Last lap of summer school sacrifice for Yallahs schoolboy hero

St Thomas teen Jaheim Brown, who won the hearts of the nation following the highlighting of his makeshift summer school in Yallahs, has revealed that this year will be its final staging.

His humble initiative gained national attention last year, with the minister of education throwing a small treat for the students at Hope Gardens, gifting each child a tablet.

Other stakeholders made small pledges to the group and shared their commendations.

After five years of sacrifice for dozens of children in his community at little, if any, cost, the now-17-year-old student of St Thomas Technical High School has disclosed that he’s now preparing himself for higher education after landing a scholarship at The Mico University College.

Describing the opportunity as a dream come true and a gift from God, Brown said it was one of the benefits that flowed to him after his story went viral in The Gleaner.

“My school called me and told me that the teachers’ college reached out and was trying to contact me,” he said.

Brown had long nurtured his passion for kids and lifelong hope of becoming a teacher.

At age 12, he opened the gates of his home to pupils aged four to 23, who needed help in grasping the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic.

With the final lap set for take-off on Monday, July 4, Brown shared his desire to make this staging the most memorable of them all.

“The plan for this year’s summer school is to end off by helping even more children gain added knowledge and understanding in their weak areas,” Brown said in a Gleaner interview.

“Many of them, if not occupied, will definitely be seen wandering about the community. I want to take them all off the road, which can prevent accidents, and give them a safe and secure place to learn and have fun.”

Over the past years, the students have had to make themselves comfortable on old furniture or buckets for seating, while Brown cobbled together whatever he could get his hands on for a writing board.

This year, he hopes a good Samaritan will contribute towards his cause by loaning a few chairs, a whiteboard, and some markers. He is determined to make it happen, regardless.

“We don’t have enough equipment to facilitate the children here at the programme. They often come without stationery, and I would normally have to supply them,” Brown said, adding that he would often fund the purchase of books, pencils, and rulers out of pocket.

“... I don’t have a board to write on. I have to be using an old fridge cover, which is hard for them to see sometimes, and there are no chairs for the children.”

The young educator revealed that his summer school will have even more helpers on board to ensure that students have the necessary attention.

Describing this chapter of his life as bittersweet, Jaheim believes that he has done his best to help community youth.

“It has been beneficial to me as well because of the joy it gives me to see when they are learning. I also believe that all good things must come to an end, and that it is time to make a close,” he said.

Jaheim can be reached at (876) 294-4029.

shanna.monteith@gleanerjm.com