CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 45

of their shoes, which are locked away in the
schoolhouse for the next day.
By 3:00 pm, they are served a full dinner, often
stewed, curried, or baked chicken, all with
rice, no vegetables. Supper, served at 6:00
pm, is jam and biscuits agai n. On rare days,
visitors from Christian organizations bring
boxed lunches. Strathmore, being partly owned
by the Government due to its alignment with
Child Development Agency, also gets help from
non-profit organizations or private companies.
On weekends, the children are dolled up,
dressed in their best clothes and board buses
to attend churches in the neighbourhood,
some on Saturday, others on Sunday. When
they return, their best shoes are put in boxes
and put away, and the children are then free
to run barefoot through the dirt yard, quickly
becoming covered in dust and stains. It is times
like these that one remembers that they are
just children. But other days, the children at
Strathmore are taught to fend for themselves.
Despite being offered help, six-year-olds
Janine Bryan* and Odel Morgan* thoroughly
washed their hair themselves. Unless there are
volunteers, the children help each other with
combing their hair. They help in the kitchen,
clean the schoolhouse, and sweep the yard, like
any child who has to do chores. In the classroom,
some children are still just as independent. Most
days, at least one teacher is absent, leaving one
child to supervise eight others.
In the schoolhouse, the children are surrounded
by charts of every subject and colour. They cover
the walls and hang from the ceiling.
Janine points to each one with a ruler almost as
tall as herself, leading her classmates in reciting

the words and numbers. When her classmates
misbehave, she assumes the role as teacher
and slaps them several times with her ruler;
copying the actions of her caregivers.
On another day, the teachers leave 10-year-olds
Ricardo Adams* and Wyatt to teach the “little
class” for the entire afternoon. Darlene Moore**
sat with the “big class”, teaching nine-year-old
Tavia Stephens*, two students with mental
disabilities, a boy with Down syndrome, and
several other children ages 10 to 13.
In the meantime, the boys teach ‘spelling’ to
three-year-old Rory Douglas* who, at times,
runs around excitedly. Six-year-olds Ashley
Beckham*, Noel and Janine*, rest their heads on
the desk. They sit beside Thomas, a hyperactive
boy who has never been to school, and six-yearold Mikael*, who has a mental disability. By the
wall, 13-year-old Danielle Moses* sits quietly.
Newton informed CARIMAC Times that Danielle
has brain damage, a severe speech impediment,
a heart condition, and diabetes resulting from
her obesity. When she first came to Strathmore,
she could not speak, and due to her obesity,
could not run around like the other children.
In addition to her physical problems, Danielle
regularly steals items from the other children.
Crawford said they have tried to help her, but
their efforts have been futile.
Danielle stole snacks and four children descended
on her. They kicked her as she screamed.
Crawford looked on silently, a hint of exhaustion
on her face. Eventually, she intervened and
commanded them to move her so she does not
block the doorway. They drag Danielle out of
the way, but she remained on the floor. She fell
asleep and stayed in that one spot for the rest
of the afternoon.

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