Moms not mum - Group puts talk into action, crusades to skill wayward youths

Published: Monday | May 4, 2009

Jerome Fleming with his seven-month-old daughter, Tianna, at the Mothers of Incarcerated Sons centre. - Photo by Amitabh Sharma

Pauline Donald's conviction that she can make a difference has sparked a fiery resolve to empower Jamaican youths to abandon crime and learn viable job skills.

"We are fighting a spiritual war for the betterment of the young generation," declared Donald, as she glanced at the sparse surroundings of the resource centre that she has set up at Jones Avenue, Spanish Town.

Donald's eyes narrate a story of hope and perseverance to give a meaningful life to youths. That cause inspired her to set up Mothers of Incarcerated Sons, a support group for mothers in her community.

Donald, a 55-year-old mother of five, recalled that there were a string of unfortunate circumstances in her community that jolted her. "One of my cousins was shot and killed right in front of my house," she said. "I had to do something to put an end to this (violence)."

It was during her visit to Florida, where one of her sons is in prison, that she met Sharon Gray of Mothers of Incarcerated Sons (United States), which motivated her to form a similar group in her community.

Donald decided to sacrifice the rental income and converted a small property she owns on Jones Avenue to be used as the resource

centre for the group. The centre got off the ground in November last year.

But her vision for the group extends beyond mothers. Even fathers are playing an active role in this endeavour. In fact, it is for all parents and directed towards the young men in the community.

"I believe our youths are all incarcerated because of the violence and the situations that they are being forced to grow up in," she said.

So far, eight parents have joined the organisation and are actively campaigning in the community to encourage others to come on-board.

"We believe that anybody's child is everybody's child," said Pauline Rodney, a 53-year-old grandmother of six. "It is our responsibility to build a bond between the youth and try to give them a skill and take them away from the crime and violence."

Donald attributes youth delinquency to the lack of opportunities. "They have no skills and education, and they are sitting idle," she said. "When they are idle, they find other things to do."

"We are willing to work, but we face a whole heap of problems," said Richard Wilson, father of five and a member of the group.

Wilson said, however, that unless joblessness is addressed, the group faces an uphill battle.

"We see the changes but everything is finance," he said, though exuding optimism. "All we need is a chance and to be shown the way."

Positive vibes

Donald

Marlon McCleary considers himself lucky as he has a job that brings in steady income. "I am fortunate," he told The Gleaner, as his fed an orange to his one-year-old daughter, Akela, perched on his lap.

"We need to spend time with the youth them today," McCleary said. "We need to give them positive attitude and good manners."

He believes that these youths need father figures.

"We need sit and reason with them, beating them up is not a solution to any problem," he said.

This small but determined set of people are fighting all odds to make a difference in their com-munity. They are trying to get support from organisations to start a skill-training centre.

"It could be a simple thing, like how to use a fork and a spoon, or to bake," McCleary said.

"I would like to go back to school and learn computers," said Rodney. "I want to do a course and get certified."

Donald recognises that the challenges are many, from paltry finances to the task of bringing youths into the mainstream. But she believes God is on their side.

"Things have to be done, and whatever we cannot naturalise has to be spiritualised," she said.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com