THE EDITOR, Sir:A CHILD'S letter to God written when she was in the throes of depression and emotional turmoil, has touched the heart of one school community and started a welcome and positive association.
When Ardenne High School principal, Esther Tyson (now in her sixth year as principal) read the letter written by Chevanese Anderson and printed in The Gleaner, she decided to invite the 11-year-old girl who lives in the Trench Town community to speak to students at Ardenne. Chevanese had cried out to God in her letter to change the hearts of the gunmen in her community. She pleaded with Him that she was being robbed of her childhood.
Chevanese, who attends the after-school programme at Operation Restoration Christian School located on Collie Smith Drive, addressed students from the 7th to 9th grade at Ardenne on Monday, February 14, 2005. Her address was sincere and moving. On the spot those students from the lower school contributed $14,000 to Operation Restoration Christian School.
She was invited to return on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 to speak to students from the Upper school. Once again there was a spontaneous outpouring of love and compassion that was shown tangibly in a donation of $19,000.
When I visited with Lorna Stanley, founder of Operation Restoration Christian School at the school on Tuesday, she had just returned from Ardenne and was visibly moved and uplifted by the help that was given to the school. She said that she is indeed grateful for all the assistance that people are giving to keep the school functioning. Much of the financial assistance comes from the Atlanta-based Integrity Children's Fund (ICF) and the help from Ardenne and other well-wishers will help to sustain the school.
Meanwhile, the acting vice-principal at Ardenne Joan Davis-Williams told The Gleaner that many of the students who contributed want to continue to help. "We plan on doing something for Operation Restoration on a weekly basis," she said.
I am, etc.,
BARBARA NELSON
Kingston
