Janetta Rodney welcomed two bonus children into her life when they were abandoned by their birth mother. She has embraced and nurtured the boys as her own, often striving to guide them towards excellence even more than her biological children. She takes immense pride in their academic accomplishments and openly shares their achievements with their biological mother, who also shares the accomplishments proudly on social media.

Abandoned child becomes PEP star

Adoptive mom happy she took a chance with youngster

26 Aug 2023/Andre Williams/Staff Reporter 

 

AS GEOVANI Bernard walked across the stage to collect his Primary Exit Profile (PEP) award on Friday, Janetta Rodney beamed with pride as she reflected on the day he and his sibling were practically left at her doorstep.

Rodney said that their mother told her she was going to work one day and asked her to watch the boys.

She did not return.

On Friday, Geovani was one of 44 students awarded scholarships by the Jamaica Energy Partners (JEP) Group at a ceremony toasting the performance of PEP scholars who reside in west Kingston, east Kingston and St Catherine. The students were selected by the Ministry of Education.

Rodney recalled that siblings were left at her home in Barton, St Catherine, years ago and amid the confusion, she sent them on a taxi back to their mother, only for someone to bring the boys back to her home.

She said that she woke up one morning to see their birth certificates slipped under her door.

Geovani was only two years old at the time.

The boys were taken into state care and after the necessaries checks and screening, they were released into Rodney’s care.

Fast-forward to his first significant exams and the youngster graduated his primary-level education as the highest performer.

“It is really a good feeling knowing and taking a child from nowhere to reach this stage,” Rodney said as she described their surreal journey.

Following the ceremony, Rodney told The Gleaner she took a chance with Geovani and his elder sibling, who is also charting a course for himself after obtaining five passes in the recent Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations.

“I will give you guys the tools; you work,” Rodney said was her charge to the boys.

Rodney has four children of her own. All are career-oriented.

“The eldest son is a marine engineer, the second is an aviation officer, the fourth is an interior officer, and I said to them (Geovani and his brother), ‘Listen, you guys must come out better than my boys’,” Rodney said.

She told The Gleaner that when the adopted boys scored 80s, she demanded 90s.

“I push these two because I see and I know they have the ability to go further,” she said.

Geovani will be attending Glenmiur High School in September.

“He is happy. He is joyful. Every day he say he prayed to get a good school. Not to get a scholarship, just a good school, but when he was told that he got the scholarship, he was really overjoyed,” she said.

Rodney told The Gleaner that the boys’ biological mother has since come around and checks in on the boys occasionally.

“She is proud of them. She put them up on Facebook and show their achievement. I allow her to see their achievements; I don’t hide it from her,” Rodney said.

Twenty-one boys and 23 girls were awarded on Friday.

In an inspiring address to the students, Raymond Pryce urged them to strive for excellence regardless of the institution they attend.

Turning to the parents, he emphasised the importance of attentive listening and guidance as the children embark on this new journey.

Moya Hinds, public relations officer of the JEP Group, said there is great pride gathering and celebrating a tradition that spans over two decades and is rooted in education, empowerment, and community support.

“JEP’s commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering educational growth has been unwavering,” Hinds emphasised.

The JEP Group will stage a gala for tertiary-level students on Saturday.

“These events are our way of acknowledging the achievements and aspirations of our scholarship recipients,” Hinds explained. “They also stand as a testament to our enduring commitment to education and community support. The scholarships we award are not merely financial assistance, they symbolise our i nvestment i n the potential of each young mind, in the promise of a brighter tomorrow.”

 

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