Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter

Even though few would readily admit it, many of us have a less than flattering view of people who live in Jamaica's inner-city communities. After all, with the constant reports of gang fighting and lawlessness, it sometimes seems that there is little to glorify in these neighbourhoods.

But, sometimes if you just take a little time to listen to what the people who live in these communities have to say, you realize that Jamaica's inner-city communities are home to some of the most determined, focused and resilient people in the entire country. The Gleaner spent some time in the heart of Kingston recently, to meet and have a chat with some of the children who live in the most maligned communities in the country and to find out from them, just what they look forward to when Christmas comes around and to hear what's on their wish lists this year. Their responses may surprise you.

All I want is: 'My father and some help for my mother'

Cindy Haynes

Cindy Haynes is 18 years old. She has eight CXC passes, four CAPE passes and is now in her final year at St. George's College. Oh, and she lives at Rosemerry Lane in Kingston. "I hate when people call my community an inner-city neighbourhood. Although, I have to admit that it's better than when they call it a garrison," she said while at a small shop in an area called Tel-Aviv. I asked her what she was wishing for this Christmas. Cindy chuckled. "All I want for Christmas is my father. That's not going to happen so I don't really need anything else," she said, looking away.

Cindy's father has been incarcerated in the United States all this year. He was set to be released for Christmas, but plans were changed at the last minute and it now seems he'll have to remain in prison until well into next year. "He's all I would want for Christmas. I'm not into material things at all, so gifts really don't matter to me," Cindy said. After much prodding from me, the well-spoken teenager finally cracked. "Well, if I was to wish for something else, I'd wish for some help for my mother to fix up our house. She doesn't have steady work and since my father has been away she has been having it really hard. The house we are living in needs repair and if I was to wish for anything, I'd wish that my mother be given the help she needs to help fix up the house," Cindy said with a slight smile.

She lives in the small house with her mother, sister, nephew and two cousins. Because of the crowd, Cindy sometimes has to stay at school until nightfall to get her studies done. She has friends from whom she borrows the textbooks she can't afford to buy and she also makes good use of the school's library. "I don't have a problem with books. My friends are very kind," she said. Cindy plans to attend the University of the West Indies (UWI) or the University of Technology (UTech) when she graduates from high school next year. She hasn't yet worked out how she's going to pay for this, but she's not waiting around for a miracle. "I'm always hunting for information on scholarships. I know I'll be able to get one," she said with a bright smile.

All I want is: 'Fee to go back to school'

Kiwan Foster

Kiwan Foster, 15, is a fourth-form student at Holy Trinity High School. His Christmas wish wasn't what you'd expect from the average 15-year-old. "I just wish I could pay my school fee. Is exam time now and because I can't pay my fee, I might not be able to take the exam. I can't go back until the fee is paid," he said. Kiwan hasn't been to school in a while because of his mother's inability to come up with the school fee of $6,000 for the year. His Christmas wish, believe it or not, is to go back to school.

All we want is: 'Mom to be happy, new shoes and a truck'

From left: Jaleen Anglin, Theo Wilmot, Joshan Anglin.

Jaleen Anglin, 9, Theo Wilmot, 18, and Joshan Anglin, 5, are brothers. They live at Rum Lane and didn't fully understand the concept of a Christmas gift when I first asked them what they were wishing for. Theo, being the eldest, was the first to speak up after I had explained myself. "I wouldn't want anything for myself. I would just want my mother to get some help to fix her house. I would like her to get like a sheet to put on her mattress and paint and that kind of thing. Something to make her feel nice, like a lady," he said. "The house we living in now not so nice and I want her to be happy. Once she happy then me all right," Theo added.

Jaleen spoke next. When I met him he was walking barefoot on the road. His holiday wish is to have a new pair of shoes that he can wear on Christmas Day to Emancipation Park and have his picture taken. He smiled broadly at the thought. "I could go with my brother dem and take my picture," he said. Jaleen wears size five shoes and his dream is to someday own a pair of white Nike sneakers.

Little Joshan has never received a Christmas gift, so he didn't understand the concept. However when I asked him what I could get and take back for him on my next visit to his home, he smiled. "A truck," he said softly, covering a smile with his hands. I asked him what kind of truck he would like, and he replied, "any truck."

- Photos by Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer