When Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud recently expressed gratitude to foster parents who have “opened their hearts and homes to children” in need of family-based care, she was referring to women like Melrose George, who has been fostering children for the past eight years.
Over those years George has fostered over 15 children. At present she has three boys under her care and while she does not tell a romantic story about the process, she was proud to share that she never had cause to return any of her foster children prematurely. They all remained with her until alternative care was found for them.
“These children need a lot of help. I wish I had a facility to help with more than I am dealing with right now. If you can, just help to save a child because what you are doing is saving a young man or woman to be better and become somebody in life,” George told the Stabroek Weekend in an interview.