Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Yvonne Iles is passionate about the holistic development of the child, and made this point several times during the interview with Flair on Tuesday, August 1. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

British-born educator Yvonne Iles is one of a host of foreigners who visited Jamaica on holiday and fell deeply in love with island life, she decided to pack her bags and move here permanently.

The educator told Flair that during some research for her second degree, she read and heard so much about the island, she wanted to see places like Mandeville, Trelawny, Morant Bay and the Blue Mountains.

Her first trip was in 1996, and the following year she came here to reside permanently. Her sojourn has seen some turbulent times, but the widowed mother of one adult daughter prefers to put all negatives behind and focus on the future.

Ms. Iles, who in another life sported locks, was forced to cut them or face constant ostracism in some circles. These days, her blond mane is mostly pulled back and Rasta beliefs are held deep within.

Motivation

But she has not veered from her calling to use education to motivate, enable and empower individuals and groups by taking a holistic and person-centred approach to teaching, learning, research and professional development.

Currently she is a special education practitioner at St. George's College in Kingston. She also worked as a volunteer educational consultant with Operation Restoration, Trench Town and is working on her Ph.D. at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Other positions held include director of studies, School of Dance Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and consultant/Trainer on school effectiveness and an integrated approach to literacy for 140 teachers at Holy Trinity High School.

Digital photo workshop

Ms. Iles was recently part of the team of facilitators who assisted 20 young students from inner-city communities in Kingston during a digital photo workshop from July to August. Held under the theme: 'To Shoot or not to Shoot ... Click is the Answer,' the participants learnt useful computer and photography skills.

The group was drawn from designated 'safe communities,' Mountain View/Rose Town, and Dunkirk/Trench Town, which are showing progress under the Violence Prevention Alliance's Safe Communities initiative.

Ms. Iles, who specialises in the needs of children with learning disabilities, development disorders as well as some social and emotional needs, was in her element on this assignment. "I love the youngsters, they have so much talent," she said of the group.

But she has also taught at Hillel Academy, Holy Trinity High and held a supervisory position at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Stories

Of the concluded summer project, Ms. Iles feels that the exercise helped the participants to tell their own stories. "Their work is fantastic; their lives are exposed but they did it themselves." she told Flair.

But in the future , Ms. Iles is bent on continuing her efforts to get students successfully through the education system. She is also working towards her doctoral degree but ultimately, the woman who has adopted Jamaica as home, would love to acquire a building in downtown Kingston where she can move children off the streets corners and help them become literate.

"I want to help inner-city children to explore and develop their full potential. I would love to see them literate and not exploited and I hope more help comes from corporate Jamaica to help me realise this dream."