Close to two hundred students and children from the Olympic Gardens community benefited from the East Jamaica Conference (EJC) education department Back To School Fair in collaboration with Keith Taylor and friends from the United States. The event was held on August 27, 2024, at the Cling Cling Oval opposite the Olympic Gardens SDA Church.
Despite the threat of rain minutes before the event's scheduled start, children and their parents poured onto the grounds to receive the goodies that were in store for them just days before the start of the new school year.
The education director, Dr. Brown, was the main event organizer and was pleased to see the number of children who turned up at the fair. She challenged the children to “go forward and maximize their potential” by doing well in school. ”I say education is the key to upward mobility and even more so education and redemption will forever remain one.”
“The year 2024 is very significant to the East Jamaica Conference,” Brown continued, “We are celebrating our 80th anniversary and I am so delighted that from the education department, we could join with the Olympic Gardens community, as we celebrate with the Taylors and Friends, our back to school fair.”
Education Director, Dr. Donna Brown interacts with children from the Olympic Gardens community at the Taylors and Friends Back to School Fair held at the Cling Cling Oval on August 27, 2024 :: Photo credit: Phillip E. L. Castell
Keith Taylor (left) and his wife Julie interacting with children at the Taylors and Friends Back to School Fair in Olympic Way on August 27, 2024 :: Photo credit: Phillip E. L. Castell
One high school student from the community, Jada Harvey, was selected and affirmed for her progress in school and was presented with a Dell Laptop by Dr. Meric Walker, president, EJC of Seventh-day Adventists. Jada, who attends a popular High School for girls in Kingston, was more than delighted for the laptop computer. “I am very happy to be the recipient. It will assist me greatly in my studies and I am thankful for the gift.”
The back to school fair could not have happened at a better time for Stacy-Ann and her son Damar who live in the Olympic Gardens community and who just happened to be passing by. “I was passing today when I heard of the event and I stopped by and my son got a bag, a few books, pencils and a pair of shoes and I am really grateful,” said Stacy-Ann. Her sentiments were echoed by other mothers who affirmed the church and the Taylors Family for making these gifts to the students possible.
In a brief conversation with Keith Taylor after the activities were ended, he confirmed that the Back to School Fair for the students was made possible through the kind support of family and friends who put their resources together to make it possible.
“Thanks be to God, my day began earlier today at the Woodford Preparatory School in the hills of St. Andrew were we gave away at least forty school bags along with scholarships to the children there. Here at Olympic Gardens, we serviced just over one hundred and eighty students,” Taylor said. “The children were given bags with books and pencils and all were treated with snacks, which based on my observation, was well received.”
President of East Jamaica Conference, Dr. Meric Walker, hands bag containing exercise books with pencil to a boy from the Olympic Gardens community on August 27, 2024 :: Photo credit: Phillip E. L. Castell
Taylor was thankful for the support of his wife Julie, who was present at the fair, as well as his sister, Nataya Skyers Davis. He was particularly gateful for the support of his friends at the Conference Office in New York and singled out Sis. Bernard and Barbara Hall, who assisted with snacks, juices and water for the children.
The Olympic Way SDA Church played an important role in the success of the fair and enjoyed the full support of church pastor, Ralston Tyrell, who brought greetings on behalf of the church and shared a passage of scripture with the children at the start of the event.
Education sponsor for the Olympic Gardens SDA Church, Gayle McDonald Ellis was grateful for the distribution of back to school supplies to the children of the community and was already looking forward to this in the future. “The community is very happy to know that the church along with Taylors and Friends could have partnered with the community to distribute back to school supplies which are well needed resources at this time,” she said. “We are looking forward to them coming another time to share with this vibrant community of Olympic Gardens to help children who need to succeed in their academic pursuits,” she added.