Christmas, to the average child, is a time of excitement spent with family when they receive presents; except when they unfortunately have no family and have difficulty lowering their expectations, as was evidenced at the Joshua House children’s home.
Stabroek News visited the Joshua House located in Thomas Street, Georgetown yesterday and found the younger children very hopeful that Santa would be good to them this year.
“I have been very good all year because last year I wanted a dolly and a cooking set and didn’t get it. So I hope Santa would remember this time,” said five-year-old Angelique.
Very serious and poised, she told this reporter, “have a seat let me tell you why I should get it. I work hard at school you know. You know how long I wanted a dolly? Long, long since last year but I didn’t get the one I wanted. I was still glad, but tell them for me nuh please, please.”
Fifteen-year-old Ken Peters explained that while the home had a Christmas tree no presents are placed under it on Christmas Eve so that the children will have false hope. He said that only the very little children still believed in Santa and the older children tried to explain to them that all of their gifts were donated by kind-hearted persons. However, to him it seemed a futile task and he has since given up knowing that nothing he says could change their minds.
Peters said that Christmas day at Joshua House begins with mass at the nearby church. He said they will then return to the home anticipating that someone donates breakfast in the form of pepper pot and other things. The rest of the morning is spent waiting to see if anyone will donate gifts for them to play. Then it is time for lunch, more playing or watching television until dinner and then bed.
Asked what he wanted for Christmas, Ken said, “Anything I alright with. I ain’t fussy you know because I don’t know the people pockets so I can’t seh I want this or I want that whatever they bring I thankful for.”
His friend 16-year-old Andrew Layne stood at his side him shaking his head, he said, “I will say what I want cause is only when you ask people will know. I want a PSP bad.”
While toys seemed to be the focus of most of the children, 13-year-old Artie Jaggernauth said she wanted her own personal hygiene items and perfume. In a ladylike tone she sat up and said, “I would like some cream, a nice set with shower gel and so; anything to nice up my hair and a sweet perfume. I like to smell nice but I don’t have anything of my own own.”
Six-year-old Kellon Haley and Niekone Dover and almost of the other little boys wanted Santa to leave them remote control cars, helicopters or motorbikes under the Christmas tree.
Paul Bowen said he wanted “a real camcorder” attached to a remote car just like the scene in Home Alone 3 so he can practice being a spy. This active 10-year-old attends St Ambrose Primary and has been in the institution for a few years; he said he really enjoys it there.
The administrator of the mostly charitable donation run facility, Clifford Accra, informed that he and his wife Gladys Accra ensure the smooth running of the institution.
He told Stabroek News that he has been the administrator there for over 17 years. He concurred with much of what young Ken Peters had explained about Christmas day activities, adding that it was always much anticipated by the children. He noted that the children usually received gifts from philanthropic persons and on the actual day they would have their traditional Christmas breakfast of pepper pot and bread. He applauded the fact that for a number of years on Christmas morning a woman, who did not want to named, would take pepper pot for the children.
Accra also said that during the course of the day persons would make appointments and take presents and goodies for the children a tradition he hoped this year they would continue never mind the high cost of living and grave financial circumstances facing donors.
He hopes for the New Year that peace and stability prevail in Guyana and appealed to donors to give books and other education items to the home so the children can improve on their reading and education. He said that the cost of text books was expensive and although they receive a lot of story books and novels the children cannot use these at school. Further, to supply approximately 62 children with textbooks, places quite a strain on the institution.
