Marlene McPherson, Gleaner Writer
MARLENE MCPHERSON PHOTO -
Oshane Lee views gifts presented to him by Carla Seaga.
THE CARLA Seaga-led Social Support Fund, has come to the assistance of 11-year-old Oshane Lee of St. Thomas Technical High School, who was orphaned within a week.
The boy's father died violently, while his mother died in hospital while recuperating from surgery. Doctors believed she died from shock on hearing of the gruesome death of her child's father.
Following The Gleaner's report of Oshane's plight, the west Kingston-based Social Support Fund contacted the boy's grandmother, Gretel Walker, and in a brief handover ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last Thursday, Mrs. Seaga presented Oshane and his grandmother with a cheque valued at $7,000 for payment of the child's school fees and books.
In addition, groceries and toys were presented to him, the total value of which amounted to approximately $15,000.
Field Officer, Barrington Fox, will make arrangements for counselling for Oshane and his siblings from his mother's side. The need for counselling is critical as his grandmother reported that he is eating excessively while his brother Jayvor Palmer is still traumatised by his mother's death and still exhibits emotional outbursts.
Mrs. Walker has pledged to keep all of the children together although she is hypertensive and aims to keep her pressure under control. They were grateful for the items.
The Social Support Fund, a non-profit organisation, aims to be a vehicle to help persons who are victims of violence. The organisation started in July 2001 when more than 20 families in West Kingston lost family members during a gun battle between police and gunmen. The organisation has now extended beyond the borders of west Kingston to wherever there is a need for assistance.
According to Seaga, "We hold their hands for a while; this is the only organisation that gives this kind of support."
