New York charity moves to empower Adastra Gardens

Published: Wednesday | May 20, 2009
Kimesha Walters, Gleaner Writer

Gary Williams (left), chairman and founder of Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), a New York-based Jamaican charity, chats with students of the Adastra Gardens Basic School in Kingston yesterday after presenting school supplies and a copier to the institution through Principal Vivolyn Williams (right). Williams and a team from COJO are on a visit to the island to deliver supplies to schools and other institutions. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Their childish faces tell the story of their innocence and, as you walk by them sitting on their little chairs in the classroom, you might be surprised at how polite they are.

"Good morning!" they all say in unison, ensuring that they are both seen and heard. Welcome to Adastra Gardens Basic School.

Even as times get more difficult for Jamaicans, there is an organisation that has enduring dedication to making life better for many. For 15 years, they have been travelling many miles to ease the burden of Jamaicans and this year is no different as they made a contribution to the basic school.

Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) was founded in 1994 by Gary Williams, who grew up in the Adastra Gardens community but now resides in New York.

"I started COJO to give back to Jamaica and I think the best way to do so is through the kids," said Williams, who spoke with The Gleaner yesterday.

A committed Williams, the chairman of the project, is passionate about giving back to this country, and says he is intent on making positive contributions to the society so the less fortunate can have a chance to excel.

"I believe that children who are in the institutions can live a productive life just like anyone else and, once you give them the opportunity, I believe they can excel."

Empowering children

He added: "We are here to empower kids and to make sure they have the chance to excel and to ensure that they live a productive life and our focus mainly is children in institutions."

In doing this, they work with children in institutions that fall under the Child Development Agency.

The donations of knapsacks, books, stationery, a two-in-one printer and copier, along with some garbage bins, were made with assistance from Air Jamaica which provided transportation for the COJO team and the goods.

The Jamaican Airline Pilots' Association (JALPA) was asked to tag along as they adopted the school in the early 1980s.

"We were looking to support something, somebody, a group and it was suggested by two pilots at the time that we adopt this school because it is on the way from where most of us live to the airport, so we chose it," said JALPA Secretary Captain Maria Haddad.

'Mayday Ball' defunct

Since then, they have been supporting the school through a 'Mayday Ball', which later became defunct and now funding is done through membership dues from JALPA.

"A percentage of the dues goes straight to charity and from that charity funds, 60 per cent comes to Adastra Gardens," Haddad said.

COJO visits Jamaica at least once annually to make donations to different institutions.

"We do at least three different places every year. Last year when we came, we did Glenhope Place of Safety, St Augustine Place of Safety in Clarendon and Windward Road School," Williams said.

The organisers will be going to Summerfield Boys' Home in Clarendon tomorrow to make other donations. Principal of Adastra Gardens Basic, Vivolyn Williams, says they are elated to have the donations.

"I think it's a wonderful project for the children because, for this month, we didn't have anything to give them for Child Month and it sort of makes them feel important and that we care and love them," she said.