Helping Hands : Glenhope Nursery and Place of Safety

Led by the dynamic and devoted Sara Farr of our British High Commission community, the children of the Glenhope Nursery and Place of Safety in Jamaica eagerly welcome the growing international group which visits the home each Monday and Thursday morning to cuddle, play with, read to, teach and give the greatest gift that these children could receive, our time and affection. Children who are home for school holidays are very welcome to come along, and the experience provides that valuable reminder of just how lucky we all are, something that too often in a commercially-fuelled life we forget.

In 1973 Glenhope Nursery and Place of Safety was established as the first of more than ten Government-funded children’s institutions in Jamaica.  Operated by the Child Development Agency under the Ministry for Youth and Culture, Glenhope Nursery accommodates up to fifty-six abandoned, abused, neglected, orphaned or disabled babies and toddlers.  For the vulnerable boys and girls not able to return to their family, Glenhope provides a springboard to adoption, foster care or the move to more age-appropriate children’s homes.

On quite a large site just off Maxfield Avenue, Glenhope’s security guards open giant metal gates to welcome us into the compound.  We park in the shade facing some impressive play equipment and directly beyond and to the left are a number of concrete outbuildings whose silence whispers of the past horror of a tragic fire.  To the right the site boasts a demountable purpose-built classroom, and beyond this sits the main building.  In addition to a central office which is home to Director Janet Davidson, the building houses dormitories, bathrooms, kitchen and dining area, along with a large and semi-enclosed tiled patio.

Near to this sits the newly gifted and very smart toy chest crafted by the talented tradesmen of the British High Commission( BHC) . The team : Mel Nyland, Oral Staple, Surinae Brown and others worked in their own time to “give something to children who don’t have much.”   Half of the sectioned toy box is for the orphanage’s own toys, whilst the other half houses the visiting group’s toys, avoiding the future need to ferry them into and out of Glenhope each week.

For just under two years now, the group of international volunteers has provided invaluable support to the children of Glenhope, and in particular promoted the children’s emotional development.  Our visits are invariably heralded with the spine-tingling chorus of green and gold-uniformed toddlers in black leather shoes, all excitedly chanting :

“Vis-i-tors! Vis-i-tors!”

The friendship and fellowship that comes with belonging to the twice-weekly group is so rewarding.  If you would like to join us in our support of Glenhope Orphanage and Nursery, we’d love to see you at Cannonball at Barbican on Monday or Thursday mornings from 9:30am, (from where we share-drive in convoy), or contact Miss Davidson directly on 9268825.  Hope to see you soon!

JENELLE BROWN