Christel House Jamaica empowers boys with lessons in bravery, road safety

In a bid to instil vital life skills and encourage students to be bold, Christel House Jamaica recently hosted Boys’ Day, where children were immersed in lessons on bravery and road safety.

Located in St Catherine, the school, which is part of an international educational franchise that caters to children from the elementary to secondary level, welcomed Joseph McLean, a JN WAY ambassador and final-year student at The University of the West Indies, Mona, who delivered a presentation on the theme, ‘Brave, Resilient, and Capable’. McLean, in his address, recounted his own childhood fears, notably his initial reluctance to cross the road unaccompanied by his mother.

“I was very afraid to cross the road because the trucks and cars were loud. One time, I was alone on the road and went up to the pedestrian crossing and crossed the road by looking left and right,” McLean said in telling his story to the group of boys, gradually building in pace to the pivotal moment when he conquered his fear.

Addressing the boys directly, he stressed the importance of bravery in the development of their character.

“As young boys who will grow into men, one day you will take charge of society, but it is important that you are brave, resilient, and capable,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of facing challenges head-on.

Beyond lessons in character development, the children were also exposed to important life-saving skills.

James Taylor, driving school manager at the Jamaica Automobile Association, a member company of The Jamaica National Group, groomed the boys on how to use roads safely. He engaged them in demonstrations, illustrating the proper ways to walk on crosswalks. He also emphasised the importance of protective gear, such as helmets for biking and seatbelts for car travel.

Brian Hutchinson, social worker at Christel House Jamaica, who organised the event, said the day served as a reminder of the importance of equipping children with essential life skills, empowering them to navigate challenges with courage and to be resilient.

“The aim behind this year’s Boy’s Day was that boys learn a lot through fair competition and also instil strong moral characteristics that I think boys would need as they grow into men, for example, teamwork, honesty, integrity and also to lose with dignity and embrace fun,” he said.

Other activities on the day included kite flying, a football competition, bounce-about and a bike race show.

Christel House Jamaica opened its doors in 2020. It currently serves a student population of more than 350 from nine underprivileged communities in St Catherine below the poverty line.