A NEW VISION FOR CHILDREN “AT RISK” IN 2008

                                   A CHILD’S  DREAMS

A child’s dreams and aspirations

Lost in the midst of fantasies

Is the moulding force that shapes his mind.

The inspiring drive that forges

His fragile soul into greatness.

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A child’s dreams and aspirations

Brushed aside, futile,unimportant

Is the devastating force warping his mind

The troubled man of tomorrow.

A child’s dreams and aspirations

A man’s anger and frustrations

Crushing his soul to destruction. 

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     This poem is dedicated to the many young people who find themselves living in the margin of society. Hopelessness and helplessness fill their spirit and drive them to a life of crime and anti social behaviour.

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A new year has dawned and with this a surge of hope fills our spirit. There will be changes, dreams will be realised and mankind will be strengthened.

In my spirit, I nurture the vision of our street children getting back in the family fold, a better future ahead of them, ready to make their own contribution in the sacred task of nation building.

This vision will be realised when the government will mount a NATIONAL RESCUE PROGRAM FOR “CHILDREN AT RISK” and when society begins to see the street children as children of the nation who need to be respected , loved and set on the right path.

The society is saturated with fear and anguish over the crime rate and the government is trying desperately to find a solution to this very crucial problem.We as a people must go to the root of the crisis and take the necesssary steps to cure the ills that beset us as a society.

I personally want to focus on the shattering implosion of the family and the great number of street children left to fend for themselves. As responsible citizens of this country we have a moral obligation to give a helping hand and give to these children a chance to realise their dreams and fulfill God’s plan for their lives. Our silence and indifference will not protect us from the backlash of the neglect of the children of the land. Each child born in an inner city  neighborhood is born with the same rights and potential as any middle class child. Let us begin 2008 with a profound commitment to free the poor children from the grips of poverty , neglect , lack of education and skills to survive in the society.The unfulfilled dreams of a child will be the force that will destroy  him  and continue to fan the flame of anger,hatred and crime in the society.

Let us go through this new year with this motto in mind: For every child that we rescue is a future man or woman that we save. Each one take one for a better Jamaica. 

As I said in my poem the dreams of a child is  a seed set in his spirit by the Mighty Spirit of God and is the force that drives him to achieve.When parents and people around a child fail to provide the proper environment for the full development of God’s given talents the child is left open to frustration , anger that can drive him to self destruct.I am urging all Jamaicans to make a special commitment to rescue a child this year. Remember for every child we rescue is a man or a woman we save.

~ by jahteecha on January 2, 2008.