursuing a degree in natural sciences; however, she soon realised it was not her calling, and in her third and final year of studies she dropped out.
But alongside that dream, she also loved to help people, as she grew up seeing her grandmother helping individuals in the community and she realised that she too enjoyed doing the same.
“It became a part of who I am. I am always giving, so much so that it has led to my way of life. Even when there’s nothing to give, I find some way to help the person in need,” she said. “As a child I was involved in the Girls’ Brigade and I’m still a lieutenant now. I was also a Brownie, Girl Guide, and I’m now president of Circle K at the International University of the Caribbean, so service has always been a part of me.”
Stirred by that passion, McCoy decided to extend her reach to more young people. In 2015 she made a Facebook post inviting like-minded young adults to join her in helping to serve the needs of underprivileged youth.
But much to her disappointment, although the post received many likes, no one actually contacted her.
McCoy was undaunted. She explained that she still had faith, and in December of the same year her friend formed a WhatsApp group with people serious about the mission, which gave birth to the Good Deeds Foundation, of which McCoy is the president and co-founder.
“The foundation is geared towards young people focusing on youth empowerment and youth development. Anywhere we can get a group of young people together to impart some level of knowledge or motivation, we try to do that, mostly through hosting empowerment talks or career expos. Our next event will be a back-to-school treat taking place on the weekend. We also go to schools and communities where we give motivational talks,” she said.
McCoy is also one of the 2017 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Programme, and will journey to the United States in October for a four-week fellowship that will seek to strengthen the capacity to launch and advance entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development for each fellow within their local communities.
Additionally, she was a finalist in the Digicel Face of Change competition, and was also recognised by the Governor General as one of the people doing what is right to fix what is wrong in Jamaica.
“On some days it’s not easy, but my faith in God keeps me [going]. If I wasn’t a Christian who believes there’s someone there with that hope, I don’t know where I would be today. Motivation is like a shower, you need it every day. While I need it, I know someone else will get it.”
For her success she credits her grandmother Edna ‘Didi’ McCoy, and her parents Constantine and Sandrea McCoy.
Where role models are concerned, McCoy appreciates the efforts of Alison Roach, a Jamaican who is the CEO of the Alison Roach Group of Companies.
“I follow her on social media, and on a visit to Jamaica she and Lecia-Gaye Taylor invited a group of young ladies to come together in an event called Ladies who Brunch to share their experiences and lift each other up. I was a part of that, and it was commendable to see women together in a positive way,” she explained.
McCoy, who also blogs, loves to read and go to the beach. She believes wholeheartedly that thoughts become reality, and she encourages people to persevere, as they too can live their dreams.
“Whatever it is, this too shall pass. Don’t give up until you live your dream,” she urged.
