COJO gives Muirton Child Care Facility $1m in gifts

Everard Owen
Friday, May 20, 2011

MANCHIONEAL, Portland — The Muirton Child Care Facility in Manchioneal on Tuesday received $1 million in kitchen appliances and other items from the New York-based charity Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO).

The items included computers, a clothes dryer, a deep freeze, a commercial stove and several pairs of Puma sneakers.

Kevin Bryan (left), manager of the Muirton Child Care Facility, and Gary Williams, chairman and founder of Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), view a deep freeze that was among the items donated to the home by COJO on Tuesday.

Several Puma sneakers were also donated to the home. (Photos: Everard Owen)

The 33-year-old facility, which sits on the 45-acre Muirton Estates, caters to 28 boys who engage in several activities such as farming as well as poultry and animal-rearing. The boys also attend classes at public schools in the area and are said to be doing well, both in sports and academically, with one preparing to attend the Northern Caribbean University where he will pursue a bachelor's in mass communication.

Gary Williams, chairman and founder of COJO, said the organisation has been making contributions to local children's homes for the past 16 years and for the past two years has concentrated on facilities in rural Jamaica.

Children, he said, are the country's greatest assets and it was important that we "provide them with a sound education, as well as the amenities that will improve their living conditions and well-being, so that they can realise their true potential".

"We want them to know that there are people out there (who) love and care for them and want to see them excel...," he added.

He thanked Air Jamaica, he Child Development Agency, and Puma for their support to the cause.

Manager of the facility, Kevin Bryan, thanked COJO and others who facilitated the donation.

"What you have contributed is much more than these items, but a vision that this facility will stand as the semblance of a home, where children will grow up and use these opportunities to develop and enhance their abilities," he said.