Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Marva Bernard is the director of finance at the Jamaica Information Service. The 60-year-old, however, says her deepest satisfaction comes from her work with the Sunshine Girls. Also the president of the Jamaica Netball Association she has spent her life helping young Jamaicans fulfill their dreams. "That's my joy in life, that's how I get my fulfilment." - photos by Oliver Wright

As her assistant escorts us to her office, we hear her voice. It's the voice of a strong, dominant woman. She's speaking to someone over the phone. Telling them about an email she's about to send - "potentially controversial" - is how she describes it. She gestures for us to have a seat as she attempts to rap up her phone call.

I glance around the office - it's spacious enough. Her mahogany desk sits in the middle of the room, leaving enough space for one to walk comfortably around it. On one side of her wall is a poster of Olympic Gold medalist, Veronica Campbell. Below that is a photo of her 16-year-old godson, who, she later tells us,, will be Jamaica's next 'big thing' in swimming.

She ends her phone call, welcomes us and leans back in her chair, prepared to bare her soul to the two strangers who have come to invade her space.

She's the director of financing at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), but most Jamaicans will recognise her as the vibrant and daring president of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), Marva Bernard.

Daily journey

Mrs. Bernard describes herself as a work in progress. "Everyday is a journey for me," she tells The Gleaner. "I learn something new everyday and I'm constantly working to improve my life."

Elaine Davis, captain of the Jamaica senior netball squad, the Sunshine Girls, describes Mrs. Bernard as a "passionate woman". "She is passionate about everything she does. She has helped me tremendously, and has even become a mother figure in my life," said Ms. Davis.

The sport enthusiast has been working with the JNA for more than 12 years. She explains that her love affair with netball, which eventually led to her involvement with several sporting organisations, began at the Excelsior High School in St. Andrew.

"My introduction into netball really began during my days in high school," she said. "Little did I know that this would have ended up being my life-long passion."

She and a group of friends "who loved netball" went on to form the Air Jamaica netball team, which she managed for 21 years. She then served as treasurer for the Business House Netball Association for three years, before moving on to the JNA, where she served as treasurer for more than 10 years, before being elected president.

The girls

But what keeps her going, and how does she maintain her dedication? "It's the girls," Mrs. Bernard explains. "It's my drive for young people and my desire to see them excel."

"I love netball and I love to work with the figures, but my involvement with the girls is what brings me the greatest sense of satisfaction," she says.

The 60-year-old says that despite the fact that she has no children of her own, she has "adopted" all her friends' children and all the girls on the squad.

"That is really where I think my contribution gives me a good feeling. To watch the change when the girls come in unsure of themselves, and to see them grow from that stage into ladies," she said.

"Our programme aims to be holistic, it's not only about the sport," Mrs. Bernard explains. "We have a lot of girls who come from very challenging circumstances, and it's our aim to see that when they leave the programme, they have the ability to make a better life for themselves."

Disappointment

As she says this, her phone rings again. This time, it's a call from one of the Sunshine Girls. She doesn't name the player, but tells us that she called to "cheer her up" after the huge disappointment last week. She's referring to England's humiliating 52-32 thrashing of the Sunshine Girls at the National Indoor Sports Centre in September.

"You know she just called to assure me that she is going to be ready for the championships come November," she says. "These girls are committed, but it's not always easy," adds Mrs. Bernard.

The JNA president tells The Gleaner that the challenges and obstacles are numerous.

"It is difficult for the girls who are training now at the senior level," she says. "Many of them are balancing work, school and family life to play for Jamaica.

"All our girls work, they don't play netball full-time and so they have to get time off from their jobs for training and to travel to matches," Mrs. Bernard explains.

Getting financial assistance for netball is also a major challenge, according to the JNA president. "I sometimes wonder how we are going to sustain the programme, but I must admit that we really get a lot of help from the Sports Development Foundation, but most of the help comes from corporate Jamaica," she tells The Gleaner.

The main problem, she says, is that netball in Jamaica is not recognised at all levels.

"In this sport, if we had half of what the more popular sports get, then we could do so much more for these girls," she says. "But you really can't complain, you have to just try to focus on what you have and make the best of it."

The devout Christian also explains that the athletes have also had a hard time dealing with the harsh criticisms of the public.

"At times you have to hug them, you have to encourage them, and when the criticisms come you hold them together and say, we believe in you.

"Because the truth is, the Jamaican people are very hard on their sports people," she says. "No matter how hard the struggle is for you as an athlete, they expect you to always be at the top of your game," explains Mrs. Bernard.

"No matter how you don't have the resources, or how you have to go to training without eating lunch because you didn't have the money to buy food, they still expect you to go out there and perform like New Zealand, England and Australia, who have more than we do."

She adds: "Under those circumstances when you look at what our girls have achieved and all that they've overcome, you know I have to say that 'we likkle but wi talawah'."

Family life

The JNA president says a stable and supportive family life has been her source of strength during the toughest times.

"My husband is extremely supportive of what I do. He has been such an integral part of my life and I am very grateful for that," she tells The Gleaner.

Born in Panama, Mrs. Bernard moved back to the island with her parents when she was just three months old. Raised in the community of Jones Town, in St. Andrew, she tells us that the experience of growing up in 'town' then, is a stark contrast to what it is today.

"We could hang out at the corner of Studley Avenue or Woodrow Street in those days without any problem or fear. That's the sad part about it," she says, because those communities have changed so much over the years."

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com